Things to Do in Saint Vincent in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Saint Vincent
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- November sits in the sweet spot between rainy and dry seasons - you'll get mostly sunny mornings with occasional afternoon showers that cool things down rather than ruin your day. The island is lush and green from recent rains without the daily downpours of October.
- Tourist numbers are genuinely low in November, which means you'll have beaches like Argyle and Richmond essentially to yourself. Local guesthouse owners actually have time to chat, and you can negotiate better rates since they're not fully booked.
- Sea visibility peaks in November as the Atlantic calms down - typically 18-24 m (60-80 ft) - making it one of the best months for diving the wall at New Guinea reef or snorkeling the Tobago Cays. Water temperature holds steady at 27-28°C (81-82°F), so you barely need a wetsuit.
- November marks breadfruit season and the tail end of mango season, so you'll catch local markets at their most abundant. The Kingstown market on Saturday mornings is packed with provisions, and roadside vendors sell roasted breadfruit for EC$5-8 that's actually better than most restaurant meals.
Considerations
- November is technically still hurricane season until the 30th, though by mid-November the risk drops significantly. You'll want travel insurance that covers weather disruptions, and worth checking forecasts 5-7 days before your trip. That said, the island hasn't had a direct November hit since 2010.
- Some hiking trails, particularly the upper sections of La Soufrière volcano above 900 m (2,950 ft), can be muddy and slippery from accumulated rainfall. The Vermont Nature Trail is usually fine, but the Wallilabou Falls approach requires proper footwear and honestly isn't worth the hassle after heavy rain.
- A handful of restaurants and tour operators close for maintenance in November before the December rush. The smaller operations in Bequia and Canouan particularly tend to shut down for 2-3 weeks. Always call ahead rather than just showing up, especially on the Grenadine islands.
Best Activities in November
Tobago Cays Sailing and Snorkeling Excursions
November offers some of the calmest seas for the 90-minute sail from Union Island or the longer trips from mainland Saint Vincent. The marine park waters are crystal clear right now - you'll see hawksbill turtles feeding on seagrass without the crowds of January-March. Morning departures typically 08:00-08:30 catch the best light for underwater photography. The combination of low tourist numbers and excellent visibility means you might have entire reef sections to yourself.
La Soufrière Volcano Guided Hikes
The volcano is magnificent in November - still green from rainy season but with increasingly clear summit views as December approaches. Start early, like 06:00-06:30, to beat afternoon clouds that roll in around 13:00-14:00. The 1,178 m (3,864 ft) crater rim hike takes 5-6 hours round trip from the trailhead. November's cooler mornings make the steep sections more bearable, and you'll actually need a light layer at the summit where temperatures drop to 18-20°C (64-68°F).
Kingstown Market and Street Food Walking Tours
Saturday mornings from 07:00-11:00 the Kingstown Vegetable Market becomes the island's social hub. November brings peak breadfruit, dasheen, and the last of the Julie mangoes. The energy is completely different from tourist markets - locals actually shopping, vendors calling out in Creole, and the smell of fresh nutmeg being ground. Nearby, the Little Tokyo fish market operates Tuesday and Friday mornings if you want to see yellowfin tuna being butchered and sold within hours of being caught.
Black Sand Beach Exploration and Coastal Villages
November's mix of sun and brief showers creates dramatic lighting on the volcanic black sand beaches along the windward coast. Argyle Beach near the airport is easily accessible, while Owia Salt Pond further north offers natural rock pools fed by Atlantic waves - spectacular when the surf is up but safe to swim in the protected pools. The drive up the windward highway through coconut plantations and fishing villages like Georgetown gives you the Saint Vincent most tourists never see.
Fort Charlotte Historical Site and Kingstown Harbor Views
This 1806 British fort sits 195 m (640 ft) above Kingstown with panoramic views across the Grenadines on clear days. November's variable weather actually works in your favor - morning visits around 09:00-10:00 usually catch clear skies before afternoon clouds build. The fort museum covers colonial history, Garifuna resistance, and the volcanic eruptions. Takes 90 minutes to explore properly, and the EC$5 entrance fee is laughably cheap for what you get.
Dark View Falls and Mesopotamia Valley Exploration
The twin waterfalls are fed by mountain runoff, so November keeps them flowing strong without the flash flood risks of September-October. The 10-minute walk through the rainforest to the lower falls is manageable even after rain, though the upper falls trail gets slippery. The surrounding Mesopotamia Valley - nicknamed Mespo by locals - is the island's breadbasket, with banana plantations, nutmeg trees, and small farms terracing the hillsides. November's greenery is at its peak.
November Events & Festivals
Independence Day Celebrations
October 27th is Independence Day, but celebrations often extend into early November with cultural events, concerts, and community festivals across the island. You'll see more national pride displays than usual, and some villages host belated festivities on the first weekend of November. Not a major tourist draw, but gives authentic insight into Vincentian culture if your dates align.
Breadfruit Harvest Season
Not an organized event, but November marks peak breadfruit season, and you'll notice it everywhere - roasted and sold roadside, featured on restaurant menus, and piled high at markets. Some villages hold informal breadfruit cook-offs or community meals. Ask your guesthouse host about local harvest celebrations, as these happen spontaneously and aren't advertised to tourists.