In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Union Island
Spend 2–3 days on Union Island for beaches, forts and short boat trips; fit it into a 4‑night Grenadines itinerary.
Union Island is a small volcanic Grenadine with a tidy town, several beaches, forts and easy access to boat tours of nearby cays. Its size makes a 2‑day stay enough to see the main sights and enjoy a day‑trip to the Tobago Cays or Palm Island.
- Country
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Best months
- Dec–Jun
- Avoid
- Jul–Nov (rainier, hotter)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- XCD
- Money
- Currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD), pegged to the US dollar; US dollars are widely accepted.
- Daily spend
- Budget XCD 80–120 excl. bed · Mid XCD 130–180 excl. bed · High XCD 200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Digicel and Flow sell SIMs and eSIMs; coverage weak on small cays.
- Emergency
- Police 911 · Fire and ambulance 999
- Plugs
- Types G, A, B · 230 V · 50 Hz · Mostly UK-style sockets.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% often added.; Boat crews: 10–15%.
- Water
- Tap water on St Vincent is generally fine; rainwater cisterns on the Grenadines — drink bottled.
- Toilets
- Hotels, restaurants, the ferry terminal.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | XCD 3–5 |
| Meal (local restaurant) | XCD 15–25 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | XCD 30–45 |
| Ferry Kingstown → Union Island (one‑way) | XCD 150–180 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- UNI · Union Island Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Fast ferry Kingstown → Union Island
- about XCD 150 per person, 2.5 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The island is walkable; taxis are available but limited. Most visitors rent a scooter or use the local bus for the few kilometres between Clifton and Ashton.
See and do
Known for
- Fort Murray
- Fort Irene
- Fort Rapid
- Point Look Out beach
- Mount Olympus hike
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tobago Cays | Boat tour from Union Island harbour; several operators (Catamaran, Schooner, Yacht) depart daily. | About 1 h each way |
| Palm Island | Day‑trip boat from Union Island harbour; multiple operators. | ≈1 h each way |
Sleep
- Clifton
- Harbour town, walkable to shops, restaurants and ferry dock; ideal for short stays.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | SorrySorry |
| Thank you | Thank youThank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it?How much is it? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card?Can I pay by card? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the toilet?Where is the toilet? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Good morning to everyone; avoid: Skipping greetings
- Anchorages: Agree prices with boat boys; avoid: Accepting help without a price
- Dress: Cover up in town; avoid: Swimwear or camouflage in Kingstown
Scams and watch-outs
- Tourist‑price inflation can affect bars and restaurants; ask for prices before ordering.
- Ferry schedules are limited – the fast ferry runs 2.5 h from Kingstown with stops; check times, especially on Mondays and Fridays for the Carriacou link.
Union Island is generally safe; petty theft is rare but keep valuables secured, especially on ferries and at night in the harbour area.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Union Island yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Fort Murray
- Fort Irene
- Fort Rapid
- Point Look Out beach
- Mount Olympus hike
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Union Island: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Union Island, revision 4853944 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4853944
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/union-island). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.