Mustique has fewer than 100 permanent residents, giving it a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere. The island has its own airstrip, its own small power station and even its own fire engine. Getting around is done mostly by little open-sided vehicles called 'mules', and the roads are barely wide enough for one car.
The beaches on Mustique are some of the most beautiful in the entire Caribbean. Macaroni Beach on the Atlantic side has long rolling waves great for bodyboarding, while the western beaches face the calm Caribbean Sea and glow golden at sunset. The water is warm year-round — usually around 27 to 29 degrees Celsius.
The hills in the middle of the island are covered with gardens and tropical plants, including hibiscus, bougainvillea and giant bamboo. A central complex called Basil's Bar sits right on a jetty over the sea, and on Wednesday nights it is famous for a weekly jump-up party with live music where locals and visitors come together to dance and celebrate.
Because the island is so small and so well looked after, the nature there has been carefully preserved. Frigate birds and brown pelicans soar overhead, sea turtles nest on the quieter beaches, and the reef around the island is full of life. Mustique shows how a tiny island can stay beautiful when everyone works together to look after it.