Grenada is a hidden gem in the Caribbean. Compared to many other islands, Grenada has just a fraction of the visitors, yet the island has so much to offer. From white sand beaches, lush rainforest, waterfalls, crystal clear waters to snorkel as well as hiking and sailing.
Grenada is found among the Caribbean islands located in the Lesser Antilles. Known as the “Spice Isle,” due to the abundance of spices it grows and exports, this green, hilly island is especially known for its nutmeg. The island itself is quite small, only 21 miles long (34km) and 12 miles wide (18km), but is home to 45 beaches, mountainous rainforest and coastal mangroves. It’s a perfect choice for those who love the beach, but also want to get out and explore.
Grenada is divided into 6 parishes plus the smaller islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique
This year, Grenada is celebrating its 50th year of independence after it transitioned from UK rule in February 1974 and there are a number of activities scheduled throughout the year to celebrate.
Carnival in Grenada, better known as ‘Spicemas’ takes place every year in August and is a huge celebration
If, like us, you aren’t here during Carnival, there are still plenty of things to do on Spice Isle.
Some of our favourites include:
Grand Anse Beach
A must visit spot while in Grenada. In 2019, Grand Anse Beach was rated the best beach in the world by Condé Nast Traveller UK. Famous for its two-mile-long stretch, this sandy white beach offers panoramic views of the capital and lush hills in the background. The crystal clear turquoise waters are perfect for swimming and snorkelling.
There is also a Craft and Spice Market nestled in the middle and beach bars to grab a rum punch.
St George
The island’s capital is filled with colourful homes, Georgian buildings and a picturesque harbour, where you can find the ferry to Carriacou as well as the nightly booze cruise party boats.
Looking for more info about the history of the island? Be sure to check out the Grenada National Museum.
You can also find duty free and souvenir shopping by the ferry docks and no trip to Grenada would be complete without visiting St George’s Market, filled with colourful stands of produce, souvenirs and of course spices!
Grenada used to be the second largest supplier of nutmeg in the world behind Indonesia, but after being hit by several tropical storms in 2004/2005, which caused widespread damage, Grenada’s agricultural industries took a big hit. The island is currently the 9th largest supplier of nutmeg as they work to rebuild.
Near the cruise ship docks is the Sendall Tunnel, a unique historical site opened in 1894.
The tunnel is 350 feet long, 9 feet high and connects the east and west sides of town. It was deemed an engineering milestone on the island in the 19th century. There are no sidewalks and you walk through as the cars are whizzing by, but it is neat to see.
My favourite stop in St. George was House of Chocolate, a unique mini-museum portraying the history of chocolate in Grenada.
The island has one of the strongest, richest cocoas in the world partially due to the rich volcanic soil and the hot sun found here. This small island is home to five chocolate factories and is known for its delicious, organic chocolate. At House of Chocolate, we got a demonstration on how chocolate is made here and got to taste some of the local chocolate.
There is also a cafe and shop filled with various chocolate and cocoa products as well as drinks, baked goods and ice cream. The island is known for its nutmeg ice cream, so of course we had to try a scoop of it, along with a scoop of chocolate nibs straight from the House of Chocolate. Both flavours were delicious!
Tours are free and there is no entry fee.
If chocolate isn’t your thing, there are also several rum distilleries on the island, including Clarke’s Court Rum Distillery, the largest rum distillery in Grenada and River Antoine Estate Rum Distillery, the oldest rum distillery in Grenada, established in 1785. Rum is still manufactured and produced here using the oldest functioning waterwheel in the Caribbean exactly how it was made back then.
Grand Etang National Park
This 36 acre park is a popular stop on many of Grenada’s excursions and is a must visit for any nature lover. At the top, is Grand Etang Crater Lake, a freshwater lake set in the crater of an extinct volcano 530m above sea level.
This lake is home to a variety of fish that range from black to coppery gold. Most people make a short stop here and then continue out of the park, but you can easily spend at least half a day exploring all Grand Etang has to offer. There are numerous hiking trails that vary in length and difficulty. Seven Sisters Waterfall, one of Grenada’s most iconic falls, is also located within the park.
While checking out the local flora and fauna, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the adorable white-faced Mona monkeys found within the park. Grenada is the only country outside of Western Africa where these monkeys can be found as they were transported to the island aboard slave ships in the 18th century.
Fort Frederick
Located 244m above sea level overlooking St. George’s harbour is Fort Frederick, one of the best preserved bastions in the Caribbean. This fort was started by the French in 1779 and finished by the British in 1783 and was part of the struggle between the French and British for control of the island. It was built to protect the harbour’s eastern entrance, however, the fort never fired a single cannon in anger. Locally, Fort Frederick is referred to as a backward facing fort as the guns were positioned to face the inland hills, instead of out towards the sea.
Today, the Fort offers beautiful panoramic views of the island, making it the perfect stop to learn some of the island’s history and get some great photos!
There is a small fee to enter and there are guides on hand to give you more info. Visitors – XCD $5.34 or USD $2.00
Visit Annandale Falls
While there are numerous waterfalls in Grenada, Annandale Falls are the only ones easily accessible by road, as the others require a hike. Surrounded by lush foliage and colourful flowers, Annandale stands 30 feet high with water from the surrounding mountainous streams, plunging into the clear pool beneath.
A perfect spot to cool off and get some great photos. There is also a bar and restaurant nearby.
Go Snorkelling
The water here is crystal clear and fairly calm, making for excellent snorkelling around the island. As Grenada is the southernmost island in the Antilles archipelago, bordering the eastern Caribbean Sea and the western Atlantic Ocean, it features a diverse marine environment and in most snorkelling spots, in both Grenada and its sister island, Carriacou, snorkelers will enjoy observing colourful reef fish, eels, sting rays, octopus and more.
A great spot is Magazine Beach, found on the southwest coast, near the airport. Much of the beach is located in front of the Royalton Grenada Resort,(where we were staying) but access to the beach is open to all. It can be a bit tricky getting into the water in places due to the shallow water reef, but definitely worth checking out as we found lots of sea life here.
At one end of the beach, you’ll find The Aquarium, an open air restaurant right on the beach. Enjoy a fresh cooked meal or just grab a drink at La Sirena Beach Bar.
And if, like me, you can’t get enough of sunsets, Grenada doesn’t disappoint.
Be sure to enjoy the colourful sunsets over the turquoise waters after a day of exploring this beautiful island!
- Official language in Grenada is English.
- Local currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar. But USD is also accepted in most places
- Right hand traffic. Just be aware that the roads are narrow and very hilly if you plan to drive yourself
- Airport Maurice Bishop Airport, located in St. George Parish.
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