Things to Do in Saint Vincent in February
February weather, activities, events & insider tips
February Weather in Saint Vincent
Is February Right for You?
Advantages
- Dry season conditions with minimal rainfall - you'll typically see brief afternoon showers that clear quickly, leaving evenings perfect for beach time and outdoor dining. Those 10 rainy days average just 20-30 minutes of precipitation.
- Carnival season reaches its peak in late February, bringing the island's most vibrant cultural celebration with steel pan competitions, calypso shows, and street parties that give you authentic access to Vincentian culture you won't find any other time of year.
- Trade winds are consistently strong in February, making it the absolute best month for sailing the Grenadines - expect 15-20 knot winds that are perfect for island hopping without the aggressive swells you'd get later in spring.
- Whale watching season overlaps with February as humpback whales migrate through the Caribbean - morning boat trips along the leeward coast have roughly 60-70% success rates for sightings, particularly in the first two weeks of the month.
Considerations
- Accommodation prices run 30-40% higher than low season months like September or October, and the limited hotel inventory on SVG means you're looking at booking 8-10 weeks ahead minimum or settling for less desirable properties inland.
- Carnival week specifically (usually last week of February) means flights from major hubs like Barbados get expensive and fully booked - return tickets from BGI to SVG can jump from 400 USD to 700 USD, and inter-island ferries to Bequia and Mustique fill up days in advance.
- The northwest coast beaches like Villa and Indian Bay get noticeably more crowded during February, particularly on weekends when cruise ships dock in Kingstown - expect 3-4 ships per week bringing day-trippers who concentrate around the most accessible beaches.
Best Activities in February
Grenadines Sailing and Island Hopping
February's consistent trade winds make this the premier month for sailing between the Grenadine islands. The 15-20 knot winds are strong enough for excellent sailing but not the aggressive conditions you'd face in March or April. Water visibility reaches 24-30 m (80-100 ft) for snorkeling stops at Tobago Cays, and you'll avoid the summer's jellyfish blooms. Day charters typically visit 3-4 islands including Bequia, Mustique, and the Tobago Cays Marine Park. The combination of dry weather and reliable winds means trip cancellations are rare, unlike shoulder season months.
La Soufriere Volcano Hiking
February offers the clearest summit views of the year - the volcano sits at 1,234 m (4,049 ft) and cloud cover typically doesn't roll in until after 11am, giving you a solid 3-4 hour morning window for the ascent. The trail conditions are drier than rainy season, though it's still muddy in sections due to the rainforest environment. You'll want to start by 6:30am to reach the crater rim by 9:30am before clouds obscure the view across to Martinique and St. Lucia. The volcano is active (last erupted 2021) so you'll see steam vents and smell sulfur at the summit, which adds genuine geological interest beyond just the hike itself.
Carnival Cultural Events
Late February brings Vincy Mas, Saint Vincent's Carnival celebration that actually feels like a local festival rather than a tourist production. The steel pan competitions (Panorama) happen in Victoria Park and showcase bands that have been practicing since November - tickets run 20-30 XCD at the gate. Calypso Monarch competitions feature political and social commentary that gives you real insight into Vincentian culture. J'ouvert morning (usually the Monday before Ash Wednesday) starts at 4am with paint and mud parties through Kingstown streets. Unlike Trinidad's massive Carnival, Vincy Mas is small enough that you can move between events easily and locals are genuinely welcoming to visitors who show up respectfully.
Dark View Falls and Rainforest Exploration
February's relatively drier conditions make the rainforest trails more accessible while keeping the waterfalls flowing strong from residual wet season runoff. Dark View Falls on the windward coast has two tiers - the lower falls have a swimming hole that's actually swimmable in February (versus too cold and rushing in rainy months). The 15-minute trail from the entrance is steep but manageable when not completely muddy. The surrounding rainforest is thick with vegetation and you'll hear parrots in the canopy - SVG has endemic species you won't see on other islands. Combine this with a drive up the windward highway for black sand beaches and the most dramatic coastal scenery on the island.
Dive Sites and Snorkeling Spots
February water temperatures sit around 26-27°C (79-81°F) with that 24-30 m (80-100 ft) visibility that makes this prime diving season. The leeward coast has wall dives and reef sites that are calmer in February compared to summer swells. New Guinea Reef and the Bat Cave near Petit Byahaut are accessible in February conditions. For snorkelers, the Tobago Cays are the obvious highlight, but closer to the main island, Young Island Cut and the reef at Villa Beach offer decent snorkeling without boat trips. Sea turtles are active in February and you'll likely spot hawksbill and green turtles on most dives.
Bequia Island Day Trips
The ferry from Kingstown to Bequia runs multiple times daily and takes 60 minutes - February's calmer seas make this crossing comfortable versus the rougher passages in summer months. Bequia has the best beach infrastructure in the Grenadines with Princess Margaret Beach and Lower Bay offering actual facilities. The island is known for boat building and you can visit workshops where traditional whaling boats are still constructed using hand tools. Port Elizabeth has a walkable waterfront with restaurants and bars that feel authentically Caribbean rather than resort-manufactured. Thursday nights have a street party with local food vendors and live music.
February Events & Festivals
Vincy Mas (Saint Vincent Carnival)
The island's premier cultural event typically runs the last two weeks of February, culminating in the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Steel pan Panorama competitions showcase bands in full arrangements, Calypso Monarch brings political and social commentary, Soca Monarch features the year's biggest party anthems, and the parade features costumed bands dancing through Kingstown streets. J'ouvert morning at 4am is paint, mud, and oil street parties. Miss SVG pageant happens mid-February. This is authentic Caribbean carnival - smaller and more accessible than Trinidad, more cultural than the cruise ship productions on other islands.
Nine Mornings Festival Spillover
While Nine Mornings officially runs December into early January, some communities continue morning street parties and cultural activities into early February, particularly in rural areas. You might catch early morning gatherings with traditional string band music, folk dancing, and local food vendors in villages like Georgetown or Layou. These aren't tourist events - they're community traditions where showing up respectfully means you'll be welcomed.