Mayreau Island: Saltwhistle Bay and the Barefoot Gateway to the Tobago Cays

Mayreau Island is one of the most rewarding yacht charter stops in the southern Grenadines, combining spectacular white-sand bays, a tiny hilltop village and immediate access to the Tobago Cays. Covering approximately 1.5 square miles, it is the smallest inhabited island in the Grenadines and has no airport, helping preserve the quiet, boat-accessed character that makes it such a natural fit for a sailing itinerary.

The island's most famous setting is Saltwhistle Bay on the northern coast, where a narrow palm-covered peninsula separates calm turquoise Caribbean water from the more exposed Atlantic side. The protected bay is a favorite yacht anchorage, with exceptionally calm water for swimming and a sweeping white-sand beach that has become one of the signature images of the Grenadines. Farther south, Saline Bay provides another major anchorage beside a broad beach and Mayreau's ferry jetty.

Mayreau is also the natural western gateway to the Tobago Cays. The protected marine park begins along the island's eastern side, while Mayreau Gardens, between Mayreau and the Cays, is a renowned coral reef area for snorkeling and diving. From the yacht, guests can spend the morning exploring Mayreau's beaches and village before cruising only a short distance east toward Horseshoe Reef and the turtle-filled waters of the Tobago Cays.

Mayreau lies north of Union Island, south of Canouan and immediately west of the Tobago Cays. Yacht traffic is concentrated primarily around Saltwhistle Bay in the north and Saline Bay in the south. Saltwhistle Bay's anchoring area is in the northeastern section of the lagoon and can become very busy with charter yachts, while Saline Bay provides considerably more open space along the southwestern coast.

Navigation around the eastern side requires greater attention because this coastline borders the Tobago Cays Marine Park and includes extensive reef systems. The windward beaches are protected by offshore reefs, and Mayreau Gardens lies between the island and the Cays. Captains should use current charts and respect Marine Park boundaries, anchoring regulations and conservation zones when navigating east of Mayreau.

Saltwhistle Bay is Mayreau's most celebrated yacht anchorage. Moorings are available, but space is limited and the bay can become crowded during the main charter season. Because the anchorage falls within the Tobago Cays Marine Park area, applicable mooring or anchoring charges apply. Cruising guidance also recommends checking the condition of any mooring before relying on it.

Saline Bay is the island's main alternative and offers more room for yachts seeking a less confined anchorage. The southern end of the bay is reported to provide good holding, and the beach gives easy access to the road climbing toward Old Wall village. Saline Bay also contains Mayreau's ferry jetty, so yachts should remain clear of ferry movements when selecting an anchoring position.

Mayreau has just one principal village, Old Wall, positioned on elevated ground in the island's interior. The road climbing through the village passes small cafés and local businesses before reaching its historic stone Catholic church, from where visitors are rewarded with sweeping views across the Tobago Cays. The island has only one main road between Saltwhistle Bay and Saline Bay, and Discover SVG notes that the full route can be walked in roughly an hour.

Basic yacht provisioning is available from several small grocery shops, but Mayreau remains deliberately simple compared with Canouan or Union Island. Fishing and tourism remain important to the local community, while the island's combination of small-scale village life, extraordinary beaches and proximity to the Tobago Cays gives it one of the strongest barefoot-cruising atmospheres in the Grenadines.