You're staring at a map of the Caribbean, and you've narrowed it down to two heavy hitters. St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Bonaire. On paper, they both offer blue water and palm trees. In reality? They are worlds apart. Seriously. If you book one expecting the other, you’re going to be either very bored or very overwhelmed.
Choosing between St. Vincent and the Grenadines vs Bonaire isn't just about price. It’s about your soul. Do you want to be Indiana Jones or a professional fish-watcher?
Bonaire is flat. It’s desert-like. It’s also arguably the best shore-diving spot on the entire planet. St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is a sprawling archipelago of 32 islands. It’s lush. It’s volcanic. It’s where they filmed Pirates of the Caribbean for a reason. You’ve got the rugged, jungle-clad main island of St. Vincent, and then you’ve got the glitzy, billionaire-dense Mustique, and the "salt-life" perfection of the Tobago Cays.
The Vibe Shift: Desert vs. Jungle
Bonaire is part of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao). It sits outside the hurricane belt. That’s a huge plus if you’re traveling in September. Geologically, it’s a raised coral reef. You won’t find soaring mountains here. Instead, you get cacti, iguanas, and pink flamingos. The energy is laid back, almost quiet. It's the kind of place where people wear flip-flops to dinner and talk about their nitrogen saturation levels.
St. Vincent is different. It’s dramatic. La Soufrière, an active volcano, dominates the north end of the main island. This means black sand beaches. It means steep, emerald-green ridges that look like they belong in Jurassic Park. But then you head south into the Grenadines—Bequia, Canouan, Union Island—and the sand turns white, the water turns turquoise, and the vibe shifts from "rugged explorer" to "luxury yachting."
SVG is more complicated to navigate. Bonaire is simple.
Honestly, Bonaire feels like a small town that happens to be underwater. SVG feels like a kingdom you have to conquer one ferry or puddle-jumper at a time.
Diving and Snorkeling: The Big Difference
If you’re a diver, you probably already know about Bonaire. It’s famous for its "Drive and Dive" culture. You rent a pickup truck, throw your tanks in the back, and look for yellow stones on the side of the road. Those stones mark dive sites. You just park, walk into the water, and you're on a world-class reef. No boats required. The Marine Park has been protected since 1979, and the health of the coral shows it. You'll see parrotfish, hawksbill turtles, and maybe a seahorse if you’ve got sharp eyes.
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Now, let's talk about St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
SVG doesn’t have the same "ease" of diving as Bonaire. Most of it is boat-based. But the variety is wild. You’ve got the "muck diving" capital of the Caribbean in St. Vincent—think weird critters, frogfish, and rare shrimp in the black sand. Then you go to the Tobago Cays Marine Park. It’s a cluster of five uninhabited islands protected by a massive horseshoe reef. It is, quite simply, the most beautiful place to snorkel in the Western Hemisphere. You are literally swimming in a giant, shallow aquarium filled with green sea turtles.
Bonaire is for the DIY diver. SVG is for the adventurer who wants to see something different at every stop.
Let’s get real about the beaches
If your dream is a long, powdery white beach with a tiki bar, Bonaire might disappoint you. Most of its coastline is ironshore (fossilized coral). It’s sharp. It’s rocky. There are a few sandy spots like No Name Beach on Klein Bonaire or the man-made beach at Eden Beach Resort, but it’s not a "beach lounge" island.
The Grenadines, however, are the gold standard for beaches. Salt Whistle Bay on Mayreau? Ridiculous. It’s a double-sided beach where you can see the Atlantic on one side and the Caribbean on the other. Lower Bay in Bequia is exactly what you imagine when you think of a Caribbean getaway—golden sand, calm water, and a cold Hairoun beer in your hand.
Getting There and Moving Around
Getting to Bonaire is relatively straightforward. Flamingo International Airport (BON) handles direct flights from Miami, Atlanta, and Amsterdam. Once you're there, you rent a truck. That’s it. One road goes north, one road goes south.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines? Pack your patience.
