St Vincent and the Grenadines - Traveller information

Local laws and conventions: Illegal drugs are viewed seriously in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and there are severe penalties for possession of all drugs – including cannabis. It is an offence for anyone, including children, to wear camouflage clothing.

Casual clothing is widely acceptable; beachwear should be for beach only. English is spoken everywhere, often with a Vincentian patois. Office hours are Mon–Fri 0800–1615.

Immigration and customs: Passports must be valid for six months from the date of entry. Visitors must also be in possession of an onward ticket and have sufficient funds for their stay.

Firearms and ammunition and spear-fishing equipment are prohibited imports, and import licences are required for all foodstuffs. All prescription medications should be kept in their original container, clearly labelled to avoid misunderstandings.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate will be required from those arriving from an infected area.

Travel within the country: Traffic drives on the left-hand side and a local driving permit is required to drive on the islands. Visitors can obtain a local licence from car hire companies and police stations on presentation of a national driving licence. Some mountainous roads are extremely steep with hairpin bends.

Taxis are widely available and charge government-fixed rates. It is advisable to check the fare before setting off.

Small planes can be chartered for travel between islands and it is very easy to charter ships to sail between the islands – both privately and with a sea taxi.

Buses offer cheap, reliable transport between towns. A number of minibus/pick-up truck passenger services also operate throughout the islands and can be flagged down on bus routes.

Travel health: Medical services are generally good in St Vincent and the Grenadines, although full health insurance with emergency repatriation is recommended, as visitors are expected to pay full medical costs.

Mosquito-borne dengue fever is endemic to the Caribbean, and insect repellent and suitable clothing should be taken to protect against mosquito bites.

Mains water is normally chlorinated; bottled water is widely available.

Money: Major international credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and travellers cheques should be taken in US dollars to ensure a better exchange rate. ATMs can be found in all the towns. Banking hours are Mon–Thur 0800–1300 and Fri 0800–1700.

There were 95,506 tourist arrivals in 2005.