Excursion The best of st. vincent tour tour at Kingstown

Take a drive through the capital Kingstown. On Bay Street, you will see many historical artefacts and buildings which contributed to the Vincentian society of today. See the Kingstown Vegetable Market, the Cenotaph and other interesting sites on your way to Fort Charlotte.

Dorsetshire Hill

Step into the past and imagine you are standing on Dorsetshire Hill. It's March 1795, and the air is thick with tension. This very spot was once the headquarters of the legendary Black Carib Chief, Chatoyer.

He had joined forces with another chief, Duvallier, to lead the fight against the English. On the night of March 14, this peaceful hill erupted into a fierce battle as the English soldiers stormed the camp. Chatoyer, a man of immense courage and conviction, believed he was invincible. He famously challenged the English officer, Major Alexander Leith, to a duel. While the exact details of his death are a mystery—some say Major Leith, a master swordsman, killed him in the duel, while others claim an English soldier shot him in the back—one thing is certain: a great leader fell here that night. Though his home was at Morne Ronde, Chatoyer's final resting place remains unknown, a testament to the powerful and elusive legacy of this national hero.

St. Vincent Botanical Gardens

Stop by the St. Vincent Botanical Gardens, one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere (preceded by Kew Gardens in London and Bartram's Garden in Philadelphia).  Conservation or rare species have been in place in this garden since 1765. Following the "Peace of Paris" in 1763 the newly appointed governor of the Southern British Caribbean islands, Robert Melville, and the military surgeon in St. Vincent, George Young decided to create a Botanic garden, primarily to provide medicinal plants for the military and improve the life and economy of the colony. In the early 18^th century great emphasis had been laid on introducing valuable and commercial plants from the East Indies. You will see the Amazona Guildingii or Vincy parrot which is the National bird.

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View of the Cathedral of Assumption and St. George's Cathedral

As you re-enter Kingstown you will see the of Cathedral of The Assumption, its history dates back to a first structure erected in stages from 1823, although the present building was completed in the 1930's.

View St. Georges Cathedral which was built on the site on an earlier Anglican Church which was destroyed by a hurricane in 1770. The new church was dedicated in 1820. with its infamous glass window. Your guide will point out all the noteworthy buildings as you catch a glimpse of Vincentian life. The drive then takes you to the interior 'highway'. View the Mesopotamia region, food-basket of the nation from the Belmont Lookout.

Your next stop is for a cool refreshing drink. Continue along the coast and hear some more of the history of our nation. A final photo stop at the Cane Garden lookout gives you a picturesque view of the entire south of the island en-route back to the ship.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion may include: Fort Charlotte, Botanical Gardens, View the Church of The Assumption, Mesopotamia region, Young Island

Note

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking (1.50m and inclines) and is not suitable for guests with limited mobility or those who utilize a wheelchair. Lightweight comfortable clothing, flat, closed-toe walking shoes are recommended.