Things to Do in Mustique

Mustique sits like a perfectly curated jewel in the southern Caribbean, a private island that's become synonymous with understated luxury and celebrity hideaways. This 1,400-acre slice of paradise in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines operates more like an exclusive club than a typical Caribbean destination - you can't just show up here, and that's precisely the point. The island maintains its mystique through careful curation, with only about 100 villas dotting the landscape and a single luxury resort serving guests who value privacy above all else. What makes Mustique genuinely special isn't just the famous faces who retreat here (though Princess Margaret did help put it on the map), but the way it feels frozen in a more elegant time. The beaches are pristine white sand affairs where you might have entire stretches to yourself, the island's interior rolls with gentle hills covered in tropical gardens, and the whole place operates with a quiet efficiency that money can buy. It's the kind of destination where golf carts are the primary transport, where the small airport feels more like a private club, and where the biggest decision of your day might be which secluded cove to claim as your own.

Dining on Mustique tends toward refined simplicity, with fresh seafood and Caribbean flavors prepared with international sophistication. The Cotton House restaurant sets the standard with its oceanfront terrace and menu that changes based on daily catches and seasonal ingredients. Basil's Bar, perched over the water, offers a more casual atmosphere with excellent cocktails and lighter fare - it's the closest thing Mustique has to a local hangout. Many villa guests opt for private chefs, which can be arranged through the Mustique Company and typically cost $300-500 per day plus groceries. The island's small market stocks basics, but most provisions are flown in from Barbados or Saint Vincent, reflecting the premium nature of everything here.

Mustique enjoys year-round tropical weather, but the dry season from December through April represents peak season when villa rates soar and availability becomes scarce. This period offers the most reliable weather with minimal rainfall and steady trade winds that keep temperatures comfortable. The shoulder months of November and May can offer better value with still-excellent weather, while summer months (June-October) bring higher humidity and the possibility of tropical weather, though serious storms are relatively rare. Hurricane season technically runs June through November, but Mustique's southern location in the Caribbean chain means it's less frequently affected than islands further north.