Grenada (island) - Grenada (island)

Grenada is the main island of the Caribbean nation of Grenada.

Regions

Map of Grenada (island)

Grenada is divided into 6 parishes or districts:

  • Saint Andrew - east
  • Saint David - southeast
  • Saint George - southwest
  • Saint John - west
  • Saint Mark - northwest
  • Saint Patrick - north

Cities

  • 1 St. George's - national capital
  • Grand Anse - main tourist area
  • Gouyave - capital of the St. John district
  • 2 Sauteurs - capital of the St. Patrick district
  • Grenville - capital of the St. Andrew district

Understand

Get in

By plane

  • 1 Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND IATA formally Point Salines International Airport) (on a peninsula in the extreme south-west corner, about 4 miles from the capital of St. George's). British Airways, American, Air Canada, Virgin Atlantic, Caribbean, Condor, Delta, InterCaribbean, JetBlue, Sunwing, and Virgin Atlantic provide direct service to Grenada; connections can be made on other carriers via Trinidad and Barbados. Maurice Bishop International Airport (Q651339) on Wikidata Maurice Bishop International Airport on Wikipedia 

By boat

  • Many cruise ships dock in St. George's. A cruise ship terminal allows up to 5 ships to be docked at once. Private moorings are available all around the island.
  • Charters of various sizes and crews can be found by inquiring at hotels or the carenage in St. George's.
  • Many private boats visit Grenada. There are good anchorages and mooring fields on the south end of the island: True Blue Bay, Prickly Bay, Clark's Court Bay and Mount Hartman Bay are very popular, and can sometimes be crowded.

By ferry

  • Osprey Lines Limited, ☏ 1 473 440-8126. Ferry service between the islands of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique. Also day tours to Carriacou. 
  • From Carriacou for Grenada (1 hr 15 min) M-Sa at 6AM and 3:30PM; Su at 3:30PM.
  • From Grenada to Carriacou (1 hr 15 min) M-F 9AM and 5:30PM; Sa at 9AM; Su 8AM and 5:30PM.
  • From Carriacou for Grenada (3 hr) M Th 10AM.
  • From Grenada for Carriacou (3 hr) W Sa 10AM.

Get around

Mini buses in Grenada are the standardized form of transportation. These vans hold between 15-19 people, and they have route numbers and signs on them. Weekdays they run from 7AM-7PM. In town, there are designated bus stops, however, once you leave town, you can signal a stop by either knocking on the wall or pressing the stop button. Conductors and drivers are always very friendly, so do not hesitate to ask them where you should stop. Bus fares vary between EC$2-8 depending on the distance. A trip between the airport and Grand Anse is EC$10 (July 2019). They are lively trips, with great music and a nice breeze.

Many car rental companies are available, with rates comparable to those in the US. With a valid license from your home country you will qualify for a temporary Grenada license for a small fee (EC$60 in 2020) which the rental company will take care of for you. Drive on the left and make frequent use of the car's horn when coming around the numerous blind corners in the mountains.

Water taxis are another option.

See

  • Grand Etang Nature Reserve is located in St. Andrew and is famous for its crater lake.
  • Mt. Qua Qua is a mountain within the Grand Etang Nature Reserve.
  • Mt. St. Catherine is with 840 metres (2756 feet) the highest mountain in Grenada.
  • River Antoine Rum Distillery is the oldest Rum Factory in western hemisphere and still operating with a water wheel.
  • Clark's Court Distillery is in St. George district and famous for its products.
  • Dougladston Estate is the oldest Spice Plantagen in Grenada close to Gouyave.
  • Gouyave Nutmeg Factory one of the "must do" in Grenada the "spice island".
  • Carib's Leap a historic place in the north of the island where the last Carib Indians jumped from a high cliff.
  • Fort George´s above the main town St. George´s with beautiful view of the town and the Carenage.
  • Fort Frederick high above the sea with outstanding views of St. George´s, Grand Anse, Grand Etang and the southern part of the island.
  • Marketplace nice caribbean market with newly renovated spice market hall in St. George's
  • Bay Garden a tropical Garden with a rain forest style. (in St. Paul`s)
  • Sandy Island beautiful 'paradise' island off the north coast.

Beaches

  • Grand Anse Beach, western (leeward) side. The most famous beach in Grenada and the main tourist area with watersports, scuba dive centers, nearby bars and restaurants and a vendors market.
  • Morne Rouge Bay, just south of Grand Anse, one of the most beautiful beaches in Grenada.
  • Levera Beach nice secluded beach in the north of Grenada with view of the Grenadines. Rough road to it makes four wheel drive desirable.
  • Bathway Beach a famous beach in the north of Grenada with a safe nature pool for non-swimmers.
  • Black Bay Beach secluded black beach on the west coast of Grenada (close to the Concord Waterfalls)
  • Magazine Beach, best for snorkeling. At the Aquarium Restaurant and Beach Club.
  • La Sagesse in St. David's. A quite, secluded beach. Wonderful hotel and restaurant known to is as well.
  • Mandem Beach in St George’s University. Formally known by students as black sand beach which was renamed in honour of Dr Kodamanchali. The beach was fenced off following expansion of the university despite fierce opposition from students.

Waterfalls

  • Concord Waterfalls, 3 Waterfalls in St. Are John. 
  • Annandale Waterfall in the St. George district.
  • Mt. Carmel Waterfall is the highest Waterfall in Grenada.
  • Seven Sister Waterfalls is a group of 7 Waterfalls close to the Grand Etang Nature Reserve in St. Andrew
  • Honeymoon Waterfall is secluded in the rain forest close to the Seven Sister Waterfalls.

