Last Updated on October 23, 2023
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As far as the Caribbean islands go, Grenada is definitely a hidden gem. Its popularity pales in comparison with other islands, and the number of visitors is just a fraction of those other destinations receive. I found this surprising, given all Grenada has to offer. From the picture perfect beaches, lush rain forest, waterfalls, hiking to great snorkeling and sailing, there’s no shortage of things to do in Grenada. The Island of Spice, as the island is known due to the abundance of spices it grows and exports, is a perfect choice for those who love the beach, but also enjoy exploring.
Grenada is not a big island, approximately 21 miles (34 km) long and 12 miles (19 km) wide, which makes it easy to get around and visit the main attractions.
The Island of Spice is a favorite among the sailors, as it’s home to some of the best sailing in the Caribbean. It’s not a coincidence, that you can find plenty of boat charter companies on the island, offering both a crewed or bare boat charters. Grenada is very often the starting point before heading out to explore nearby St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Where is Grenada?
Grenada is located in West Indies and belongs to the Windward Islands. It might take a bit longer to get to, but once you get there, you’ll know you made the right choice.
Things to do in Grenada – the Island of Spice
Grenada is one of those islands, where you can do much more than just relax on the beach. While we did spend a considerable amount of time soaking up the sun, we also made sure to get out and explore the island. If you are looking for a tropical destination, where you can do more than just relax, Grenada is a really good choice. Here are some of the things to do in Grenada you shouldn’t miss!
Wander around St George’s
St George’s is Grenada’s capital and it’s often described as one of the most beautiful cities in the Caribbean, largely due to an insanely picturesque harbor. Even though it might be hard to pull yourself away from the picture perfect beaches of Grenada, you simply have to put aside at least a few hours one day to spend some time in St George’s.
Someone once compared St George’s harbor to a beautiful oil painting and that was a very fitting description. You will see it as you take a walk along the Carenage, the harbor’s waterfront. The hills around the bay are covered by brightly colored houses and historical Georgian buildings.
Spend a day on Grand Anse Beach
Spending a day on the beach is definitely one of the best things to do in Grenada, and you’ll have several to choose from. One of the best and most popular ones is Grand Anse beach, located on the southwestern coast of the island. It stretches for 2 miles and has the nicest and softest, white sand. Surprisingly, even though we visited in high season, the beach was not very crowded.
Grand Anse beach is also the location of the Craft and Spice Market. It’s a great place to grab a casual lunch or pick up some souvenirs, hand made art or spices. The Market was actually the government’s brilliant idea to get vendors off the beach, providing them with a place to display and sell their goods. While you still get an occasional performer or a vendor trying to sell you something, it’s nothing compared with other Caribbean islands.
If you are looking for a place to grab lunch, Umbrella’s is a great spot right on the beach. It’s a two story beach bar, with amazing views from the second floor.
Take a tour of Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Plant
Not many people realize, that a lot of spices found in your kitchen pantry come from Grenada. The country is the leading producer of many of them, which earned it the nickname ” the Island of Spice “. Cinnamon, cloves, ginger and cocoa are all grown in Grenada and exported all over the world. However, the island’s main spice and export is nutmeg, making Grenada the 3rd largest producer of that spice.
One of the stops on the around the island day tour is Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Plant, which is the largest one in Grenada. It’s located in the center of Gouyave, a bustling fishing village and it welcomes visitors, who are curious about the behind the scenes of nutmeg production. For just $1 you get a guided tour throughout the plant, that walks you through various stages of nutmeg processing like sorting and drying. Most of the work is done by hand and you see just how labor intensive it is.
Visit Belmont Estate
Another great place worth visiting in Grenada is Belmont Estate, one of the oldest working cocoa plantations. There you can join a guided tour, that will walk you through the chocolate making process. From the moment cocoa beans are harvested to the chocolate bar.
After the tour, make sure to spend some time enjoying the grounds. The gardens on the property are beautiful with many interesting plants and trees. Belmont Estate also has an open sided restaurant on site serving Grenadian food buffet style. It’s a perfect lunch stop.
Sample rum at River Antoine Rum Distillery
Rum is one of the first things, that comes to mind when you think of the Caribbean. It’s deeply embedded in the culture of most of the Caribbean and Grenada is no exception. If you want to get the behind the scenes peek at what the rum production looks like, put visiting River Antoine Rum Distillery on your Grenada itinerary.
River Antoine, located in the northeast of Grenada, is the oldest functioning water powered distillery in the Caribbean. All the work is done the old fashioned way, using the same techniques as when it started back in 1785. Very little goes to waste, as the remains of sugar cane are used to fuel the boilers.
After the tour comes the time to sample the rum. River Antoine Rum Distillery produces two grades of rum and you get to try both. One is very strong, the other potent. The crazy strong stuff is 75% proof. Since you are not allowed to bring anything over 70% proof on the plane, you have to settle for the a bit diluted version, if you want to bring a bottle home. The less strong bottle is “only” 69% proof.
Grenada waterfalls
For those who enjoy chasing waterfalls, Grenada is the perfect destination. There are a few of them scattered around the island, and hiking guided tours are a popular way to explore them. One of the most popular waterfall is Concord Falls, located about 8 miles ( 13 km ) north of St George’s. Although it’s not the largest one, its location right in the middle of lush rain forest makes it a great choice. If you go on a tour around the island, this waterfall will most likely be one of the stops.
It’s also easy to visit Concord Falls independently, if that is your preference. Concord Falls is actually 3 separate waterfalls and guided tours can only access the first, most popular one. The other two require a hike, but if you don’t mind to break a little sweat and are looking for an adventure, it’s one of the fun things to do in Grenada.
