Mustique
An island owned by the people who live on it, some 120 villas and one hotel, Atlantic surf on Macaroni Beach, and an airstrip that shuts at sunset.
- Arrival
- Grantley Adams, Barbados · BGI
- To the resort
- About 50 minutes from Barbados by Twin Otter
- Private jets
- Land at a gateway, then a Twin Otter
- Best time
- December to March
The city
A private island since 1958.
Colin Tennant bought Mustique from the Hazell family in 1958 for £45,000. Two years later he gave Princess Margaret a plot as a wedding present, and in 1968 he founded the Mustique Company, which the homeowners now own. About 500 people live here all year, among some 120 private villas.
There are three small villages, Britannia Bay, Lovell and Dovers, and one full-service hotel, The Cotton House, open since 1969. December to March are the sunniest months. The rain builds from June and stays heavy through November.
Arriving
Daylight and a Twin Otter.
The airstrip on Mustique is under a kilometre long, unlit and closed after sunset, and it takes propeller aircraft only. Every journey changes planes at a gateway island, ideally landing there by 3.30 pm to reach Mustique the same day.
- Barbados 35 min
- St Maarten 1 h 10
- Toronto 5 h 20
- Marrakech 7 h 45 long-range jet
- Frankfurt 9 h 55 long-range jet
When to go
December to March.
The Grenadines barely know a season by temperature: 27 to 30 °C ashore and a 26 to 29 °C sea, month after month. February is the driest month, and December to March bring the most sun. From June to November the rain is heavy, at around 230 to 310 mm a month.
- 27° J 130 27°
- 27° F 97 26°
- 28° M 104 27°
- 29° A 109 27°
- 30° M 150 27°
- 29° J 234 27°
- 29° J 305 28°
- 29° A 282 28°
- 29° S 269 29°
- 29° O 310 29°
- 29° N 272 28°
- 28° D 185 28°
What to see and do
Days in and around Mustique.
-
Landmark
Macaroni Beach
The main beach, on the Atlantic side, where the waves are better for surfing than for swimming.
-
Landmark
Britannia Bay
One of the three villages, and the name David Bowie gave to the villa he once owned here.
-
Landmark
The Antilles wreck
The hull of the SS Antilles, which struck a reef off Mustique in 1971.
-
On the water
Mustique Watersports Centre
From Endeavour Bay, PADI instructors take divers out, Hobie Cats go sailing, and snorkellers swim over the coral restoration project in front of the centre.
Official site -
Nature
Mustique Equestrian Centre
Thoroughbreds and ponies are kept for lessons, trail rides around the island and swimming on horseback.
Official site -
Racing & sport
Mustique Tennis Club
Five omni courts, a hard court and two padel courts, all floodlit, are open daily, with tournaments in high season.
Official site -
Nature
Mustique hiking trails
Walking maps chart a family route to the Bird Sanctuary, a hike over the Moonscape to South Point and a circuit of the whole island in about four hours.
Official site -
Opera & music
Basil's Bar
Wednesday's Jump Up brings Vincentian musicians and DJs to this waterfront bar in Britannia Bay, with live music again at the Sunday Sunset Sessions.
Official site -
On the water
Tobago Cays Marine Park
Declared a marine park in 1997, the five uninhabited cays and their lagoon, where green turtles feed, lie behind the 4 km Horseshoe Reef.
Official site -
Golf
Canouan Estate Golf Course
Jim Fazio laid out these 18 holes, par 72 and 6,914 yards, across three settings with views of the sea.
Where to stay
One hotel, and the villas.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
Where to dine
Dinner on the veranda.
No MICHELIN Guide covers the Grenadines. The Mustique Company describes the Veranda at the Cotton House as fine dining.
- The Veranda Mustique Company, fine dining West Indian The Cotton House, Endeavour Bay
Elsewhere in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
More reasons to come.
Flying to Mustique?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.