Things to Do in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Dry season tail-end conditions mean you get excellent visibility for diving and snorkeling - typically 20-30 m (65-100 ft) underwater, which is about as good as it gets in these waters. The Tobago Cays are particularly stunning this month.
- Trade winds are still reliable in March, making this one of the best sailing months in the Caribbean. You'll get consistent 15-20 knot winds without the December-February charter boat crowds that pack out Bequia and Mustique.
- Sea temperatures hit their sweet spot at 27°C (81°F) - warm enough that you can snorkel for hours without a wetsuit, but still refreshing. March is actually when marine life is most active before the warmer months set in.
- This is shoulder season pricing territory. Accommodations drop 20-30% compared to February, and you can still book last-minute villa rentals on the smaller islands without the Christmas-to-Valentine's Day premium rates.
Considerations
- The trade winds that make sailing perfect also mean the windward (eastern) coasts can be rough for swimming. If you're staying on the Atlantic side of Saint Vincent, expect choppy conditions and strong currents - stick to leeward beaches for calm water.
- March sits in that awkward transition period where cruise ship schedules are winding down but haven't stopped completely. You might hit Kingstown on a day when 1-2 ships dock, which overwhelms the small capital for about 4-6 hours (typically 9am-3pm).
- While rainfall is low compared to summer months, those 10 rainy days tend to bring intense afternoon squalls rather than gentle drizzle. When it rains, it really rains - expect to wait it out for 30-45 minutes rather than walking through it.
Best Activities in March
Tobago Cays Marine Park Sailing and Snorkeling
March offers some of the clearest water you'll see all year in the Tobago Cays - that 20-30 m (65-100 ft) visibility means you can spot sea turtles from the boat before you even get in the water. The protected lagoon is calm this time of year, and the trade winds make the sail down from Union Island or Bequia absolutely perfect. You'll typically share the anchorage with 15-20 other boats rather than the 40-50 you'd see in peak season. The water temperature means you can snorkel for 2-3 hours comfortably without getting cold, which is when you really start seeing the reef sharks and larger fish that cruise through.
La Soufriere Volcano Hiking
The volcano is significantly drier in March compared to the summer rainy season, which matters because the trail gets genuinely dangerous when muddy. You're looking at a 5-6 hour round trip covering roughly 10 km (6.2 miles) with 800 m (2,625 ft) of elevation gain. March mornings are cool enough - starting around 24°C (75°F) - that you can actually make the climb without feeling like you're melting. The summit is often clear until about 11am when clouds roll in, so early starts are essential. Worth noting that the 2021 eruption changed some trail sections, and local guides know which routes are currently safest.
Bequia Island Hopping and Beach Exploration
Bequia in March is what the whole Caribbean used to feel like before mass tourism. The island gets maybe 200-300 visitors on any given day compared to thousands in winter peak. Princess Margaret Beach and Lower Bay are calm and swimmable - the windward beaches like Industry Bay are rougher but empty. The ferry from Kingstown runs 6-8 times daily and takes 60 minutes, or you can fly in 15 minutes on the small planes. March is turtle nesting preparation time, so you'll see hawksbills around the reefs. The Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary is worth 90 minutes of your time, and the whaling museum gives genuine insight into island culture rather than sanitized tourist history.
Dark View Falls and Leeward Coast Exploration
The falls are about 30 minutes north of Kingstown on the leeward coast, and March water levels are perfect - high enough to be impressive without the dangerous currents you get during heavy rain months. The lower falls are an easy 10-minute walk, upper falls take another 20-25 minutes up a steeper trail. Water temperature is cool and refreshing, maybe 22°C (72°F), which feels amazing after the humid hike. The surrounding rainforest is loud with birds in March - you'll hear parrots even if you don't see them. Combine this with stops at the Mesopotamia Valley viewpoint and Wallilabou Bay where they filmed Pirates of the Caribbean, though honestly the film set is pretty deteriorated now.
Mustique Day Visits and Beach Time
March is actually one of the few months regular travelers can afford Mustique day trips because villa rental season is ending and the ultra-wealthy crowd has mostly left. The island is still exclusive and carefully managed, but day visitor numbers increase slightly. Macaroni Beach is consistently rated one of the Caribbean's best - white sand, clear water, decent snorkeling on the north end. Basil's Bar is the island's social hub, expensive but you're paying for the scene as much as the food. The island is only 5.7 sq km (2.2 sq miles) so you can walk or bike most of it, though the hills are steeper than they look.
Kingstown Market and Cultural Immersion
Saturday morning at Kingstown Market is when the whole island comes to town. You'll see produce you've never heard of - breadfruit, dasheen, soursop - and vendors who actually want to explain what to do with it rather than just make a sale. March brings mangoes and golden apples into season. The market building itself dates to 1881 and hasn't changed much. Combine this with the Botanical Gardens, which are legitimately old - established 1765 - and still maintain a breadfruit tree descended from the original Bligh specimens. Fort Charlotte overlooks the harbor and gives you proper historical context about the colonial period and Black Carib resistance. The whole experience takes 3-4 hours and costs almost nothing.
March Events & Festivals
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sailing Regatta
This isn't the massive Easter Regatta that happens in April, but March typically sees smaller inter-island racing events and yacht club competitions, particularly around Bequia and Union Island. These are working regattas where locals actually race traditional island boats alongside modern yachts. The social scene around these races - beach parties, rum shops filling up after racing - gives you more authentic island culture than any organized tour. Basil's Bar on Mustique and Mac's Pizzeria on Bequia become unofficial race headquarters.