Go, Grenada

Among Grenada's charms are its stunning beaches and sparkling seas, rugged mountains, lush vegetation and one of the most picturesque capital cities in the Caribbean. And Grenadians are some of the warmest, most welcoming people you could ever meet. Join us for our pictorial tour of the Spice Isle, followed by a detailed fact file on what to look for in Grenada and her sister islands, Carriacou and Petite Martinique

  • Grenada sports stadium at Queens Park. Photograph by Jim Rudin
  • A vendor displays buckets of Grenadian spice and other condiments at St George's market. Photograph by Chris Huxley
  • Artisan at work at the Grenada Clay Works. Photograph by Chris Huxley
  • The clear waters off Grenada are excellent for snorkelling and diving, with an abundance of reef life and even a sunken cruise liner to keep underwater enthusiasts happy. Photograph by Chris Huxley
  • The famous Grand Anse- two miles of perfect white sand beach, just south of St George's. Photograph by Chris Huxley
  • The rugged south-eastern coast near Fort Jeudy. Photograph by Chris Huxley
  • Between races at a work boat regatta. Photograph by Onne Van Der Wal/LaSource Grenada Sailing Festival
  • Carnival time in St George's. Photograph by Chris Huxley
  • LaSource resort and spa at Pink Gin Beach. Photograph by Chris Huxley
  • Saturday market in St George's
  • A well preserved example of Georgian architecture in downtown St George's. Photograph by Chis Huxley
  • Renamed St George's (after King George III) by the British, Grenada's capital was first christened Port Louis by the French settlers who founded the city in 1705, and later Fort Royal. Photograph by Chris Huxley
  • Sandy Island, off Carriacou, a popular mooring point for pleasure boats
  • The LaSource Grenada Sailing Week is one of the premier events on the Caribbean yachting calendar. Photograph by Onne Van Der Wal/LaSource Grenada Sailing Festival

Rain or shine, Grenada is an island of irresistible charm. In the dry season — the high season for winter travel — the dazzling white beaches, turquoise ocean, brilliant sunshine and relaxed way of life make Grenada a perfect getaway. Even in the wet season — June to November — Grenada’s attractions are hardly diminished by the rain that falls on its bountiful mountains and valleys, preserving the lushness which makes the island an abundant source of high-quality produce. The Spice Island, as it is called, produces one-third of the world’s nutmeg, as well as cloves, cinnamon and mace. The island’s farmers also cultivate cocoa, sugar, bananas and many varieties of vegetables and fruit.

Situated on a promontory, with the ocean at its feet and mountains at its shoulders, St George’s, Grenada’s hilly capital, is one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful port cities. To the south of the capital is the main resort area, with the stunning Grand Anse Beach as its focus. Heading north from St George’s is the island’s verdant, mountainous interior, where a massive crater lake, splendid waterfalls and dense forest replace the sand, sea and sun of the coast.

Grenada’s sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique are the gateways to the Grenadines, a paradise for sailors and divers.

Join us on this photographic journey of the great little package that’s Grenada. For more details, read our Grenada Fact File.

 

VISITORS’ GRENADA

 

AIRLINES

• BWIA Express serves Grenada from Trinidad and Barbados, connecting with BWIA’s international services to and from New York, Washington, Miami, Toronto and London, and with BWIA Caribbean services (Jamaica, Antigua, St Lucia, St Maarten, Tobago, Guyana, Caracas).

 

AIRPORT

• Point Salines International, 7 miles/11.2 km from St George’s (Carriacou: Lauriston). Served by taxis, with fixed fares to most destinations

• Departure tax EC$50

• Passport and onward tickets required by all entrants (though citizens of UK, US and Canada may enter with two documents proving citizenship, at least one of which bears a photograph (of yourself)

 

AREA

133 square miles (344 sq. km), about twice the size of the District of Columbia; 21 miles long, 12 wide. Rugged mountainous interior with narrow coastal plain

 

CLIMATE

Tropical, with average temperature of 27°C (81°F). Rainy season June to December; January to March are generally the coolest months

 

CURRENCY

East Caribbean dollar (approx. 2.67 to US$). Major credit cards are widely accepted

