Mayreau is the smallest inhabited island of the Grenadines, with an area of about 0.46 sq. miles and a population of about 275. The population is centred in an unnamed village, located on Station Hill, a hilltop in the south-west of the island. It is an isolated community, accessible only by boat. Electricity was only provided in 2002 by a central generator located on Saline Bay. There is a single-lane concrete road leading from the wharf on Saline Bay through the village to Saltwhistle Bay. On the top of the island, you find a small elementary school; the telecommunications building; the brick and stone Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, christened on May 12, 1930, and a Pentecostal church. From the crest of the hill behind the Catholic Church, there is an amazing overlook of the Tobago Cays, Canouan and Union Island.
The island gets much of its water from three catchments set on the east side of the island. One serves the resort at Saltwhistle Bay and two serve the village. Saline Bay is named for the salt pond just east of the sandy beach. Salt was harvested and exported in times past but is now harvested only for local use. The island is populated mostly by fishermen and supported by tourism. The school has about 50 students from kindergarten to Grades 6. Upon completing their primary/elementary education, students attend secondary schools on neighbouring Union Island or the main island, St. Vincent. Mayreau also has a small resort area on Saltwhistle Bay, a very popular spot for anchoring yachts.

We went for lunch in the small resort but it was very deserted … nobody there and, too be honest, hardly any choice in food and no service available ….. We met the guys from Sailing Hangtime who also have a Saona. Brett and Teasy are sailing around the world with their kids and we had dinner at the beach. Which, again, to be honest, was a scam!! The ‘famous’ lobster on the beach ended up in arguing over the ridiculously high price. We were having 1 lobster (2 x 1/2)  and 2 Lambi and had to pay EC360!! There is a limit to where generosity goes in contributing to a community …. Very disappointing. The next day we took the one road up the hill where you can have a fabulous view over the Cays, Union and Palm island. After that, we left to sail to Bequia!