Apart from the pleasures of the beach, there is plenty to occupy your time in Grenada, where visitors will come face to face with the real Caribbean spirit. Tourism on the island is much quieter than some of the other Caribbean destinations and with a varied landscape, it's worth taking time away from the beach to drive up into the mountains and enjoy the cool experience of a walk in the rainforest; visit beautiful mountain rivers and waterfalls which cascade down through the lush forest greenery. Alternatively try the new sightseeing train in St. George, a comfortable and flexible way to discover this pretty capital. There are a number of low key, lively clubs in St George's, Grenada's one time colonial Georgian capital where you can dance to a local island band playing reggae or calypso.
Things to do in Grenada:
- Snorkel or scuba dive. It is possible to snorkel from the beach in a number of locations - a particularly good spot is Flamingo Bay. A unique experience for divers and snorkelers is a visit to the underwater sculpture park, while more advanced divers can discover the wreck of passenger ship Bianca C as well as an underwater volcano.
- Visit St George’s, the prettiest capital in the Caribbean in our opinion. There is a sightseeing train which offers a comfortable way to explore the town, while the Saturday market is a colourful and authentic taste of life in Grenada.
- Enjoy a sunset cruise from Port Louis marina in St. George’s, where guests can relax with a drink as they enjoy the stunning views over Grand Anse and the surrounding area.
- Go on a rainforest walk around Grand Etang lake, where a tour guide will lead you through lush vegetation and across small bridges.
- Explore the mountains and forests where there are some beautiful rivers and waterfalls to visit, in particular the Seven Sister Falls and Concord Falls. An exhilarating way of taking in this scenery is to go River Tubing.
- Take a tour of the Rivers Antoine Rum Distillery, the oldest working distillery in the Caribbean whose processes have changed little since the 1800s.
- Learn about the high quality chocolate and cocoa that Grenada produces. Perhaps visit the Belmont Estate, a 300 year old working plantation where chocolate is still made, or coincide your holiday with the annual chocolate festival which features a variety of activities that celebrate the product.
- See the sea turtles which nest along some of the island's sandy beaches, we often get reports from our friends at Maca Bana when the turtles are coming ashore.
- Sample fresh barbecued lobster or fish at Fish Fridays in the small local fishing village of Gouyave, where meals cost around US$10. The last Friday of the month is when most locals on the island attend the event which becomes a street party.
St George’s: The capital city of Grenada where highlights include the market square where public executions and political speeches once took place, the Carenage which is a horseshoe-shaped harbour, the Grenada National Museum which introduces the island’s history, and a number of forts which have played an important role in military history.
Grand Anse Beach: The most famous beach on the island which is a long curve of white sand, perfect for relaxing, swimming and water sports.
Morne Rouge Bay: A quieter version of Grand Anse beach with shallow, calm water.
Dougaldston Estate: One of Grenada’s oldest and largest working nutmeg plantations where visitors can take tours and buy a range of spices.
Westerhall Estate: A 500 acre estate where visitors can learn about the rum making process and sample a variety of rums.
Annandale Falls: A waterfall in the mountains north of St George’s, plunging into a pool in which visitors can swim.
Known as the Spice Island, Grenada produces 12 different spices including nutmeg, as well as some of the best herbs and vegetables in the Caribbean. Cuisine features a lot of local produce including fresh fish, fruit and vegetables, with the national dish being a stew called Oil Down.
Some of the island’s best restaurants are found in luxury hotels including Calabash’s Rhodes restaurant which is overseen by Gary Rhodes, Aquarium Restaurant at Maca Bana and Oliver’s at Spice Island Beach Resort.