 

HIGHEST POINT

Mount St Catherine, 2,756ft (840 metres)

 

LANGUAGE

English, with traces of patois

 

PER CAPITA INCOME

US$3,418

 

POPULATION

102,632 (approx. 6,081 in Carriacou and Petite Martinique); about 29% aged 14 or under

 

RELIGION

64% Roman Catholic, 22% Anglican; Methodist 3%; Seventh Day Adventist 3%

 

TAXES

8% government tax at hotels and restaurants; 10% service charge

 

TIME

Atlantic Standard Time (EST+1, GMT-4)

 

UTILITIES

• Electricity 220v/50 cycles

• Telecommunications include international direct dialling, USA Direct, Home Direct, credit card calling, phonecards, cell-phone and pagers; international access code 473

 

CONTACTS

Grenada

Grenada Board of Tourism

Burns Point, PO Box 293

St. George’s

Grenada, West Indies

Tel.: (473) 440-2279/2001/3377

Fax: (473) 440-6637

E-mail: gbt@caribsurf.com

www.grenadagrenadines.com

 

United Kingdom

Grenada Board of Tourism

1 Battersea Church Road

London SW11 3LY

England

Tel.: 020 7771 7016

Fax: 020 7771 7059

E-mail: grenada@cibgroup.

co.uk

 

Carriacou

Grenada Board of Tourism

Patterson Street

Hillsborough, Carriacou

Grenada, W.I.

Tel.: (473) 443-7948

Fax: (473) 443-6127

E-mail: carrgbt@caribsurf.

com

 

USA

Grenada Board of Tourism

317 Madison Avenue, Suite 1704

New York, NY 10017 USA

Tel.: (212) 687-9554

Fax: (212) 573-9731

E-mail: noel@rfcp.com

 

Germany

Grenada Board of Tourism

Schenkendorfstrasse 1

65187 Wiesbaden

Germany

Tel.: 49 611 267 67 20

Fax: 49 611 267 67 60

E-mail:

grenada@discover-fra.com

 

Canada

Grenada Board of Tourism

439 University Ave. Suite 920

Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Y8

Canada

Tel.: (416) 595-1339

Fax: (416) 595-8279

E-mail: tourism@grenadaconsulate.com

 

Austria

Grenada Board of Tourism

Discover the World

Stephansplatz 6/3/7

A-1010 Wein

Tel.: 01 512 86 86 40

Fax: 01 512 86 86 60

E-mail: Discover_vie@compuserve.com

 

BWIA West Indies Airways

• Point Salines International Airport Office

Tel.: (473) 444-4134

Reservations (473) 444-1221/2

 

Grenada Hotel Association

• Le Marquis Complex, Grande Anse, St George’s; Tel.: (473) 444-1353

Fax: 444-4847

E-mail: grenhota@caribsurf.com

grenadahotelsinfo.com

 

CALENDAR

January

• Spice Island Billfish Tournament

• LaSource Grenada Sailing Festival (31st–Feb. 4th)

 

February

• Independence Day (7th)

• True Blue Bay Resort Pursuit Race

• Carriacou Carnival

 

March

• Grenada Yacht Club Race (11th)

• St Patrick’s Day Fiesta (17th)

 

April

• Good Friday (13th)

• Easter Yacht Races, Gouyave Easter Regatta, Petite Martinique Regatta

• Grenada Triathlon

(21st–22nd)

 

May

• Labour Day (1st)

• One day International Cricket Match: West Indies vs South Africa (5th)

• Grenada Yacht Club Race (6th)

• Grenada Spice Jazz Festival (26th–June 4th)

 

June

• Whitsuntide Games (3rd)

• Corpus Christi (14th)

• Fisherman’s Birthday Celebrations (29th)

 

July

• LaSource Yacht Race

(5th–8th)

 

August 

• Carriacou Regatta

(3rd–6th)

• Children’s Carnival Frolic (4th)

• Rainbow City Festival

(5th–6th)

• National Panorama Finals (11th)

• National Calypso Finals (12th)

• Grenada Carnival

(13th–14th)

• Showcase 2001

(16th–19th)

