Canouan

Canouan Island forms part of the Grenadine’s archipelago of small islands and cays belonging to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This island is something of an enigma in the Caribbean. Just a 45-minute flight from Barbados, it has managed to remain a secret, enjoying a “worlds away" feeling of seclusion.

This beautiful little island, meaning “Island of turtles” in the Carib, just three-square miles and fringed by one of the largest living coral reefs in the Caribbean, has remained largely out of the spotlight. Most people still haven’t heard of it, let alone been there.

There are no packs of cruise passengers, no overdevelopment. “Traffic" means breaking to let the turtles pass and the natural areas are so unspoiled you feel as if you're one of the first to visit. The island sits just below the hurricane belt, steering clear of storms, so there's no bad time to visit.