Carriacou & Petite Martinique Yacht Charter: Discover the Southern Grenadines

At the southern end of the Grenadines, Carriacou & Petite Martinique offer a quieter, more traditional Caribbean cruising experience, defined by sheltered anchorages, coral reefs, white-sand islands, and a strong maritime culture. Politically part of Grenada but geographically within the Grenadines chain, these islands form a natural continuation south from Union Island and Petit St. Vincent.

Carriacou is the larger and more developed of the two, covering around 13 square miles and earning its traditional nickname, the “Isle of Reefs.” Its coastline is dotted with beaches, anchorages, dive sites, and small communities such as Hillsborough, Windward, and Tyrrel Bay, while nearby Sandy Island and White Island provide postcard-perfect stops for swimming and snorkeling.

Petite Martinique lies just offshore and feels even more intimate. Accessible by boat from Carriacou, the island remains closely tied to traditional boatbuilding and fishing, with quiet beaches and a distinctive local culture that makes it an excellent stop for yacht guests looking beyond the better-known Grenadines islands.

This area is ideal for guests who want authentic island life, uncrowded cruising, and excellent access to the southern Grenadines. Carriacou sits conveniently between Union Island to the north and Grenada to the south, making it a natural overnight stop on longer itineraries through the island chain.

Tyrrel Bay is one of the area's greatest advantages. The naturally protected bay is a major yachting hub with marine services, restaurants, dive operators, and customs and immigration facilities for vessels entering or leaving Grenadian waters. That makes Carriacou both a beautiful destination and a highly practical base during a multi-island charter.

Away from the main harbour, the atmosphere becomes wonderfully secluded. Cruise to Sandy Island for a morning snorkel, explore Carriacou's reefs by tender, visit traditional boatbuilding communities, or continue across to Petite Martinique for an island experience shaped far more by fishing and sailing than tourism. Carriacou & Petite Martinique are perfect for guests who want the Grenadines at their most authentic and unhurried.

Tyrrel Bay & Carriacou's Yachting Culture:
Anchor inside a naturally protected horseshoe-shaped bay surrounded by calm water, yacht services, dive operators, local restaurants, and one of the most established sailing communities in the southern Grenadines.

The Postcard Beauty of Sandy Island:
Take the tender just offshore from Carriacou to a tiny ribbon of powder-white sand surrounded by brilliant turquoise water, swaying palms, shallow reefs, and excellent snorkeling.

Carriacou's Reefs & Underwater World:
Dive and snorkel around an island famous for clear water, coral reefs, drift dives, and rich marine life, with easy access to sites around Sandy Island, White Island, and the surrounding Grenadian Grenadines.

The Maritime Traditions of Petite Martinique:
Cruise across to a tiny 586-acre island where fishing and traditional boatbuilding remain central to everyday life, then explore Sanchez Beach, Mang Beach, and a community with one of the strongest surviving maritime identities in the Grenadines.