 

September

• Grenada Yacht Club Race (16th)

 

October 

• Grenada Yacht Club Race (14th)

• Thanksgiving Day (25th)

 

November

• Grenada Yacht Club Race (4th)

 

December

• End of Hurricane Season Yacht Race (2nd)

• Carriacou Parang Festival (14th–16th)

• Christmas Day (25th)

• Boxing Day (26th)

 

DIRECTORY

Beaches

There are about 45 great beaches; best in the south-west are Grand Anse, Morne Rouge, Lance aux Epines; in the north-east Levera, Bathway

 

Birds

Good birdwatching, with over 150 resident species and another 100 more migrants. The Grenada Dove is endemic; hummingbirds, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Red-necked Pigeon, Ruddy Quail-Dove, wading and shore birds; Hook-billed Kite found only at Levera

 

Calendar

Holidays: January 1, February 7 (Independence), Good Friday, Easter Monday, May 1 (Labour Day), Whit Monday, Corpus Christi, Emancipation Day (1st Monday in August), Carnival Monday and Tuesday, October 25 (Thanksgiving Day), Christmas Day, Boxing Day

 

Conferences

The Grenada Grand Beach Resort at Grand Anse has a conference centre overlooking its mini golf course. There are several other attractive meeting spaces, including those at the Rex Grenadian, the Flamboyant, and the Trade Centre at Grand Anse

 

Driving

Self-drive rentals in St George’s and at the airport. Drive on the left. Please note: A local driving permit is required (whether or not you hold a valid international driving permit)

 

Eco

• A National Parks system is being developed. Grand Etang National Park (8 miles from St George’s) has an Interpretation Centre (open 8.30–4.00, US$1), and hiking trails ranging from easy (15 minutes to Morne Labarge) to arduous (Concord Falls 3hrs, Fedon’s Camp 3.5hrs). Crater lakes at Grand Etang and Lake Antoine. Levera-Bathway National Park, 200 acres, covers mangrove swamp, beaches, forts, wildlife

• High forest receives 150ins of rain annually. Turtles nest on beaches near Levera

• La Sagesse, protected seascape area on the south coast, has beaches, mangrove, salt pond, reefs and historical sites

• Marquis Island and La Baye Rock (off south-east coast) are nesting grounds

• Wildlife includes frogs, lizards, iguana, armadillo, manicou, Mona monkeys, mongoose. Humpback whales migrate December/April (whale-watching tours)

• Other eco-sites include Bay Gardens (Morne Delice, flowers and trees), Mt St Catherine, and several attractive waterfalls — Marquis (Mt Carmel) Falls, Annandale Falls, Concorde Falls, Seven Sisters Falls, Victoria Waterfall

 

Food/drink

Local specialities include lambi (conch), callaloo, souse, pepperpot, pumpkin pie, oildown, seafood, goat, wild meat, nutmeg jelly/jam, ice-creams, rum punch, seamoss, beers (Carib, Guinness), rum (Clarke’s Court, River Antoine, Westerhall Plantation)

 

Marriages

Three working days’ residence is required before applying for a licence; allow two days for paperwork (unless there are special circumstances). Documents required: passports, birth certificates, proof of single status, parental consent if under 21 (all documents in English). Several hotels offer wedding and honeymoon packages

 

MEDIA

No daily papers. Weeklies include Grenada Today, Grenadian Voice, Grenada Informer. Radio includes GBN, Spice Capital, City Sounds FM. TV includes GBN-TV, Grenada Cablevision, Lighthouse TV (religious), MTV

 

NIGHTLIFE

Centred around larger hotels and a handful of discos and clubs (Dynamite Disco, Fantazia 2001, Le Sucrier, Island View, Casablanca)

 

REAL ESTATE

Real estate agents will help with purchase and rentals. Non-citizens are liable for 10% tax under the Aliens’ Landholding Act. Allow three months for paperwork. Required for licence: police clearance from home country, bank and character references. There are many foreign residents, especially from UK, US and Europe. Villa rentals and long-term home rentals available

 

