DISCONNECTED

Secluded from the world on Canouan’s Caribbean shores.

My first thought when hearing of the island of Canouan was, “Where?” One of the 32 islands and cays that make up the country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Canouan is among the Caribbean’s most remote destinations. Home to a small fishing community for generations, it remained largely untouched until the 1990s when roads were paved, desalinated water and electricity were introduced, and resort development followed (including a Jim Fazio-designed golf course) for visitors looking to get off the grid.

And off the grid it remains. In a world of hyper connectivity, fast-paced everything, and a need for immediate gratification, Canouan remains defiantly disconnected from the world around it. The entire island feels analog. There are few distractions beyond the sea, the next meal, and the quiet rhythm of the day. For travelers looking for nightlife, shopping, or a packed itinerary, Canouan isn’t that kind of destination.

In the winter season, direct flights from Chicago to Barbados are the first step in a journey to visit one of the Caribbean’s southernmost islands. From Barbados, flights to Canouan depart daily (times change upon a whim, and flights to neighboring islands can be added to your flight path without notice—I can now say I’ve taken a six-minute flight over cerulean waters).

Once there, visitors choose among three properties—Soho Beach House Canouan, Mandarin Oriental Canouan, and Canouan Estate Resort & Villas. An “Invisible Key” program allows guests staying at any one of them to enjoy the amenities, restaurants, and beaches at all three—the accommodations make up the island’s primary visitor experience.

Soho Beach House, the brand’s only Caribbean outpost, sits along the five-mile island’s west coast. Staying true to its brand ethos, it exudes a true boho-chic vibe—music playing upon entry and décor throughout that makes you feel immediately at ease. Their meticulously decorated oceanside suites were the perfect hideaway for a few nights. The restaurant draws inspiration from recipes found throughout the brand’s global locations, so one meal might include Taiwanese chicken while another features wood-fired pizza. Dinner my first evening was served on the jetty, water gently lapping beneath us as the sun disappeared below the horizon and stars began to twinkle.

Formed by volcanic activity—the La Soufrière volcano on nearby Saint Vincent last erupted in 2021—Canouan’s landscape is craggy, full of steep hills and white sand beaches. The Caribbean’s largest living coral reef stretches one mile long just offshore along the island’s eastern Atlantic side. Constant trade winds create a noticeable difference from the western side of the island: here waves are a bit rougher, wind a bit saltier as the rush of the Atlantic comes ashore on the beaches of the Mandarin Oriental Canouan.

Offering one- and two-bedroom suites, many with private plunge pools and sweeping ocean views, the Mandarin Oriental Canouan seems to be entirely clad in marble, with hot pink fabrics throughout providing a contrast to the cool white stone. The suites have balconies with intricate latticed metal, evoking a feeling of another era and place. Lagoon Cafe is a cheerful lunch spot with white and blue tiles mirroring the seaside views out the windows.

Winding wooden stairs take you to the Mandarin Oriental Canouan’s cliffside palapas for spa treatments, where the open-air rooms have never-ending ocean views. During my massage, the soundtrack was nothing more than crashing waves and the steady ocean breeze.

My accommodations for part of the stay were at Canouan Estate Resort & Villas, where private residences dot the hillsides overlooking the sea. Available in a variety of sizes, many of the villas feature private pools, expansive outdoor loggias, and sweeping views. Reaching Mandarin Oriental or Soho House meant a scenic golf cart ride through the island’s winding hills.

One of the highlights of my visit came on my final full day: a catamaran excursion to Tobago Cays, an archipelago of five uninhabited islands surrounded by clear turquoise water. Diving off the boat, the swift current quickly caught me as I took in the scenery and warm salty waters. After taking a zodiac to shore, lunch that day was beachside on Union Island, with a generous plate of just-caught tuna sashimi and local red snapper—both of which needed zero enhancement.

Although Hurricane Beryl caused widespread damage across much of the island in 2024, Canouan’s resort community continues to welcome visitors seeking a quieter Caribbean escape. This is neither an island built around endless activities and nightlife, nor where you will spend an afternoon browsing boutiques or exploring a beach town. Instead, Canouan offers something increasingly difficult to find: uninterrupted days shaped by the rhythm of the sea, with little to do beyond enjoying the beach, lingering over meals, and embracing the luxury of slowing down.

To learn more, visit canouanestateresortandvillas.com.