The Spice Island appeals to outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Grenada’s lush mountainous terrain and tropical wildlife attract the nature lover in all of us. For those preferring to remain at sea level, there are 300-year-old churches and colonial buildings to marvel at in St. George’s, while Fort Frederick and Fort George will surely please the ardent history buff.
1 Room with a View
Some say the best panoramic views of the picturesque harbor of St. George’s are seen from the jail, the hospital and the cemetery. No kidding. A hike or ride up any hillside road will offer a peek between the buildings, unveiling the scenic image of red roofs against the cool blue Caribbean Sea.
2 Hiking
One-sixth of Grenada is designated for parks and natural wildlife preserves. Hiking trails for all levels lead to six named waterfalls, cool streams, warm sulphur springs and crater lakes formed from extinct volcanoes, all are centrally located within the rainforest. Finding your way to many of these sites requires the services of a local guide.
3 Entry to the Tobago Cays
The Grenadines are a collection of 600 small islands located between Grenada and St. Vincent. The Tobago Cays, known as one of the prettiest places on earth, consists of five uninhabited islands that lie within the Grenadines. Sailors from around the world come to Grenada to charter boats or join day trips heading to these idyllic waters, which were designated as a wildlife preserve in 2006.
4 A Look Back
Movie buffs with a penchant for vintage films will appreciate the scenes from the 1957 screen play Island in the Sun, starring James Mason, Harry Belafonte and Joan Fontaine, when they visit Grenada. Much of the island still looks as it did decades ago.
5 Three Islands, One Nation
Grenada, the nation, is actually three islands. Big sister Grenada gets all the glory and has the posh resorts, the trendy restaurants and most of the visitors. For a step back in time visit Carriacou and tiny Petite Martinique. Board the Osprey Lines’ ferry for a beach day on Carriacou or head on to Petite Martinique to totally escape the modern world.
6 Spice Cabinet
The island’s air is redolent with the subtle scent of spices. This is your chance to stock your kitchen with a supply of nutmeg, mace, cloves, bay leaves and cinnamon before heading home. Packets, baskets and jars of spices are found at the market in St. George’s and at many roadside stands.
7 Wrecking Havoc
From cargo ships and fishing boats to navy minesweepers, a varied collection of shipwrecks ready for dive exploration lies at the bottom of the sea off Grenada and Carriacou. Scuba divers and snorkelers will also find an expansive array of reefs to enjoy off both islands and a selection of dive operators to help with arrangements. Advanced divers and those accustomed to currents have the opportunity for a day trip to Isle de Rhonde, a group of tiny volcanic islands between Grenada and Carriacou.
8 Charcoal Sands
Grenada is blessed with a lineup of gorgeous white sand beaches, and a handful of strands with glistening black grains. With a little exploration and a hike from the main road, you can find the secluded, stunning grey stretches of Petit Bacaye Beach and Black Bay Beach.
9 Festivals
While the main island of Grenada has its share of celebratory festivities, its little sister Carriacou hosts some of the most unique parties in the region. In August the Carriacou Regatta draws crowds, in March Carnival explodes on the island, and in April the Maroon Festival rocks music lovers. The Christmas season brings the Parang Festival, a celebration based on the past custom of strolling serenaders caroling from village to village. The concerts and dances are held indoors nowadays but the event is still a welcome holiday tradition.
10 The Big Lake
Lakes on Caribbean islands are unusual, and Grenada has two. Both Lake Antonine and Grande Etang Lake were formed by volcanic craters. The latter is a 36-acre pool in the midst of the rainforest of the Grand Etang National Park, where a hike around its rim takes you through lush flora and over crushed nutmeg husks. Trek in deeper among towering mahogany and giant gommier trees draped in rare orchids and bromeliads for a chance to see the broad-winged hawk, Antillean crested hummingbird and the mona monkey.