SPORTS AND FITNESS

Grenada is well equipped with sports facilities and is now developing specialised sports tourism. The brand new EC$62m National Stadium at Queen’s Park will be hosting international cricket against South Africa during March and April. It will also accommodate international football and big cultural events. The island’s sporting action includes:

Cricket: the most popular land sport, January to June

Cruises: Carib Cats, Carriacou Islander, Catch the Spirit, Rhum Runner I and II, Starwind I and II, Suvetar

Diving: there are excellent dive sites around the island, including reefs, wrecks (the Bianca C is the largest wreck in the Caribbean), wall dives, drifts. Among the best sites are Boss Reef, Grandmal Point, Dragon Bay, Flamingo Bay, Happy Valley, Windmill Shallows, Channel Reef, Red Buoy, Whibble Reef, Spice Island Reef, Molinere Reef. Other wrecks include SS Orinoco off La Sagesse Point, and Veronica L. There are dive shops at several Grand Anse and Lance aux Epines hotels

Fishing: there’s great deep-sea fishing around Grenada. Several operators offer day charters and fishing trips with equipment provided: check Bezo Charters, Evans Fishing Charters, Reel Affair or Catch the Spirit. The Game Fishing Tournament is held in late January

Football (soccer): widely played, July to December

Golf: there’s a 9-hole course at Grenada Golf and Country Club, above Grand Anse

Health clubs: several are open to visitors

Hiking: excellent trails, especially in Grand Etang National Park; also Mt St Catherine, Mt Maitland (1,712ft), Mt Sinai (2,306ft), Mt Qua Qua

Riding: horseback riding available

Sailing: outstanding, both around Grenada and up the Grenadines; good harbours and marinas, plenty of charters. The biggest Grenada Regattas are in January and November (End of Hurricane Season); Carriacou Regatta (1st weekend in August)

Tennis: at larger hotels. Public courts at Grand Anse and Tanteen

Triathlon: held annually, this year in April (swim, cycle, run)

Volleyball: growing in popularity. Courts at Aquarium Beach Club

Watersports: windsurfing, water-skiing, parasailing, sailboats, sunfish, speedboat trips, snorkelling, sailing trips; mainly at Grand Anse and Lance aux Epines

 

TRANSPORT

Private taxis, buses, public taxis and minibuses. Water taxis from Carenage to Grand Anse. Schooners and ferry to Carriacou as well as air service

 

TOURING

St David: La Sagesse Nature Works and Vendors Market

St George’s: Carenage (with Christ of the Deep statue), National Museum (1704), National Library, Financial Complex, Fort George (1705-1710), Marryshow House, Fort Frederick (1791), St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (or Scots’ Kirk) (1830), St George’s Anglican Church (1825), Roman Catholic Cathedral (1884, tower 1818), York House (Supreme Court and Parliament) (1780), Queen’s Park Stadium

St Paul’s: Bay Gardens, Morne Gazo (lookout and trails), Laura’s Spice and Herb Garden, De La Grenade Industries (rum, liqueurs, spice products), Camerhogne Art Gallery, Sunnyside/Joydon (outstanding private gardens, arrange through Sunsation Tours, 444-1594)

Grand Anse: beach, restaurants, shopping, golf course

Gouyave: Nutmeg Processing Station, Dougaldston Estate (spice plantation)

South coast: Lance aux Epines/Prickly Bay, True Blue, Grenada Sugar Factory (Woodlands), Clarke’s Court Distillery, Westerhall Point, Fort Jeudy, La Sagesse Nature Centre, La Sagesse Natural Works (old sugar/rum factory)

West: Concord Falls

North: Sauteurs, Caribs’ Leap, Mount Rich Amerindian petroglyphs

Grand Etang: National Park, crater lake, Annandale Falls, Seven Sisters Falls

• Grenville: River Antoine Distillery, Sulphur Springs, Bathway Beach, Lake Antoine, Dunfermline Rum Distillery, Nutmeg Processing Station

 

WEBSITES

www.grenada.org

www.travelgrenada.com

www.grenadagrenadines.com

 

 

 

Funding provided by the 11th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme Direct Support Grants Programme.
The views expressed on this website are those of the the authors and do not reflect those of the Direct Support Grants Programme.

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