Explore Grand Etang National Park
Grand Etang National Park is a 36 acre park, that is a must visit for any nature lover. Most people who come, make a short stop to see the Grand Etang Crater Lake, but you can easily spend at least half a day exploring the rest of the Park. There are many hiking trails, that vary in length and difficulty. Also, one of Grenada’s most iconic waterfalls, Seven Sisters Waterfall, is located within the Park.
The park is a frequent stop on most full day tours around Grenada, but unfortunately it’s just a quick visit to see the Grand Etang Crater Lake. If you can, return another day to take advantage of what it offers.
You can visit all the attractions independently, but even though I usually steer away from organized tours, I highly recommend booking a Full-Day Tour of Grenada. It’s the best and easiest way to visit some of the island’s must see sites.
Buy Spices to bring home
Grenada is blessed with the perfect climate and soil for growing many spices. Along with nutmeg, which is the number 1 exported spice, the island also grows cinnamon, turmeric, ginger and cloves. If you are looking to bring a little souvenir to remind you of your Grenada trip, nothing beats authentic spices from the Island of Spice itself.
While you are not allowed to bring any live plants or fruit, it’s totally fine to bring back some spices. If you don’t have a specific one in mind, a great idea is a spice basket, that has samples of many different spices grown in Grenada.
A very popular and recommended place is the Spice Market in St George’s. It’s open every day, but try to go on Saturdays if you can, as that’s the liveliest day with many more vendors. There are also many small spice stores all over the island. They are usually on the side of the road, so if you are driving around Grenada, you’ll definitely pass quite a few of them.
Attend Friday Fish Fry
If you happen to be in Grenada on a Friday and are looking for a local island experience, go back to Gouyave for an event known as Friday Fish Fry. As the name suggests, it takes place every Friday night and it’s a great opportunity to get a look at the local life. Not to mention to taste some of the freshest seafood straight from the boat. Friday Fish Fry is more than just a dining experience, it’s more like a party. A couple of streets are blocked off to traffic, so vendors can set up their stations to cook and sell fish.
The event starts at 6 pm and even though the official end time is 11 pm, the party really keeps going till later. Most tourists are gone by then and the party becomes very much a local one. Gouyave is about 12 miles ( 20 km ) from St George’s and best way to get to the event is to book a round trip transportation.
Take a day trip to Carriacou
If you are looking for a change of scenery and a taste of a very authentic Caribbean island, you might enjoy taking a day trip from Grenada to Carriacou. This small island in the Grenadines is actually part of the tri-island nation along with Grenada and Petit Martinique.
The easiest way to get from Grenada to Carriacou is by taking the Osprey ferry, that operates between the three islands. Currently, the ferry to Carriacou runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, leaving Grenada at 9 am and 5.30 pm and takes 1.30-2 hours to get there. If you go just for the day, the ferry back to Grenada leaves at 3.30 pm, which gives you about 5 hours to explore Carriacou. You can check Osprey ferry schedule and fares here.
PRO TIP: Osprey ferry tickets can’t be booked online, so make sure to arrive at least 40 minutes before to buy your tickets in person. They are sold at the Queen’s Jetty on the Carenage ( across the street from the Fire Station ).
While Osprey ferry is the easiest and cheapest way to travel between Grenada and its sister islands, a lot of people report getting seasick. I personally didn’t experience any problems, but I’m not really prone to sea sickness and waters were quite calm that day. Could have been a whole different story, if the seas were rough. If you are worried about getting sick, you can choose to fly instead. SVG Air has daily, 20 minute flights between Grenada and Carriacou,
Assuming you arrive in Carriacou by Osprey ferry, its schedule leaves you with just about 4 hours on the island. However, the island is so small, that it’s definitely worth making the day trip. Most people grab a taxi and head to one of the beaches or take a snorkeling tour. Paradise beach is the most popular spot and a great way to spend your time on the island. If you prefer a more active visit, book a snorkeling tour. Carriacou, which means Isle of the Reefs, has some of the clearest waters and beautiful reef, which attract many scuba divers to the island.
Best time to visit Grenada
Weather wise, the best time to visit Grenada is between January – April. That’s when you can expect it to be dry and perfectly hot. A lot of people come to Grenada to escape winter, so this is also the high season, which equals higher prices. The rain season runs from June to December, and even though that doesn’t mean it pours every day, the island does receive a considerable amount of rain during those months. Two months you should definitely avoid are September and October, which is the hurricane season.
How to get to Grenada
Maurice Bishop International Airport ( GND ) is located 7 km ( 4 miles ) from St George’s, Grenada’s capital. Many airlines fly to Grenada from both United States, as well as UK. Some of the flights are seasonal.
Where to stay in Grenada
Radisson Grenada Beach Resort – right on Grand Anse Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
Petit Anse Beachfront Hotel – a great choice for those looking for a little bit of piece and quiet. Its remote location in the north of the island ensures a peaceful and low key stay.
Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel – if you are looking for a bit of luxury in an unpretentious setting, this family run, boutique hotel is a perfect choice. Often voted as one of the best hotels in Grenada, Calabash has gorgeous grounds, recently remodeled pool, 2 restaurants and a beautiful beach in a secluded bay.
Things to know before visiting Grenada, Caribbean
- Official language in Grenada is English.
- Local currency is Eastern Caribbean Dollar. Grenada is in fact 1 of 8 countries using this currency ( others: Antigua, St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Anguilla and Montserrat). Exchange rate $1 = 0.37 EC.
- Right hand traffic – important piece of information, in case you plan on renting a car to explore the island on your own.
- Safety – Grenada prides itself in being one of the safest islands in the Caribbean.
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Excellent and we will be trying some (most) of the recommendations suggested.