Caribbean castaway

The Tobago Cays Marine Park – a protected archipelago of five uninhabited islands to the south of Canouan, surrounded by a lagoon and coral reefs – is spectacular for diving and snorkelling. At 4km, Horseshoe is the longest reef and especially brilliant for the latter, with colourful sea fan coral and sponges attracting all kinds of creatures from parrotfish to puffers, stingrays to the nurse sharks that can often be seen sleeping under ledges. The area around inhabited Mayreau Island has an abundance of dive sites, including Mayreau Gardens (keep eyes peeled for hawksbill turtles and eagle rays) and the Purini Wreck, a 1918 English gun ship that sank in only 40 feet of water. Just outside the marine park, Union Island is the best spot for adrenaline-fuelled, one-on-one kite surfing or wing foil lessons.

Set in a quiet bay with toes-in-the-sand tables, L’Ance Guyac is a vibey beach club by day for lobster lunches. At night it’s just as lovely for Canouan iced teas at the bar and smoky grilled octopus or homemade tagliatelle with jumbo crab under the stars. Part of Canouan Estate Resort & Villas, it’s accessible to all staying at Mandarin Oriental, Canouan as part of a new ‘invisible key’ concept that links this and Soho Beach House Canouan, which gives guests at all of the hotels a right to roam around all of the restaurants.