Mayreau is the smallest inhabited island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Grenadine chain—about half a square mile, with a village of roughly 250 to 300 people. There is no airport and no cruise pier. Every visitor arrives by water, which is part of why the place still feels like a genuine getaway.

Arrive by yacht (the classic way)

Most visitors first see Mayreau from a charter yacht or sailing itinerary through the southern Grenadines. Salt Whistle Bay, at the island’s northern tip, is one of the chain’s signature anchorages: a calm Caribbean crescent with a short tender ride to the beach. From here, Tobago Cays is only a short hop east, and Union Island sits a short sail southwest—so Mayreau often lands in the middle of a multi-day Grenadines route rather than as a single-airport destination.

Fly nearby, then boat across

If you are not sailing your own boat, fly into the region and finish by sea:

• Argyle International Airport (SVD) on mainland St. Vincent is the main international gateway, with connections from several North American and European cities.
• Union Island (UNI) and Canouan (CIW) are the closest airstrips for small regional flights (for example SVG Air / Grenadine Air Alliance connections). From Union Island, water taxis and transfers to Mayreau are commonly arranged through hotels or local skippers.
• There is no scheduled airline service onto Mayreau itself—plan the last leg as a boat transfer.

Ferry and mail-boat routes

Inter-island ferries and passenger boats call at Saline Bay (the wider western anchorage with the ferry wharf), not at Salt Whistle Bay. Routes in this stretch of the Grenadines typically link St. Vincent, Canouan, Mayreau, and Union Island, but days and times change with weather and operators. Confirm departure times locally the day before you travel rather than relying on an old timetable. Once you land at Saline Bay, a short road climb over the hill brings you to the village and onward to Salt Whistle Bay.

Practical tips for a smooth arrival

• Bring cash. Mayreau has no bank or ATM; beach bars and many small businesses run on cash.
• Pack light and expect a walk or a short local ride between Saline Bay and Salt Whistle Bay.
• Build buffer time around ferry connections—missed boats are common enough that flexibility matters more than a rigid schedule.
• Hurricane season (roughly June–November) can disrupt sailings; the steadiest visitor weather for sailing and swimming is usually December through April.

Where this fits with the rest of your trip

Think of Mayreau as the land-and-sundowner stop beside the water playground of the Tobago Cays. Pair a night or afternoon here with a Cays snorkel day and a Union Island evening, and you get the quietest slice of the southern Grenadines without needing an airstrip on the island itself.

Note: Ferry schedules and transfer prices change often. Treat operator websites and your hotel or charter crew as the final word for the week you travel.