The heart of Bequia life is Admiralty Bay, a wide sheltered harbour where dozens of yachts from all over the world drop anchor. The front street, called the Belmont Walkway, runs along the water's edge and is lined with small restaurants, craft stalls and ice-cream shops where you can sit and watch the boats bob in the breeze.
Boat-building is not just a job in Bequia - it is an art form passed down from parent to child for generations. Craftsmen use local hardwoods and shape everything by hand, from the curved hull of a fishing pirogue to the mast of a sailing dinghy. Every April, these local skills are celebrated during the Bequia Easter Regatta, when races fill the bay with sails.
The island has some wonderful beaches, with Princess Margaret Beach and Lower Bay Beach being particular favourites. The water is calm and shallow close to shore, perfect for paddling and snorkelling. A little further out, coral gardens shelter angelfish, parrotfish and the occasional seahorse hiding in the sea grass.
Bequia also has a small sea-turtle conservation project where local volunteers protect hawksbill turtle nests and release hatchlings safely into the sea. Children from the island's school visit to learn about the turtles and help with counts. It is a great example of a community looking after the wildlife that makes their home special.