Craggy rocky peaks jut upwards at Union Island, making it the most scenic of the Grenadine islands. The peaks are solidified lava which remained after softer volcanic rocks were worn away. The highest peak is Mount Taboi at 304 metres (999 feet). Union Island is little known to most tourists and remains low key and relaxed.
Many visitors that do make it to Union are connecting with yachts and dive boats at the charming port town of Clifton. Others want to explore or unwind on land. Union Island is approximately 3 miles long & 1 mile wide. Rain only falls from June to December and vegetation is drier than on many other islands in the Caribbean. Travelling by foot or local bus leads you to quiet beaches for swimming and snorkeling. Coral reefs of the Grenadines receive few direct human pressures, and the coral is in good condition. Some of the best snorkeling experiences on Union Island are seeing the huge schools of resident fish. Smaller and slower fish stay close to the reef for protection, while fast swimming schools use speed for safety. You may even spot sea turtles and sharks if you are lucky.
Union is one of the southern-most of the islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Cotton growing lured French and then English plantation managers to the island. When the British left the island, enslaved workers gained freedom to adopt a farming and fishing lifestyle. They developed a Caribbean flavour of music, colour and food.
We opted for the catamaran tour to Tobago Cays, an archipelago comprised of small islands and an extensive coral reef that is perfect for swimming and snorkeling. It was a 45-minute, sail to Tobago Cays. When the catamaran dropped its anchor, some people snorkelled but we stayed aboard to enjoy their rum punch, and then we stayed up on the top deck for the return trip . The trip did not live up to the hype, it wa a pretty average tourist trip, with a bulk commercial rum punch served in paper cups
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