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The Argyle International Airport on St. Vincent is great, but unless you’re staying on the main island, your journey has just begun. To get to the "good stuff" in the Grenadines, you’re looking at ferries or small planes. The Bequia Express is a local institution—a ferry that hauls everything from tourists to crates of tomatoes. It’s a 1-hour crossing that can be bumpy. Or you take a 10-seater SVG Air flight into Union Island or Canouan.
It's more expensive to travel within SVG. A lot more. But that’s why it feels more exclusive. You won’t find thousands of cruise ship passengers clogging the streets of Union Island.
Culture and Food
Bonaire has a heavy Dutch influence. You’ll find great cheese, Dutch pancakes, and a very organized, European feel to the infrastructure. The local Papiamentu language is a beautiful mix of Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch. For dinner, you’re eating fresh caught lionfish (it’s an invasive species, so eating it is actually an act of environmentalism) or goat stew (Kabritu Stoba).
SVG is deeply West Indian. It’s louder, more colorful, and more raw. The food is incredible if you like spice. You have to try "breadfruit and jackfish," the national dish. In Bequia, the culinary scene is surprisingly sophisticated because of the international yachting crowd, but you can still find a "roti" shop on every corner.
There’s a certain grit to St. Vincent that Bonaire doesn't have. St. Vincent feels like a real country where people live and work. Bonaire often feels like a giant dive resort. Neither is "better," but they are definitely different "flavors" of the Caribbean.
Cost Comparison
Bonaire can be done on a budget if you're smart. You rent an apartment with a kitchen, buy groceries at Van Den Tweel (the local Dutch supermarket), and focus on shore diving.
SVG is harder to do cheaply. Because you’re moving between islands, the transport costs add up fast. The Grenadines also cater to a high-end crowd. Canouan, for example, is home to a Mandarin Oriental and a massive marina for superyachts. Mustique is... well, Mustique. If you have to ask the price, you probably shouldn't be there.
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That said, Bequia and Union Island offer middle-ground options. You can find charming guesthouses for $150 a night, but the "hidden costs" of water taxis and ferries will always make SVG more expensive than a stationary trip to Bonaire.
What about the wind?
Windsurfers and wing-foilers, listen up. Bonaire has Lac Bay. It’s a shallow, turquoise lagoon with consistent trade winds and no waves. It is a world-class training ground. Sarah-Quita Offringa, many-time world champion, hails from the ABC islands for a reason.
SVG has Union Island. Specifically, Frigate Island and the "JT Pro Center." The kiting here is legendary. It’s more of a "pro" vibe—choppy water, strong winds, and incredibly scenic backdrops. If you’re into wind sports, both are elite, but Bonaire is easier for beginners.
The Verdict: Which One Should You Book?
Choosing between St. Vincent and the Grenadines vs Bonaire comes down to one question: How do you want to spend your Tuesday morning?
If you want to throw your gear in a truck, drive 10 minutes, and be underwater with a sea turtle by 9:00 AM, go to Bonaire. It is efficient, safe, and underwater-focused. It’s the best "bang for your buck" for serious divers.
If you want to wake up on a ferry, see a volcano in the distance, hike to a waterfall in the afternoon, and then drink rum on a tiny sand cay while the sun sets, go to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It’s for the wanderers. The people who don't mind a little sweat and a complicated itinerary in exchange for some of the most dramatic landscapes on earth.
Practical Next Steps for Your Trip
- For Bonaire: Book your rental truck at least 4 months in advance. They sell out. Also, remember to pay your STINAPA nature fee online before you arrive; you can't enter the water without it.
- For SVG: Don't try to see all 32 islands in one week. Pick a base. Bequia is the best "all-rounder" for first-timers. If you’re flying into St. Vincent, spend at least one day hiking the Vermont Nature Trail before heading south.
- Check the Flights: Check LIAT or SVG Air schedules before booking your international flight. Often, the "last leg" of the trip to the Grenadines dictates your entire schedule because those small planes don't fly at night.
- Sustainability: Both locations are fragile. In Bonaire, use reef-safe sunscreen (it's the law in many spots). In SVG, be mindful of water usage; many of the smaller islands rely entirely on rainwater harvesting.
SVG is an adventure. Bonaire is an immersion. Both are spectacular. Just make sure you know which one you're signing up for.