Charlestown Bay is near Charlstown and is also known as Grand Bay. The bay is the main anchorage and the site of the village. An older official brochure describes swimming and snorkeling there as popular. Grand Bay is therefore an alternative name for the bay; Charlstown refers to the travel destination. This distinction helps set local place references apart from the wider Grenadines destination.

Resettlement and Local History

In 1921, the original village in northern Canouan was destroyed by a hurricane. The island was subsequently resettled in the better-protected Charlestown. The key point for historical context is the relocation of the settlement: the destruction of the former village was followed by resettlement in Charlestown.

The Grenadines in a Wider Context

The wider Grenadines destination offers a view of other islands and marine areas. The marine area of Tobago Cays Marine Park surrounds five uninhabited cays, the inhabited island of Mayreau, and three small islands. The park includes coral reefs, nesting and feeding grounds for sea turtles, and small mangrove systems. There are also seagrass meadows and a salt pond on Mayreau.

Reefs, Hiking Trails, and Wildlife Watching

At four kilometers long, Horseshoe Reef is the longest of the four major reef systems in Tobago Cays Marine Park. It encloses Petit Bateau, Petit Rameau, Baradal, and Jamesby; Petit Tabac lies east of the reef. Jamesby is the smallest and southernmost cay in the group and has a beach on its eastern side. At Horseshoe Reef, diving is possible on the protected, shallow inner side and along the deeper outer drop-off. Mayreau Gardens is an extensive coral reef and a drift-diving area. When comparing regional diving options, you can contrast the shallow, protected inner side of the reef and the deeper outer drop-off with the drift dives at Mayreau Gardens.

There are hiking trails on Petit Bateau, James Bay, and Petit Rameau. Tropical plants and animals, including iguanas and birds, can be observed there. At the Catholic Rock Bird Sanctuary, you can watch nesting and roosting colonies of seabirds from a boat using binoculars or a telescope. This sets hiking trails with plant and wildlife watching apart from birdwatching specifically conducted from a boat. Film history is another regional theme: Petit Tabac was the filming location for the deserted-island scene in “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl.”

The government has declared the Tobago Cays a wildlife reserve. Fishing, jet skis, and anchoring dinghies are prohibited there. Check the current park rules before taking part in activities.

Choose Your Accommodation Search Focus

When planning, you can weigh whether local history and the connection to the bay or the regional themes matter more to your travel decision.

For the wider travel overview: Saint Vincent And The Grenadines.