Canouan Island, the Carib-Indian name for 'island of turtles', is located in the heart of the Grenadines in the southwestern Caribbean. It is approximately 100 miles west of Barbados and a few miles south west of Mustique. Stretching a mere three and a half miles by four and a quarter miles, it is one of the Caribbean's best kept secrets with acres of unspoilt lush landscape and secluded coves to explore. Lavish rolling hills give way to miles of hiking trails and flourishing plant life. With powder white sand, turquoise waters, exotic coral and quaint beaches, good things really do come in small packages.

 

Location

Canouan Island is located in the heart of the Grenadines in the southwestern Caribbean.

Language

Population

Approximately 1100 people comprise the permanent population of Canouan. Additionally CCA and its parent company CRD employees an additional 1,000 persons of varying nationality and job description.

Government

St. Vincent & the Grenadines is a fully independent state within the British Commonwealth. The government is democratically elected. An appointed Governor General represents the Crown.

Currency

Eastern Caribbean dollar and U.S. dollar (note form only).
Rate of exchange EC$2.68=US$1.00

Banking

Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines (Tel: (784) 458-8595
Opening hours: Mon. - Fri. 8a.m. to 1p.m.
Thursday 8a.m. - 1p.m, 3p.m. - 5p.m.
Required documents to open an account:
· A letter of good standing with an existing banking group.
· A job letter from CCA Limited.
· A previous utility bill issued in applicants name.

Credit Cards

All major credit cards are accepted in existing hotels and upscale businesses.

Electricity

220/240 Volts, 50 cycles. The standard electrical plug has 3 rectangular pins so do pack an adapter if necessary.

Time Zone

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in the Atlantic Standard Time zone, 1 hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time and 4 hours behind GMT.

Transportation

Fixed route bus service Monday through Saturday (06.00 - 18.00) from the urbanized area of Canouan to the main entrance gate of Raffles Resort Canouan Island. One-way ticket EC$1. Bus stops include Main Junction (Market), Cherry Hill, Friendship and Tamarind. Weekly (EC$12) / Monthly (EC$48) bus passes can be purchased from the bus conductor.

Airlift

Scheduled direct flights to Canouan from SVG Air. The Canouan airport (CIW) was officially opened in 1998 and upgraded to a jet port in 2008. A government departure tax of EC$40.00 is charged to all passengers leaving the country. No taxes are imposed on inter-island travel within St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Contact nos. for the charter airlines · SVG Air (St. Vincent) 784-457-5124 · Mustique Airways (St. Vincent) 784-458-4380 · Trans Island Air (Barbados) 246-418-1654

Customs regulations

Limited quantities of tobacco and alcohol, personal effects and tools of profession, trade or employment are duty free. Other items are dutiable or restricted.

Driver's License

Visitors and residents wishing to drive on Canouan must purchase a local driver's permit, which can be acquired at the local police station. A valid driver's license from your country of residence is required. The cost of the license is EC$50 and is valid for 6 months. Please remember to drive on the LEFT.

Immigration, Permits, Visas

Citizens of Canada, The United Kingdom and The United States require a passport or proof of citizenship (birth certificate or voter's registration card) to visit St. Vincent and the Grenadines for a period not exceeding six months. All other nationalities must be in possession of a valid passport. A return or onward ticket is required of all visitors. All requests for work permits and/or residency permits are handled by the Human Resources Department of CCA Limited (police record and medical certificate needed to process residence permit).

Medical Facilities

The Canouan Medical Clinic is located in Retreat Village and is open 9a.m -5p.m. daily. A pharmacist is available on-island each Wednesday. Medical Certificates for work permits are available Wednesdays only.

Communication

Phone booths are available throughout the Village. Canouan Beach Hotel, Tamarind Beach Hotel and Silver Lining Sports Bar & Restaurant offer overseas phone and fax services. Cellular phones and service are available through Cable & Wireless (LIME offices), Digicel. St. Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) has a state of the art fibre optic digital telephone system. Internet, telex and telegraph access are also available. The country code for SVG is 1-784 followed by the local seven-digit number. International Direct (IDD) service is available to all destinations in the world and international calls can be made using credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, AT&T and Bell) by dialing the operator.

 

Cable T.V. Service

Readily available

Churches

Roman Catholic, Anglican, Apostolic, Pentecostal and Seventh Day Adventist.

Beaches

Located on the southern part of Canouan are Glossy Bay, Godhal Bay and Friendship Bay whose spectacular views overlook the southern Grenadines. Many of Canouan's beaches are protected by a coral reef making them excellent for snorkeling and scuba diving. On the windward side is Godahl Bay, popular for swimming. In the north, Maho (Mahault) Bay is an unspoilt stretch of white sand. There are many other small beaches to explore along this shoreline.

Water sports

Tropical waters in hues of green and blue surround the island and provide for an array of activities. Visitors and resident alike have access to water sports from the hotels located here. Windsurfing, sailing and hydro-bikes are all available. Local and resort-based dive shops offer snorkeling, scuba equipment and scuba certification courses. Recommended dive sites include New Guinea Reef, Bottle Reef and The Garden, all of which are home to vivid coral gardens and prolific fish life.

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Canouan Island is located in the heart of the Grenadines in the southwestern Caribbean.

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