A white-sand beach curls for almost two miles around the small island of Petit St. Vincent, in the archipelago known as the Grenadines, stretching from St. Vincent to Grenada. Union Island rises on the horizon.  

The island of Bequia is one of the largest of the Grenadines, but with a population of just 5,000 it still exhibits a laid-back quality that is accessible to visitors of all budgets.  

One of the most treasured spots in the Grenadines, the Tobago Cays are five uninhabited islands surrounded by a horseshoe reef and tranquil waters. They are a popular destination for yachts and day sails.  

Palm Island is one of several Grenadines given over to a single resort. The 135-acre island has several supple beaches, with good snorkeling reefs found on the island's east side.  

Internationally renowned Mustique is a hideaway for celebrities like Mick Jagger and Tommy Hilfigger, who have built homes on the island. With just a small hotel and 110 villas—most of them available for rent—the 1,400-acre island is the Grenadines' most exclusive landing, though daytrippers can visit on the yacht, Friendship Rose, sailing out of Bequia.  

The island of Canouan in the Grenadines slipped under the radar for years. In the 1990s European investors bought the northern two-thirds of the three-square-mile outpost for a resort and villa project, yet idyllic scenes like this one on Glossy Bay remain.  

At the sprawling Raffles Resort Canouan Island, Godhal Beach is the focus of most watersports activities. The reef-protected cove has a superb spa and was the shooting location for Bar Refaeli's cover adorning Sports Illustrated's 2009 swimsuit issue.  

The island of Bequia is known for a long history of boat-building, and this colorful collection of skiffs is used for fishing and excursions to neighboring islands. Located just six miles south of St. Vincent, the Grenadines' seat of government, Bequia can be happily explored on foot by an active-minded traveler.  

Although Mustique prides itself on privacy for its high-profile guests and villa owners, anyone can enjoy the resplendent sands of Macaroni Beach—all beaches in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are public as far as the high-water mark.  

The beach-girdled island in the foreground is too small for an airport, so guests of the deluxe 43-room Palm Island Resort fly in to Union Island (on the horizon) and make the two-mile transfer by boat. On arrival, visitors laze beneath thousands of hammock-laced palms.  

Feeling a bit like the back of beyond, Mayreau is one of the last undiscovered corners of the Caribbean. With just 250 residents, a long-in-the-tooth resort, and ferry service only a few days a week, the island nonetheless has several exquisite beaches, including the half-moon-shaped Saltwhistle Bay, a popular mooring for yachties.  

Petit St. Vincent, the most southerly of the Grenadines, provides a pitch-perfect escape for beach-lovers. With only 22 stone cottages, Petit St. Vincent Resort is a superb hideaway for couples.