Tours

Do

Buy

  • Pssst Boutique (Spiceland mall), Grand Anse, ☏ 1 473 439 0787. 9AM 7PM. Fun variety of local and Caribbean crafts, souvenirs and tropical wear 
  • TrueBluetique, True Blue Bay Resort. 8AM to 11PM. Collection of island souvenirs, island wear and swimwear 

Eat

  • [formerly dead link]Aquarium Restaurant & Bar. Point Salines. Carved into a cliff with fabulous views of Pink Gin Beach they are famous for their Sunday BBQ, but are delicious across the whole menu. 
  • Beach House Restaurant & Bar, Point Salines.
  • Coconuts Restaurant & Bar, at Grand Anse Beach. A classic Grenada beach experience.
  • De La Grenade, ☏ 1 473 440-3241. St. George's, manufacturer of nutmeg products including liqueur, syrup, pepper sauce, jams and jellies. 
  • Dodgy Dock, ☏ 1 473 443-TRUE (8783). Grand Anse, St. Georges. Breakfast, lunch and dinner on a colorful deck suspended over the water. Mexican and Caribbean Cuisine. 
  • Grenada Chocolate Factory, ☏ 1 473 442-0050. Hermitage, St. Patrick's, produces organic dark chocolate with vintage machinery run by solar power. You should be able to find the colorfully packaged bars in stores throughout the island. Tours of the factory have been stopped but you can see the processing of Cocoa Pods in Chocolate beans at the Belmont Estate Plantation which is close by. 
  • 1 Helena's Ocean View Restaurant, Sauteurs (Coming to Sauteurs from Petit Anse, Helena's is at the end of the main strip, just before Leaper's Hill (you can park at Helena's, climb up to the church and the hill, and return to Helena's for lunch), ☏ 1 473-442-0950. lunch only. local food (roti's, rice and veggies/meat, etc.). 
  • Laluna, ☏ 1 473 439-0001. Morne Rouge, St George´s. 
  • La Sagesse, ☏ 1 473 444 6458. St. George's. On a stretch of grey-black sand bay lined tall palms, this is a true Granadian experience. Vegan options available. 
  • Marquis Complex at the Grand Anse with Nick´s Donut World, Le Chateau, De Vino wine bar, Carib Sushi and Le Boulangerie
  • Patrick's Local Homestyle Restaurant, St. George's, ☏ 1 473 440 0364. On the Lagoon Road across from Port Louis offers a wonderful tapas-like presentation of island cuisine. Vegan options available. 
  • Petite Anse Hotel Restaurant & Bar, Sauteurs (in the north of the island), ☏ 1 473 442 5252. Lunch of salads, fish, chicken and steak or can try the more elegant fine dining dinner. Menu is of fresh local produce and changes on a daily basis. 
  • The Red Crab in Lance Aux Epines. A fabulous menu.
  • The Spiceland Mall at the Grand Anse has a local fruit, Soup joint, IGA Supermarket, Grill Master, Ritual's Coffee House, Fruit smoothie Shop and a Chinese take away and a KFC Outside.
  • Umbrellas Beach Bar, on Grand Anse Beach. A famous 'liming spot' on the island, known for its Amazing homemade burgers and fresh food, cold drinks and great prices. Upper and lower deck, so casual, you can walk up from the beach with your sandy feet. Be prepared to be there often!

Drink

  • Fantazia Disco, Morne Rouge Beach. 9:30PM - late. Gets going pretty good on the weekends with live shows. Small cover charge.
  • Dodgy Dock Restaurant & Lounge Bar, True Blue Bay Resort (True Blue), ☏ 1 473 443 8783. 7AM to 11PM. Waterfront dining, Caribbean and Mexican Cuisine, daily sunset happy hour, seasonal live music Tues, Fri, Sat. Wednesday night music jam from 10PM. 

Sleep

Grenada offers a variety of accommodations, from small guesthouses to five star, all-inclusive resorts:

  • Mango Bay Cottages. Located on the west coast of Grenada with a lovely sea view and breathtaking sunset. 
  • Blue Horizons Garden Resort. Informal resort offering rooms/suites in a garden setting that's home to many species of wild birds, and a fine restaurant, La Belle Creole. 
  • Reef View Pavilions Villas. Comprises two villas, the Tradewind Pavilion and the Turtle Back Pavilion, each with a swimming pool in Lance Aux Epines. 
  • Tropicana Inn. "Businessman's hotel" in the Lagoon, overlooking the Marina and Yacht Club. Twenty double rooms, all with private bath, air conditioning and cable television. Good restaurant and bar. 
  • Sam's Inn. Located in the heart of the parish of St. Andrews though somewhat removed from the busy resorts. 
  • Grandview Inn, Grand Anse (Between Grand Anse and Morne rouge bay beaches), ☏ 1 473 4444984. Check-in: anytime, check-out: anytime. One of the highest full service resorts on the island with spectacular views over the Grand Anse Beach and Morne Rouge Bay Beach. 
  • True Blue Bay Resort & Villas, True Blue (by SGU), ☏ 1 473 443 8783. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Boutique hotel set among tropical gardens sloping down to True Blue Bay. 
  • Petite Anse Hotel, Sauteurs (north coast), ☏ 1 473 442 5252. Beachfront boutique hotel with fabulous views of the Grenadines, set in beautiful tropical gardens. Swimming pool, jacuzzi, bar and restaurant. Offers trips to Sandy Island for an extra charge. 

Stay safe

  • Grenada has very low crime rates.
  • There is a main Hospital in St.George's, and a smaller hospital at Mirabeau on the east coast.
  • Water is chlorinated and safe.

Go next

This region travel guide to Grenada is a usable article. It gives a good overview of the region, its sights, and how to get in, as well as links to the main destinations, whose articles are similarly well developed. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page .