Union Island
Just south of Mayreau, Union Island is the transport hub of the southern Grenadines: it has an airport, a busy harbor, the customs office for yachts, and the base for many Tobago Cays day trips. It is also a fine island to explore in its own right.
The island at a glance
Union is about 3 miles long and 1 mile wide, with around 2,500 residents in two main villages, Clifton and Ashton. A spine of volcanic pinnacles, ridges and dry forest runs along the island, and Mount Taboi, at 999 feet, is the highest point in the Grenadines.
Clifton
Clifton is the busy center, with the ferry jetty, the anchorage in Clifton Harbour, shops, restaurants and an open-air market opposite Hugh Mulzac Square and the wharf, well stocked with fresh fruit and vegetables. The tourism office is by the ferry wharf, and opposite the wharf is a Tobago Cays Marine Park office where you can pay park fees. Customs and Immigration for visiting yachts is also in Clifton.
Getting there from Mayreau
- Ferry: the inter-island ferries between Kingstown and the southern Grenadines call at both Mayreau and Union.
- Water taxi: a short boat ride from Saline Bay or Salt Whistle Bay. Agree the fare before you set off.
- By air: Union Island Airport, on the east side near Clifton, has regional flights, which makes Union a common gateway to Mayreau.
Things to do
- Hike up Fort Hill, a 400-foot peak overlooking the airport and once the site of a cannon battery, for panoramic views of Clifton Harbour.
- Walk the island's network of tracks, carrying water and sun protection; basic maps are available from the tourism office. Taxis wait near the market, and public minibuses carry an "H" on the number plate. Agree tour fares before you set off.
- Visit Ashton Harbour on the south coast, a shallow lagoon sheltered by Frigate Island and an offshore reef.
- Spend an afternoon at Chatham Bay, which fills almost the whole west coast and offers peace and seclusion, or on the white sand of Richmond Bay and Belmont Bay in the north.
- Try lambi (queen conch), a standard dish on most menus in Clifton.
- Time your visit for Easterval, when Clifton is especially lively.
Union and the Tobago Cays
Many Tobago Cays day trips start in Clifton, and some visitors stay on Union and visit Mayreau and the Cays from there. See the Tobago Cays Marine Park guide.
