# Live like a local on Canouan

> Canouan's secret Caribbean island offers slow-paced luxury with tortoises, Prince Harry's stay, and hidden resorts.
- Title: Live like a local on Canouan · MoneyWeek | Shortify
- Summary: Canouan's secret Caribbean island offers slow-paced luxury with tortoises, Prince Harry's stay, and hidden resorts.
- Keywords: breaking, canouan, turtle island, prince harry, silver turtle, mandarin oriental, soho beach house, caribbean island, luxury resort, tortoise, golf course, estate chapel
- Source: MoneyWeek — https://moneyweek.com/spending-it/travel-holidays/live-like-a-local-on-canouan-the-secret-caribbean-island
- Published: 2026-10-30T11:48:27+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: breaking, canouan, turtle island, prince harry, silver turtle, mandarin oriental, soho beach house, caribbean island, luxury resort, tortoise, golf course, estate chapel
## Turtle Island's history
Canouan, part of Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, was settled by French in the 18th century before British took over.

> tortue
## Why 'turtle' not 'tortoise'?
French use same word for both, but tortoises are slow and tortoises retract heads when threatened.

> what's the difference?
## Silver Turtle residence
Silver Turtle is a six-bedroom villa with a garden, infinity pool, and a framed letter from Prince Harry.

> prince harry
## Tortoises on Canouan
Tortoises live on Canouan, some with two humps on their shells, and they retract heads when threatened.

> they retract their heads
## Canouan Estate Resort & Villas
The estate has four palatial residences, golf courses, tennis courts, and an 18-hole course designed by Tom Fazio.

> tom fazio
## Estate Chapel
The 17th-century Anglican Estate Chapel was built in England and shipped stone by stone to Canouan.

> estate chapel
## Mandarin Oriental Canouan
Mandarin Oriental offers Lagoon Cafe and Tides Bar + Grill with Asian influences blending with Caribbean flowers.

> lagoon cafe
## Soho Beach House Canouan
Soho Beach House is a boutique resort with a bar, English teas, and Cowshed bathroom products.

> cowshed
## Prince Harry's stay
Prince Harry stayed at Silver Turtle in 2016, leaving a framed letter for the owners.

> prince harry
## Canouan's hidden resorts
Canouan has three luxury resorts: Silver Turtle, Mandarin Oriental, and Soho Beach House.

> three luxury resorts
## Turtle island travel
Canouan is accessible from Barbados with a 45-minute flight and has private jet airstrips.

> 45-minute flight
## Turtle island adventure
Visitors can take yachts to southern Grenadine islands and snorkel with turtles after Hurricane Beryl.

> hurricane beryl
## Key takeaway

Canouan, a small Caribbean island with tortoises, Prince Harry's 2016 stay, and three luxury resorts offers slow-paced relaxation.