Things to Do in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- May sits right after Easter peak so hotel availability jumps dramatically, at the smaller Grenadine hideaways like Petit St Vincent where you can book a week-long stay instead of the usual three-night minimums
- The sea temperature hits 28°C (82°F) - warm enough for hours of snorkeling without a wetsuit, and the Atlantic swells that hammer the east coast in winter have settled into gentle rollers perfect for paddleboarding between the Tobago Cays
- Sea turtle nesting season starts mid-May on the black sand beaches near Richmond - you'll see leatherbacks hauling themselves ashore at 3 AM, something locals won't even mention unless you ask about night fishing
- Hurricane season hasn't started yet but shoulder-season pricing kicks in - expect 30-40% lower rates at the bigger resorts on Canouan compared to March, with the same weather patterns
Considerations
- Afternoon squalls roll in fast from the Atlantic - that 70% humidity doesn't just feel sticky, it creates sudden 30-minute downpours that can cancel boat trips to the Tobago Cays unless your captain knows the local weather patterns
- Some smaller beach bars and guesthouses on the Grenadines close for 'low season' maintenance - Salt Whistle Bay on Mayreau might have just one rum shack open instead of the usual three
- The trade winds drop off, so the islands get noticeably more humid - your beach towel won't dry between uses and the air feels thick by 10 AM
Best Activities in May
Tobago Cays snorkeling and turtle swims
May's calm seas and 30-metre (98-foot) visibility make this the month for swimming alongside hawksbill turtles in their natural feeding grounds. The protected lagoon water sits at bathtub temperature, and with fewer tour boats running, you'll share the coral gardens with maybe three other groups instead of the usual flotilla.
Union Island to Petit St Vincent sailing day trips
The steady easterlies of winter have calmed into gentle 15-knot winds perfect for island-hopping catamarans. You'll sail past palm-fringed hills that look like computer wallpaper, stopping at Mopion sandbar where a single thatched umbrella marks the world's smallest bar. May's lower boat traffic means you'll likely have it to yourselves.
La Soufrière volcano sunrise hikes
Start at 4 AM to beat both the heat and the afternoon clouds that build around the 1,234-metre (4,049-foot) peak. May mornings are crystal clear - on good days you'll see St Lucia's Pitons 75 km (47 miles) north. The trail through cloud forest gets muddy after rain, but that's when you'll spot the rare St Vincent parrot.
Bequia whaleboat building workshops
May starts boat-building season at the Sargeant Brothers boatyard in Port Elizabeth - they'll let you plane teak planks while they explain how these 28-foot (8.5-metre) whaleboats have been built the same way since 1840. The smell of fresh-cut cedar mixes with salt air, and you'll learn why Bequia's the last place in the Caribbean still making traditional wooden boats.
Dark-sky sailing from Mustique to Canouan
New moon nights in May offer the darkest skies of the year - sail between islands and the Milky Way reflects so clearly in the water that you can't tell where sea ends and sky begins. There's zero light pollution once you clear Mustique, and the bioluminescence kicks up when your dinghy disturbs the water.
May Events & Festivals
Bequia Music Fest
Three days of reggae, calypso and soca on the Belmont Walkway - local bands play from wooden stages built over the water, and the whole island shows up including fishermen who haven't left the bay in years. The Friday night 'old time string band' session in the Fig Tree bar is where you'll hear real Vincentian music, not the resort versions.