Luxury Grenada Holidays

Discover Grenada

Grenada, the Spice Isle, offers a more tranquil and certainly off-the-beaten-track alternative to many of the larger Caribbean islands. Visitors to Grenada are drawn by the uncrowded landscapes, secluded beaches with great snorkelling and diving, In the eastern Caribbean, there’s a number of islands including Barbados and St Lucia, known collectively as the Windward Islands and the most southerly of these is Grenada. Just 21 miles long by 12 miles wide, it’s a 10.5 hours to get there from the UK (often with a touchdown in St Lucia). Affectionately termed the Spice Isle which denotes its history of trading, the air is still filled with warm scents of nutmeg and cinnamon which grow abundantly. Of volcanic origin, Grenada has 45 powdery white and black sand beaches lapped by the most azure of cerulean waters; perfect for sunbathing, swimming, all manner of watersports including great snorkelling and arguably the best Caribbean wreck diving. In the interior the fantastic year-round climate and the laid back friendly warmth of the Grenadians.

Discover a Tropical Paradise

There are rainforests, gushing waterfalls and high lakes in volcanic craters whilst, at the coast, there are mangroves rich in birdlife, sheltered beaches in the south and a wilder windswept Atlantic northern coast. Wildlife includes the mona monkey, agouti, armadillo and mongoose and, unique to the island, there’s the Grenada dove and endangered hook billed kite. The friendly Grenadians deserve special mention for their vibrant calypso, colourful carnivals, plus their passion for rum and tantalisingly tasty, spicy cuisine.

History

Known as Camerhogue by native Arawak and Caribs, the island was re-named Granada by Spanish sailors as the lush green hills reminded them of Andalucia. Later the French called it La Grenade and, in 1783 when it was ceded to the British under the Treaty of Versailles, there was another name change to Grenada. Now part of the Commonwealth, it became a crown colony in 1877, gaining full independence in 1974.

Image courtesy of Grenada Tourism Authority

Diving & Watersports

As the shipwreck capital of the Caribbean with amazing wrecks and an underwater sculpture park, there’s great snorkelling and numerous PADI-certified dive centres.

Gardens & Rainforests

There are gardens of nutmeg and historic spice plantations plus Grenada’s own Eden Project, Jessamine, in the Grand Etang foothills. Don’t miss Hyde Park Tropical Garden and the wild lush plants at Smithy’s.

Dining & Hashing

Restaurants host excellent Sunday brunches, and beach shacks serve fresh fish daily. There are elegant beach bistros and sophisticated award winning waterfront restaurants including Gary Rhodes’ restaurant at Calabash Hotel. There’s Friday night fish fry in Gouyave, Italian-inspired Caribbean flavours at Laluna and fish sandwich lunches with spectacular views at BB’s Crabback. There’s a fortnightly Saturday afternoon hash, a throwback to British forces in Malaysia, when ‘hashers’ meet up for a 2-hour walk, jog or run along a flour or paper trail eventually returning to a rum shop for drinks!

Visit our blog for more things to do in Grenada.

Tours in the North & East

To the north, Levera National Park covers 450 stunning acres whilst Lake Antoine, a shallow crater lake, hosts a variety of birdlife. There are guided tours at River Antoine Rum Distillery, the island’s oldest (working) water-propelled distillery, and at organic, fair-trade chocolate producer, Belmont Estate. On the east coast, Saint Andrew’s parish boasts the longest coastline, the second largest town, Grenville, and Royal Mt Carmel and Paraclete waterfalls.

Tours in the South & West

Colonial British and colourful Caribbean buildings lead up from the harbour to line the narrow streets of the capital, St George’s, where there’s a lively market every Saturday (fantastic for nutmeg, cocoa and vanilla gifts) and numerous forts with panoramic views. A five minute drive away is the long stretch of sand at Grand Anse, whilst more secluded beaches include L’Ance Aux Epines, Morne Rouge, Portici and Petit Bacaye. Visit the mangrove estuary and coral reef at La Sagresse for bird watching or the Westerhall Estate to learn about distilling rum. To the west, there’s beaches at Black Bay and Dusquene Bay and the coastal village, Gouyave, with its famed Fish Friday and tours at Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Cooperative. Inland, there’s the Mount Saint Catherine peak, Tufton Hall, the tallest waterfall, and great hiking in and above Grand Etang National Park.

Getting around

Hiring a car is easy as driving is on the left, there are regular buses during the day and early evening between Grande Anse and St George’s and taxis aplenty; although do agree the cost before setting off as they aren’t metered!