The Pirates of the Caribbean Filming Location
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the main filming location for the Pirates of the Caribbean films (especially the first, The Curse of the Black Pearl, 2003) — the opening scenes of Port Royal were shot at Wallilabou Bay on Saint Vincent, and the set remains a tourist attraction.
The country is an archipelago of 32 islands and cays — Saint Vincent (the main island, with an active volcano La Soufrière that erupted dramatically in 2021 and forced evacuations) plus the northern Grenadines chain including Bequia, Mustique (famous celebrity retreat), Canouan, Mayreau, Union Island, and the Tobago Cays (a protected marine park with some of the world’s best snorkelling).
Mustique — privately owned since 1958 by Colin Tennant — is a celebrity retreat where Princess Margaret had a home (a gift from Tennant) and frequent guests include Mick Jagger, David Bowie (who died at his Mustique home), and Kate Middleton (who has holidayed there).
Saint Vincent grows most of the world’s arrowroot starch and exports bananas. The country has one of the region’s strongest sailing and yachting scenes — the Grenadines chain is one of the Caribbean’s prime yachting destinations.
A Brief History
Kalinago (Carib) peoples, including “Black Caribs” descended from Carib and shipwrecked African slaves. British colony from 1763. Independence 1979. La Soufrière eruption 2021.
Geography and Climate
SVG covers 389 km² across 32 islands and cays. Volcanic, mountainous. Climate: tropical.
Culture, Language and Religion
English is official; Vincentian Creole spoken. Religion: approximately 80% Christian.
The Economy
SVG has an upper-middle-income economy (~$1 billion GDP). Tourism (including super-yachting), bananas, arrowroot.
Travel Guide
Entry: Visa-free for most Western nationalities.
Surprising Facts
- Pirates of the Caribbean was primarily filmed in Saint Vincent — Wallilabou Bay preserves the set.
- Mustique — privately owned — has long been a celebrity retreat; Princess Margaret, Bowie, Jagger had homes there.
- La Soufrière volcano erupted in April 2021 — explosive eruptions forced evacuations.
- The Tobago Cays — a protected marine park — are among the Caribbean’s best snorkelling sites.
- SVG produces most of the world’s arrowroot starch.
- “Black Caribs” (Garifuna) originated in SVG — descendants of indigenous Kalinago and shipwrecked African slaves; deported by Britain to Honduras in 1797.
Sources and References
See the frontmatter for cited sources.