The Search:
We have traveled the world in search of perfect vacation destinations. Some of them were for adventure, some were for relaxation. Ease of travel there and back is not a requirement because of the reward upon arrival. For those seeking a relaxing, pampered destination Canouan Island and the Mandarin Oriental Resort just might be that perfect island getaway. Canouan Island is a place not many know about, let alone have visited.
The Island:
Canouan Island is a small, barely five-square-miles, nation in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines island chain. It is located about 25 miles south of the island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean. Canouan Island has an approximate population of 1,700 permanent residents. The average daytime temperatures range from 75 to 86 °F due to the gently off shore breezes. The driest months are December through May. The coolest months are from November to February. Most flights to the island come from Barbados.
The Adventure:
Landing on Canouan Island feels a bit like being in the movie “Castaway”. Part of it may be the empty airport that makes you feel you’re one of the first tourist to visit the island. It could also be due to the vast expanse of untouched verdant land and miles of white sandy beaches set against crystal-clear water. Canouan is an island that seems to hark back to the early days of Caribbean adventures due to its remoteness and a protected coral reef.
The Resort:
In 2018, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group made its Caribbean debut on the eastern reaches of Canouan Island by rebranding and upgrading the original Pink Sands Club Resort. The resort has 26 suites and 13 villas. Each suite is complete with a living room that closes off from the bedroom, and a spacious bathroom. The bathrooms are decorated in white Italian marble, an aesthetic that is more reminiscent of an Italian villa in Portofino. The rooms are easily some of the nicest we have found in the entire Caribbean. All of the rooms look out to the ocean.
The Estate:
Its larger sibling property, the Canouan Island Estate, has tennis courts, water sports, an award wining golf course and even a 17th-century church. These two properties sit together on the 1,200-acre Grenadine Estate. Nine restaurants are located throughout the estate and the Resort. In addition to the usual water activities hiking, bicycling and a well appointed gym are also available. Sailing charters can be arranged, including one to Tobago Cays Marine Park. There you can snorkel or scuba with Green and Hawksbill turtles.
The Reward:
One possible harbinger of the island’s appeal is the increased activity at the airport and the newly opened deep water marina. During peak weeks, as many as 35 private jets can be seen at the Canouan Island airport. With only two commercial flights a day from Barbados and charters flights costing as much as $7,000, it certainly limits the type and numbers of travelers. You will not be disappointed.
