Sailing St Lucia & The Grenadines (Self-Launched)
8 days · St Lucia & The Grenadines
G Adventures charges £2,400
No-markup version: ~£520 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on G Adventures' 8-day Windward Islands sailing loop from Rodney Bay back to Rodney Bay. Instead of a private catamaran charter with skipper and cook, you island-hop the Grenadines using the local ferry network (St Lucia → Martinique → St Vincent → Bequia → Mustique/Tobago Cays), plus shared water taxis and day-sail/boat-trip operators for the snorkelling and beach stops that are only reachable by water. You'll sleep in guesthouses and hostels, eat Creole food at local spots, and book snorkel/kayak/paddleboard trips independently via Klook, GetYourGuide or by walking up at the beach. Costs are rough estimates for a budget backpacker travelling in the dry season — book ferries and Tobago Cays boat trips in advance as they fill up.
Day-by-day
Arrive Rodney Bay, St Lucia
Rodney Bay, St Lucia
Fly into Hewanorra (UVF) or George F.L. Charles (SLU) and make your way up to Rodney Bay on the north-west coast. Settle into a guesthouse or hostel around Reduit Beach, then walk to the marina to get your bearings: this is where the ferries and day-boat operators leave from, so check schedules and buy tickets in person for the days ahead. Evening is easy — rum punch and grilled fish or a Creole 'bouyon' at a beachside spot on Reduit Beach.
🚌Local bus or taxi from airport to Rodney Bay (~£4-10 depending on airport)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel near Reduit Beach, £20-35
- →Settle into Rodney Bay guesthouse
- →Walk Reduit Beach and marina
- →Book ferry tickets (St Lucia–Martinique, St Lucia–St Vincent)
- →Creole street food dinner
Sail across to St Vincent via Martinique
Rodney Bay → Castries → St Vincent
This is the 'sailing day' translated to public transport. Take a local bus down to Castries, then the L'Express des Îles ferry across the channel (St Lucia–Martinique–St Vincent is a common routing). If a direct St Lucia–St Vincent sailing is running, take it. Sail past the Pitons on the approach — sit on the open deck for the view. On arrival in Kingstown, St Vincent, check into a guesthouse and explore the colourful market and harbour.
🚌Local bus to Castries (~£1) + L'Express des Îles ferry, ~£40-60
🛏Guesthouse in Kingstown, St Vincent, £18-30
- →Scenic ferry crossing past the Pitons
- →Kingstown market and harbour walk
- →Sunset on the waterfront
St Vincent to Bequia
Kingstown → Bequia
Morning ferry from Kingstown to Bequia (Port Elizabeth), a short and cheap hop — one of the classic Grenadines island-hops. Bequia is a small, laid-back island of boat-builders and beaches. Drop your bag at a guesthouse, then spend the afternoon at Princess Margaret Beach or Lower Bay — both walkable from Port Elizabeth, no boat needed.
🚌Public ferry Kingstown–Bequia, ~£5
🛏Guesthouse or small hotel in Port Elizabeth, Bequia, £25-40
- →Ferry to Bequia
- →Swim at Princess Margaret Beach
- →Beach walk to Lower Bay
- →Watch boat-building on the waterfront
Bequia to Mustique (day trip)
Bequia → Mustique → Bequia
The private-island stop you'd otherwise sail to — do it as a day trip from Bequia. Dohvan/Admiralty Transport operates shared ferries from Bequia to Mustique a couple of days a week; otherwise join a shared boat with other travellers. On Mustique you can't roam freely (it's exclusive), but the public beaches at Britannia Bay and Macaroni Beach are open and stunning. Return to Bequia for the night.
🚌Shared ferry/boat Bequia–Mustique return, ~£25-35
🛏Guesthouse in Bequia, £25-40
- →Shared boat day trip to Mustique
- →Britannia Bay and Macaroni Beach
- →Snorkelling gear rental at the beach
- →Sunset back in Port Elizabeth
Bequia to the Tobago Cays
Bequia → Union Island / Tobago Cays
Head south to Union Island (via ferry or shared boat), the launching point for the Tobago Cays Marine Park — the best snorkelling in the Grenadines and the real highlight of the original sailing route. Book a day trip with a local operator (e.g. from Clifton, Union Island) to the Cays: the boat takes you out, you snorkel with turtles and rays, and swim in the turquoise lagoon. Shared boats keep the cost down; a private charter version would cost several times more.
🚌Ferry/shared boat Bequia–Union Island, ~£25 + Tobago Cays boat trip, ~£35-50 incl. park fee
🛏Guesthouse on Union Island or at a Cays-adjacent stop, £20-35
- →Boat trip to Tobago Cays Marine Park
- →Snorkelling with turtles and reef fish
- →Kayaking or paddleboarding at the Cays
- →Marine park entry fee
Union Island and Mayreau
Union Island → Mayreau
A gentler island day. Explore Clifton and Ashton on Union Island, then take a short, cheap water taxi to Mayreau — tiny, hilly, and home to Salt Whistle Bay, one of the prettiest anchorages in the Grenadines. Walk over the hill to Saline Bay for a quiet beach afternoon. This mirrors the 'hidden coves and secluded beaches' of the original route without needing a catamaran.
🚌Water taxi Union Island–Mayreau return, ~£10-15
🛏Guesthouse on Union Island or Mayreau, £20-35
- →Water taxi to Mayreau
- →Salt Whistle Bay beach
- →Hill walk to Saline Bay viewpoint
- →Local Caribbean lunch
Sail back north toward St Lucia
Union Island → St Vincent → St Lucia
Start the return leg. Take the ferry north from Union Island back to St Vincent, then catch the onward ferry north to St Lucia (or if schedules require, overnight in St Vincent and cross the next morning). If timing allows, spend a last hour snorkelling or beach-time at Admiralty Bay, Bequia on the way through. Arrive back in St Lucia and settle in near Rodney Bay for a final Creole dinner.
🚌Ferry Union Island–St Vincent ~£20 + St Vincent–St Lucia ferry ~£40-60
🛏Guesthouse near Rodney Bay or Castries, £22-35
- →Ferry north through the Grenadines
- →Optional stop at Admiralty Bay, Bequia
- →Arrive Castries / Rodney Bay
- →Final Creole seafood dinner
Depart from Rodney Bay
Rodney Bay, St Lucia
A relaxed last morning — breakfast, a final swim at Reduit Beach, and any last souvenir shopping before heading to the airport. If your flight is later in the day, Pigeon Island National Landmark (a short bus or taxi ride north) is an easy half-day: small fort ruins, excellent views, and a decent snorkelling spot off the beach.
🚌Taxi or local bus to airport, ~£10-15
🛏—
- →Final swim at Reduit Beach
- →Optional Pigeon Island National Landmark
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£520 | £2,400 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,880 per person (78%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£520
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Sailing St Lucia & The Grenadines (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £520 per person for 8 days in St Lucia & The Grenadines. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,400 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £520 — a saving of roughly £1,880 (78%) per person.
How long is the St Lucia & The Grenadines trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through St Lucia & The Grenadines.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a beaches, adventure, backpacker trip through St Lucia & The Grenadines, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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