Grenada

This fall, my husband and I joined another couple for our first visit to the island country of Grenada. They are beautiful islands, and I would definitely recommend it as a destination for those that enjoy diving, snorkeling and hiking. 

There are three primary islands in the nation of Grenada – Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.  We did the first two and unanimously enjoyed Carriacou much more which was much more laid back and friendly.  The islands have a fascinating history that includes the Portuguese, the Spanish, the French, the English and of course 50 years of Independence.

While Grenada is outside the hurricane belt which makes it a great summer / fall destination, Carriacou was hit by Hurricane Beryl in Jul 2024. The recovery has been slow and is likely to impact visits for the next few years.  Even the main island of Grenada had a direct hit by Ivan in 2004 and the effects are still visible. 

Carriacou:

You will most likely fly into Grenada and then need to fly or take a ferry to Carriacou.  Domestic flights and the passenger ferry do not run every day.  Additionally, upon arrival, our flight to Carriacou was canceled.  We ended up taking the cargo ferry from Grenada to Carriacou.  Make sure you have the information for all three modes of transport and remain flexible.  SVG Airlines is approximately $75 one way. The Tyrell Express Ferry is $24 pp and is primarily for cargo.  It takes about three hours and is not as comfortable as the 90-minute passenger ferry, the Osprey, which is $31.  But it is an option in a pinch.  Here are also some tips for getting around Carriacou. 

While much of the tourism activities have resumed, in Nov 24, it was still difficult to get food on island.  If your lodging says they provide breakfast or have an on-site restaurant, double check that it has reopened.  Lorel’s opens at 8 and is popular with locals.  We each had a cheese sandwich and the next day had chicken and egg salad from the place two doors down (no sign). 

For a $135 a person, we did a two-tank dive with Deefer Diving.  I would definitely dive with them again. While the reefs suffered damage during the recent storm, I still thought the diving was great with tremendous diversity.

The mangroves and hiking were both damaged by the storm so instead we spent a perfect afternoon at Paradise Beach Club.  They have a beautiful beach, a great menu and an exceptional staff.  We returned the next day for their traditional Thanksgiving dinner. 

On our second day, we rented a boat with Froggy’s tours and visited several islands.     I hesitate to include this in my post.  It was definitely an experience.  The boat is a small fishing boat, not a Catamaran.  Lunch was eaten on the boat from Froggy’s thermos.  That said – it was a fantastic day. Froggy was engaging.  Lunch was delicious.  And while snorkeling off Saline Island I had my best turtle sighting EVER.  

Grenada:

We stayed at the Siesta Hotel which I really enjoyed.  The hotel grounds were beautiful, the rooms were comfortable, there was an onsite restaurant, and it was walking distance to the beach.

We rented a car in order to circumnavigate the island. Some of the stops that I would recommend include:  

• Nutmeg Museum on the north side of the island is a quick but interesting stop.  You can pay a few dollars for a quick tour about the history of Nutmeg.  And of course, there is also the opportunity to buy some Nutmeg to bring home as gifts.
• Welcome Stone lookout has some great views and has a short easy jungle hike.  Arrive at top of hill where the cell phone tower is and walk to the left of the wire fence and follow the path around the back. Instead of following the fence, you can also elect to go straight just a few feet and see a similar view.  
• River Antoine Estate Rum Distillery. I have been on several distillery tours and have never been a fan.  However, I thought this was a great tour that gives some perspective of both the process still used today and the history of the island.  The distillery dates from 1785. 
• There are tons of hikes on island, but Seven Sisters Falls is one of the most well-known.  I love jungle hiking and this was one of my favorite activities.  To get there, drive a few miles downhill from the Grand Etang Park entrance.  It will cost a couple of dollars to park.  Blog posts rate the hike as medium and 40 minutes one way.  I hesitate to call it easy, but believe that anyone in reasonable shape could do the hike.  It took us about 20 minutes each way.  It will be muddy and you will get your shoes wet. 

We also went diving and snorkeling with Eco Dive.  I didn’t love the company (they were fine) but I absolutely loved the Underwater Sculpture Garden.  You can either dive or snorkel the sight, but I would highly recommend diving it.  This is one of my absolute favorite dives ever.  I loved seeing the sculptures but more than that, I enjoyed seeing nature rejuvenated and the various stages of coral taking root. 

I almost never say anything bad about lodging or restaurants.  If I don’t recommend it, then I just don’t say anything.  However, I have to mention Umbrella’s Beach Bar.  This may be one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had.  While I have many complaints, I will limit my rant to 1) the worst drinks I’ve ever paid for; 2) rude service; 3) and after over two hours we never got our meals.    After two hours, we ended up leaving without eating.  Because it was late, we ended up at nearby Cilantro.  Cilantro is in a strip mall without a view or any ambiance.  However, the staff was phenomenal, and the food was outstanding.  I would go here again! 

In St. Georges, I wanted to visit the National Museum, but it is closed on Sunday.  I would highly recommend a quick stop at the mural outside the Sendall Tunnel.  I would also recommend a stop at Fort Matthew and Fort George.  They are right next to each other and you can walk around and explore on your own. 

Basic Information: 

When you arrive, there are immigration kiosks to the right of the in-person line.  American citizens are authorized to use these kiosks. 

Grenada uses the East Caribbean Dollar, but the USD is widely used and accepted. 

Most activities are closed on Sunday and to maximize your activities, plan around when the cruise ships are in port.  You can find a schedule here.

We rented a car, and while it is doable, it was difficult.  Driving is on the left, there are tons of potholes, google maps is not reliable, and going through towns the streets can get tight.  If renting a car, make sure the company provides you a driver’s license. 

Similar to the UK, the country uses type G power outlets. 

Some great island overviews can be found at here and here.

Some more information about waterfalls and hiking can be found here.

It’s definitely a destination I would recommend.