Grenada Information

Useful Local information

Known as “The Spice of the Caribbean,” visitors will be enticed by the sweet scents of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and vanilla wafting on the balmy breeze. In fact, there are more spices in Grenada per square mile than anywhere else on the planet. Nutmeg is the most abundant spice, and Grenada produces about a third of the world’s supply.

Grenada’s capital, St. George, is known as the most picturesque city in the Caribbean. Its horseshoe-shaped harbour is surrounded by a pastel rainbow of dockside warehouses and the red-tiled roofs of traditional shops and homes. Rich in English, French and West Indian history, St. George is filled with beautiful well-preserved examples of French and British Colonial architecture.

Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique are three beautiful islands in the Windward chain of islands, threaded by the Caribbean Sea, connecting North and South America. The Caribbean Sea laps gently on the western shores of these islands, while the Altantic casts magnificent swells onto the eastern coastline.

Grenada

There are six parishes on the island of Grenada, each with its own fascinating charm, special traditions and festivals.

St. George occupies the southwestern end of the island and is a place of haunting beauty, magnificent beaches, translucent waters and ideal year round weather. Grenada’s capital St. George, lies in the parish. In Grenadian parlance, the town and parish names are used almost interchangeably and referred to as St. George’s.

St. David on the southeastern end of the island, has a coastline sprinkled with small bays and inlets, many with pocket-size sandy beaches, just perfect for a quiet picnic and a swim. This is basically an agricultural parish growing traditional crops of cocoa, nutmeg, bananas and spices as well as the sugar cane which is used in the manufacture of our island rums.

St. Andrew is the parish with the longest coastline and is also the largest producer of Grenada’s main agricultural exports. Rainbow City is the name affectionately chosen for the lovely old town of Grenville, which was also called La Baye by the French.

St. Patrick is the most northerly parish and it is here that many beautiful old homes and some estate houses can still be seen. Some are well kept originals and others have been restored to a replica of their former glory. The principal town of Sauteurs got its name from an historical event in the mid-seventeenth century when the native inhabitants leapt to their death instead of surrendering to the French Conquerors.

St. Mark is the smallest parish. Its inhabitants live mainly by fishing and working the surrounding estates. From the summit of Mount St. Catherine, (the highest peak on the island) all the parishes of Grenada are visible. Hot springs lie on its slopes as a reminder of Grenada ‘s volcanic beginnings.

St. John on the west coast is home to Gouyave, the town that never sleeps. The highlight of the year for this parish is the Fisherman’s Birthday Celebrations held around the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, June 29. Boats and nets are blessed before the street festival begins. There’s singing, dancing and various other entertainments, including the popular steelband music all of which continue far into the night.

Carriacou

The most populated island of the Grenadines, Carriacou has superb beaches, quaint rum shops, excellent diving and extraordinary scenery. Believed to have gotten its name from the Carib word for “land of reefs”, Carriacou’s coral origins are best represented by the six mile barrier reef on the eastern side of the island, while Kick ‘Em Jenny, the active underwater volcano, is evidence of Carriacou’s volcanic past.

Petite Martinique

This small volcanic cone of about 486 acres, has excellent beaches on the leeward side of the island. Decades ago smuggling developed as a way of life, with fishermen selling their catch to neighbouring St. Marteen and purchasing any items required.

Location

The three islands of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique are located in the eastern Caribbean at the southern extremity of the Windward Islands, only 100 miles north of Venezuela. To the north lie St. Vincent and the Grenadines and to the south lie Trinidad and Tobago.

Climate

Average temperatures range from 75ºF to 85ºF (24ºC to 30ºC), tempered by the steady and cooling trade winds. The lowest temperatures occur between November and February. Due to Grenada’s remarkable topography, the island also experiences climate changes according to altitude. The driest season is between January and May. Even during the rainy season, from June to December, it rarely rains for more than an hour at a time and generally not every day.

People and Language

Approximately 101,400 people inhabit Grenada , including the 8,000 inhabitants of Carriacou and the 600 residents of Petite Martinique. The nation’s citizens are primarily of African, East-Indian and European descent, with the largest proportion of the population, approximately 75%, of African descent. Grenada is an English-speaking nation.

Music

With its African origins, Calypso is the music of the native Grenadian. Though the mini-buses now play reggae and pop, it is still the music of choice at Carnival time. Ex-tempore is an art form where the musician sings to a standard tune but has impromptu lyrics.

Port of Entry

Visitors travel to Grenada by Sea and Air. There are a variety of Cruise lines which stop either in St. George, in Grenada or Hillsborough in Carriacou. International flights stop at Maurice Bishop International Airport, and visitors who continue have only a short hop by inter-island charter to Lauriston Airport in Carriacou.

Visitors who make their way down by yacht have a variety of marinas at which they can clear immigration and customs as well as dock and purchase supplies. Anchorage in the islands is available in most inlets and bays, please check with immigration for an updated list.

Sightseeing and Tours

Exploring the islands of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique is a must. There are various attractions including The Grand Etang Forest Reserve and Lake, Waterfalls, Spice Estates and Plantation Houses. A visit to a Rum Distillery is a must to see how the Sugar Cane juice is turned into Rum, in many cases using the original technology and equipment from days gone by.

The local tour companies offer a wide range of itineraries from Walking Tours of the capital of St. George, to island tours with visits to the Fort George, Annandale waterfall, Working Spice and Rum Estates, and the Grand Etang Forest Reserve, just to name a few. For those with a little more time, hop over to the sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique for some diving or local culture.

Hog Island

At Weekends and Bank holidays you can visit Hog Island where you can relax, experience local food, Rodger’s Beach Bar and have lots of fun. Only 8 minutes away from Woburn Villas and you get there by water taxi. Check out Hog Island on the internet.

Take a day trip to Grenada ‘s sister island of Carriacou by ferry or plane and then onto Petite Martinique by ferry or fast boat.