From East to West

Volcanoes shaped St Vincent. Its peak is a 1,234m-high active caldera, which sits atop a rainforest range. Head inland for hot springs or sail to black sand beaches on the shore.

Kids can join crew a themed adventure on the set of Pirates of the Caribbean. Grown-ups can hit the spa on Young Island, where Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley were pampered pre-filming. Or drop anchor at the Falls of Baleine on the northern coast, the site of a waterfall that tumbles into a natural swimming pool. A true buccaneer beach is Petit Byahaut. This blissful beach is film set class and can only be accessed by boat.

Mustique describes itself as ‘the world’s finest private island’. This Caribbean gem hosts nine blissful beaches and fifty species of bird.

Surrounding Mustique is a Technicolor reef. Glide past bluestripes and butterfly fish on a sea scooter safari, or follow a guide into the rainforest interior where Mangrove Cuckoo and Tropical Kingfisher lie in wait.

Mustique is more private playground than members’ club. You’re likely to see Hollywood A-listers sipping Drambuies barefoot at the bar, while European royals line up to shoot pool. What happens on Mustique stays on Mustique.

Canouan’s twin lagoons sum up the island’s carefree spirit: Friendship Bay and Glossy Bay. Electricity only arrived here in the 1990s. Highlights of the low-key social calendar include calypsos, carnivals and reggae-powered street parties.

But Canouan offers more than pink sunsets and white sand. Its tropical golf course runs close enough to the ocean for guests to whack a ball from foredeck to green. For silky sand and beach bars drop anchor at Carenage Bay or Godahl Bay. The latter was voted one of the world’s best beaches by The Travel Channel.

Lucky are the 250 residents who call this caribbean castaway home. Mayreau has no airport, no bank, no roads and no worries. The boat-only island is frequented by a privileged elite. Its sandy-bottomed shoreline hosts more grouper and snapper than a yacht party can possibly eat. Saltwhistle bay is a heavenly half moon of calm waters and powder white sand. The only danger to your party is too much sun, too much rum, or a falling coconut. Saline bay on the southern leeward coast is as sheltered as a lake. If you wanted to learn the art of waterskiing or paddleboarding, this is the place to try.

The Tobago Cays look like icing sugar sprinkled onto a turquoise sea. These uninhabited islands form a Marine Park and are as pristine as can be. In the sandy-bottomed lagoon between them, speedboats are banned. Anchor your yacht and jump over the back. It’s like swimming in a five-square-kilometre private bath.

The islands of Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Baradol and Jamesby are surrounded by Horseshoe Reef. With a snorkel, scuba tank or Seadoo, guests can see more sea life than in a Jacques Cousteau documentary. The wreck of the First World War gunboat Purunia lies in 10m of translucent sea. Shrieks of delight will reach the surface as you discover friendly nurse sharks, angelfish and rock beauties.

The sail to Petit St Vincent is the stuff of legend. Pods of dolphins and migrating whales can be seen from the bridge – or from high up in the crow’s nest. The arrival at this private island is among the Caribbean’s best. Back at sea, the party never stops. The on-board fridge is full of Hairoun beer. The sea is stocked with lobster and conch. At sunset guests may opt for seafood sashimi, a formal dinner, or a beach barbeque. Or simply kick back with a cocktail and the works of Caribbean authors V.S. Naipaul and Derik Walcott.

Grenada is three Caribbean islands in one. The biggest island is a tropical giant of rainforest, waterfalls and deserted beachs. Little Carriacou is a sand-ringed jewel that the 21st century forgot. On nearby Petite Martinique, the biggest news is when a coconut drops.

Grenada is known as the spice island. As a trading entrepôt, a sense of history – plus the aroma of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves – remains. Its beaches, such as Levara, Magazin and Sagesse, may be renowned, but are used for little more than cricket and barbeques for much of the year. At sundown keep an eye out for the infamous greenflash, a tropical trick of the light best seen on Grand Anse Beach with a sundowner in hand.