Introduction
Grenada is located in the Caribbean. The island is of volcanic origin and is divided by a central mountain range. It is the most southerly of the Windward Islands. Tropical rainforests, gorges and the stunning beauty of dormant volcanoes make this a fascinating and diverse landscape with some of the finest beaches in the world.
In the capital, St George’s, The Carenage, a picturesque inner harbour with 18th-century warehouses and restaurants, the botanical gardens and Fort George (built by the French in 1705) are all worth a visit. Travelling north from the capital towards Spice Country, visitors pass through some of the prettiest fishing villages on the island. Levera Bay and Grand Anse are considered to be two of the island’s best beaches. The highest waterfall is Mount Carmel with two falls cascading over 21m (70ft) to clear pools below. Local specialities include calaloo soup, crabs, conches (lambi) and nutmeg ice-cream. The local rum and beer, Carib, is excellent. The nightlife is based in hotels, with discos, organised shows and cabarets.
Facts for Travellers
Full country name: Grenada
Area: 133 sq km
Population: 90,000
Capital City: Saint George's
People: African descent (82%), mixed descent (13%), European and East Indian (5%)
Language: English
Religion: Roman Catholic (60%), Protestant, Baha'i
Government: independent state within the British Commonwealth
Time Zone: GMT/UTC -4
Dialling Code: 473
Electricity: 230V ,50Hz
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$)
Vacation Deals
We constantly update vacation deals and flights + hotel packages for Grenada and the Caribbean. You can also check out some of the
best hotels and resorts in Grenada with exciting attractions like golf, casino, scuba diving and other water sports.
Popular hotels & resorts in Grenada are
Flamboyant Hotel
and Mariposa Beach Resort.
Passport & Visas
Passports are not required of citizens of the US, Canada or the UK, as long as they have proof of citizenship. Citizens of other countries must have a valid passport.
More Information About Visa Requirements
Getting There & Around
Grenada's Point Salines International Airport receives frequent flights from the US via San Juan, Puerto Rico, and direct flights are available a couple times a week between New York and Miami. From the UK, airlines fly a few times a week from London to Grenada, either direct or via Trinidad. Daily nonstop flights between Grenada and Barbados, Trinidad, Tobago and St Vincent connect the island to the rest of the Caribbean.
Yachts can clear customs and immigration at St George's or Prickly Bay in Grenada and at Hillsborough on Carriacou. Grenada is also a port of call for a fair number of cruise ships, which dock at the southeast side of St. George's.
Minivan buses are a good way to get around Grenada if you want to experience the rhythms of daily life - most blast calypso and reggae music and provide a hair-raising ride. Most buses leave St George's from the Esplanade bus terminal at the west end of Granby St.
Visitors need to purchase a local driving license, available from the car rental companies; driving is on the left.
There is regular boat service connecting Petit Martinique with Grenada and Carriacou.
When to Go
With warm weather and temperatures averaging 27°C (80°F) yearround, there really isn't a bad time to visit Grenada. The rain falls each month, though not every day, with a bit more during the rainy season between June and November. The second weekend in August is when to catch Carnival, the island's biggest and busiest event, so make sure to reserve in advance to enjoy the festivities. Winter is prime fishing season and, accordingly, the Spice Island Billfish Tournament, which draws anglers from around North America and the Caribbean, is held annually in January.
Best Beaches
Grenada's most popular beaches for sunbaking and swimming are all in the southwest of the island. They include the fine sweep of white sand at Grand Anse, nearby Morne Rouge Bay and True Blue. Calvigny Island, off the island's southwestern coast, has a couple of pretty beaches; you can reach them by shuttle boat from Secret Harbour or by asking fisherpeople around Woburn Pier. If you want to have a beach to yourself, head to Carriacou.
Best Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
The waters around Grenada have extensive reefs, with good coral, fish, turtles and other marine life. Dives come in a variety of flavors, including shallow reefs, walls, drifts and shipwrecks. The best sites are Bose Reef, Dragon Bay and Grand Mal Point. It's also worth checking out the unpopulated islands between Grenada and Carriacou. Kick 'em Jenny is worth visiting for the name alone, but the tiny island is also surrounded by pristine waters with great visibility; there's a sheer wall dive at Sisters Island. Molinière Point, just north of St George's, has the island's best snorkeling, although land access is difficult.
Attractions
Good hiking trails wind through the Grand Etang rainforest, which occupies the center of Grenada. They include the Mt Qua Qua Trail, which leads to the top of a ridge with fine views of the forest; the Seven Sisters Falls Trail, which leads to a series of seven waterfalls; and the gentle but frequently muddy Grand Etang Shoreline Trail.
Yachting is also extremely popular and a number of major yacht races and regattas are held throughout the year, notably the January Sailing Festival (lasting five days).
Visitors can also make boat trips on traditional wooden schooners, which is a popular way to cross the 5km- (3-mile) distance between the islands of Carricou and Petit Martinique.
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