Things to Do in Saint Vincent in January
January weather, activities, events & insider tips
January Weather in Saint Vincent
Is January Right for You?
Advantages
- Dry season conditions with minimal rainfall - you'll see maybe 5 mm (0.2 inches) total across the month, which means beach plans and hiking rarely get derailed. Those 10 rainy days tend to be brief passing showers rather than day-long washouts.
- Comfortable temperatures hovering between 23-28°C (73-82°F) make outdoor activities genuinely pleasant. The humidity at 70% is noticeable but manageable, especially with the trade winds that pick up along the coast and in the Grenadines.
- Peak sailing and diving season in the Grenadines - water visibility reaches 24-30 m (80-100 ft) and seas are calmer than you'll find later in the year. Charter boats book solid but the weather makes multi-day trips actually enjoyable.
- Carnival season preparation creates an energetic atmosphere across Kingstown without the overwhelming crowds of June/July. You'll catch calypso tent performances and steel pan rehearsals, getting the cultural experience with breathing room to actually move around.
Considerations
- High season pricing hits accommodations and yacht charters hard - expect rates 40-60% higher than September or October. Bequia and Mustique properties book months ahead, and last-minute deals basically don't exist in January.
- North American and European winter escapees mean popular anchorages in the Tobago Cays and Bequia get crowded. You're sharing snorkeling spots and beach bars with more people than locals would consider ideal, though it's nothing like Caribbean mega-destinations.
- The dry conditions make hiking trails dusty and some waterfalls run thin - Dark View Falls and Trinity Falls still flow but you won't see them at their most impressive. If dramatic cascades are your priority, come back in November.
Best Activities in January
Tobago Cays Marine Park Sailing and Snorkeling
January offers the calmest seas and clearest water you'll find all year for exploring this protected marine park. Water visibility typically reaches 24-30 m (80-100 ft), and the trade winds sit at a consistent 15-20 knots - strong enough for good sailing without making anchorages uncomfortable. Sea turtles are actively feeding in the seagrass beds, and the coral reefs around Baradal and Petit Rameau show their full color palette in the bright January sun. The UV index hits 8, so you're getting ideal conditions for underwater photography without the summer's harsher glare.
La Soufriere Volcano Hiking
The dry season makes this challenging 1,234 m (4,049 ft) climb significantly safer and more rewarding. Trails that turn into mudslides during wet months are firm and navigable in January, though still steep and demanding. You'll need 5-7 hours round trip from the trailhead at Rabacca. The reduced cloud cover means you actually have decent odds of summit views across to Martinique and St. Lucia - maybe 60% chance of clear conditions if you start by 6:30 AM. The volcano's sulfur vents are always active, creating that distinctive rotten egg smell, and the crater lake sits jade green against black volcanic rock.
Bequia Island Beach Bar Hopping and Snorkeling
January weather makes island hopping between Bequia's protected bays genuinely pleasant rather than a seasick ordeal. Princess Margaret Beach and Lower Bay have calm, clear water perfect for shore snorkeling, and the beach bars - Jack's, Fernando's, De Reef - hit their stride with consistent crowds that create atmosphere without overwhelming the small-island vibe. Water temperature sits around 27°C (81°F), warm enough you don't need a wetsuit for extended snorkeling sessions. The ferry from Kingstown runs reliably in these conditions, taking 60 minutes each way.
Vermont Nature Trail and Parrot Watching
The dry season concentrates the endangered St. Vincent Parrot around remaining water sources and fruiting trees, making January one of the better months for sightings. Early morning walks along the 2 km (1.2 mile) Vermont Nature Trail offer 70-80% chance of seeing these birds if you're there by 6:30 AM with a guide who knows their current feeding patterns. The trail itself winds through montane rainforest at about 450 m (1,476 ft) elevation where it's noticeably cooler - maybe 24°C (75°F) - and the reduced rainfall means fewer slippery sections. You'll spend 2-3 hours total including observation time.
Kingstown Market and Street Food Exploration
Saturday mornings at Kingstown Market show Vincentian life at its most vibrant - vendors bring produce from across the island and the energy peaks between 7-11 AM before the midday heat settles in. January's harvest includes breadfruit, christophene, and dasheen, plus whatever's coming in from the Grenadines. The surrounding streets have food vendors selling roti, saltfish souse, and conch fritters for 8-15 EC (3-6 USD) per serving. The market building itself dates to 1881 and the chaos of negotiating prices, dodging produce trucks, and navigating narrow aisles gives you more cultural immersion than any museum.
Dark View Falls and Richmond Beach Circuit
This combination makes a solid half-day trip that shows both mountain and coast. Dark View Falls drops in two tiers - the lower fall is an easy 10-minute walk and still flows decently in January's dry conditions, though not at full force. The pool beneath is swimmable and refreshing after the humid walk in. Richmond Beach on the north coast offers black volcanic sand and usually has decent body surfing waves in January when the Atlantic swells pick up. The 45-minute drive between the two locations passes through banana plantations and small villages that show working agricultural Saint Vincent.
January Events & Festivals
Nine Mornings Festival
This pre-Christmas tradition actually extends into early January in some communities with final celebrations and church services. You'll catch the tail end of street jump-ups and traditional string band music in Kingstown neighborhoods, though the main festival dates fall in December. Worth asking locals about any scheduled events during your visit as the calendar varies by community.