No matter where in the U.S., Canada or U.K. you’re coming from, it’ll take you at least two flights and half a day to reach Canouan (most visitors connect via Barbados). But trust us, the travel time to this unspoiled 3.5-square-mile outpost in St. Vincent’s Grenadine archipelago is worth it. Dominated by the privately owned Canouan Estate (which comprises two-thirds of the island and includes two resorts and several villas), the exclusive, out of-the-way isle has long been a favorite of the wealthy. But here are five reasons why a trip here is worth the time and effort for the rest of us, too. CJ Travel Editor Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon has the scoop.
Godhal Beach The half-mile white-sand strand over which The Pink Sands Club’s 26 suites and and six villas preside is nothing short of stunning, with ivory poweder that borders tranquil seas the color of Bombay Sapphire. It’s an intoxicating Caribbean combination that alone makes the trip worth it.
Overwater Spa Suites Nothing encourages tropical fantasies as much as stilted sanctuaries set over the shimmering Caribbean. And the pair of overwater spa suites at The Pink Sands Club, where you can combine sea breezes with blissful body treatments, make that fantasy a relaxing reality.
The Canouan Golf Club Set on 150 acres of rolling ocean-view hills, Canouan’s Jim Fazio-designed 18-hole championship golf course has been called one of the 10 best in the world, offering challenging play as well as breathtaking scenery. Hole 16 features one of the longest par 3s in the world, at 305 yards.
Tortoises Canouan means “island of tortoises,” and, sure enough, there are several hundred of them roaming free over the island’s terrain. Locals know to look out for the roving reptiles around sunrise and between four and six in the afternoon, as they make their way back home into the undergrowth. And if you’re staying at The Pink Sands Club, the you’ll certainly notice them along the resort’s winding pathways as you tool around in your golf cart.
Mount Royal Take 30 minutes of your morning to make the climb 877 feet upward to Canouan’s highest point, where you’ll be rewarded with a sweeping vista of sister islands Mayreau, Union Island, Carriacou and Petit St. Vincent, each more beautiful than the next.