The unspoiled island of Bequia lies 9 miles south of St Vincent in the archipelago of the Grenadines. The old world charm of Bequia and easy friendly manner of the local people is a great draw to this island of white sand beaches, good restaurants, lively bars and music throughout the season, which stretches from November until after the sailing Regatta during Easter week. After Easter things quieten down - but still the island exudes its magic.

There are 32 islands and cays in the nation of St Vincent and the Grenadines. The second largest, Bequia is only seven square miles and home to around 5000 people. Nine are inhabited, the others being the main island St Vincent, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Union Island, Palm Island, Petit St Vincent and Young Island, all there to explore by ferry or charter for the adventurous.

Famous for its sea-faring tradition, with its natural horseshoe harbour, Bequia has long been known to sailors. Its natural beauty, island charm and open friendly people of mixed descent, Amerindian, Arawak, Carib, African, Scottish, Irish, French make Bequia a perfect place to relax and unwind.

Cassava is situated on Lower Bay, the largest beach on the calm Caribbean side of the island. Widely thought to be the finest swimming beach in the Grenadines, it is safe and current free. The sand is white and the water warm year round. There are three bar restaurants along the beach which serve cold drinks and hot food and a small cafe selling delicious coconut ice-cream.

Enjoy a cool drink or lunch at De Reef or La Plage, or the mid-week open air movie at Keegans, all on the seafront. Bequia is the perfect island to relax and unwind, swimming, reading, fishing, snorkeling. Or walk to the top of Mount Peggy passing purple and orange land crabs, and from the lava rock sculptured summit look down over the islands.

Explore the beaches, calm Princess Margaret or the beautiful but wilder Atlantic side of the island, and the turtle sanctuary. Spend a day sailing on a 100ft wooden schooner which was once the island's ferry, exploring the Grenadines or charter a powerboat for the day and explore Mustique (30min), or beautiful Mayreau and snorkel in the clear waters of the natural horseshoe reef at the Tobago Cays (an hour) (see our website).

Explore St Vincent where Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed at Wallilabou Bay, hike to the Dark View Falls or the Soufriere volcano. Or just take a water taxi around Bequia and see Moonhole from the sea, an extraordinary and magical collection of houses carved and built into the cliff side at the southern tip. Visit the Whaling Museum and the Hamilton Fort.

The St Vincent Carnival during the first week of July.

During the high season, for those who like music - on a Thursday evening there is steel pan band and jump-up in the open air by the water's edge at The Frangipani, music in the street at Penthouse on a Friday and Saturday, and every day of the week there is Baj to welcome you, open year round serving drinks, barbecued food and music. On Sunday afternoons a live band plays at De Reef on Lower Bay.

The island has a hairdresser, massage therapists, reflexologist, a homeopath, chiropractor and an acupuncturist as well as a doctor and a small hospital.

Port Elizabeth has all the necessary shops including an excellent gourmet purveyor Doris Fine Foods and also now an outlet for good wines, Vintages Bequia. There is a vegetable market, stalls, a bookshop and more.

The evidence of Bequia's charm is in meeting visitors who return time and again, feeling they have returned home to this island which exudes its own magic, no matter what time of year.