This charming little atoll is just a short distance off the coast of Union Island in St. Vincent and The Grenadines. It all began with a man named Janti, who was working as a volunteer environmental officer. As tourism started to grow in the area, his job was to clean up the beaches around Union Island, which were covered with thousands of conch shells. Fishermen would harvest the conch meat for food and leave the shells behind, littering the beaches.
Janti struggled to get people to help him clean up all these shells. Then he had a brilliant idea: why not use the shells to create an island and a pool bar? He gathered thousands of shells and started piling them up in the shallow sea. Determined to make land out of conch shells, he succeeded and opened the bar in 2002.
He carefully chose a spot protected by a natural coral barrier, so waves would break before reaching his little island. Once he had enough shells to rise above the water, he used cement to hold the structure together. Then he built a small bar, added a few stools, and hung a hammock. That’s how Happy Island was born.
In 2007, Janti expanded the island and built his home on it! Now, he lives in his man-made paradise, hosting boatloads of tourists and locals who come for drinks and lunch at his amazing bar. Today, the island boasts healthy palm trees, a large bar, many tables, and two guest rooms. If visitors have too much fun, they can spend the night.
When we visited Happy Island, Janti made sure we had a great time with plenty of beers, rum punches, and classic Caribbean music. We danced, swam, and drank the afternoon away. We only planned to stay for a beer, but the island vibe captivated us, and soon we were partying with Janti, understanding why he calls it “Happy Island.”
The beautiful azure waters and sandy pools surrounding the island are stunning, and there are views of Union Island, Palm Island, and the Tobago Cays from the patio tables. We’ve never felt more “Caribbean” than we did on Happy Island.
If you’re ever on Union Island and want to experience happiness, talk to Marius at Kings Landing Hotel, and he’ll arrange a boat to take you to meet Janti and enjoy the party. We had an amazing time and highly recommend Happy Island to anyone traveling in the Grenadines!