Kingstown

Kingstown is the capital of St Vincent and the Grenadines. The city lies within the parish of St George in the south-west corner of St Vincent.

Downtown Kingstown is colourful and chaotic, offering a taste of local culture. There are a handful of souvenir shops on Bay Street.

The lively outdoor market is on the waterfront, where locals sell their wares.

Churches in the area include Kingstown Methodist, St Mary's Cathedral of the Assumption and St George's Cathedral.

The Botanical Garden is a 30 minute walk uphill from downtown Kingstown and features the island's rare St Vincent parrots in the small aviary.

Fort Charlotte is a 19th century fortress, named after the wife of King George III. It now houses a museum dedicated to the island's history and has dramatic views of Kingstown.

Take a scenic drive through Mesopotamia Valley or the Marriqua Valley. Nestled deep in the valley are the Montreal Gardens, home to 7½ acres of tropical flora.

The remote Falls of Baleine are located at the far northwest corner of the island and only reachable by boat.

The best diving is generally found between Layou and Kingstown on St Vincent's leeward coast, where the water is calm and there are lovely coral formations a short distance off the shore.

Part of the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean" was filmed on the leeward coast of St Vincent at Wallilabou Bay. You can swim or sunbathe on the beach there or go inland for a quick dip in the Wallilabou Falls.

For hikers and nature lovers, head north to the Vermont Nature Trails. A two hour hike leads you through tropical rainforests and groves, where there is lots of bird watching opportunities.

A ferry to the island of Bequia takes around an hour each way. Here you will find golden beaches and lively waterfront shops and cafes in Port Elizabeth, it's capital.

The black sand beach at Buccament Bay is just 20 minutes from Kingstown.

The dramatic beaches on the windward coast aren't safe for swimming as the surf is too strong but they have some of the island's most spectacular views. Argyle black sand beach is popular for sunbathing and picnicking.

Freshly caught seafood and local vegetables are the basis of most of the cuisine, local dishes include callaloo soup or a roti (curried beef, chicken or seafood wrapped in a pastry turnover).

The cruise ship terminal is a few minutes' walk from downtown Kingstown.

There are local crafts and duty free goods for sale in the terminal shops.

Taxi drivers line up outside the cruise terminal, agree a price before setting off.