Grenada, known as the 'Spice Isle,' is a three-island state in the southeastern Caribbean, comprising Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique. The island is famous for its aromatic spices, particularly nutmeg and cinnamon, which perfume the air and form an important part of the local economy. Grenada offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, from pristine white-sand beaches like Grand Anse to lush rainforests, stunning waterfalls, and colorful coral reefs. St. George's, the capital, is often considered one of the most picturesque harbor towns in the Caribbean, with its horseshoe-shaped harbor, pastel-colored buildings, and red-tiled roofs. The island's culture reflects a rich mix of African, French, British, and indigenous Carib influences, evident in its music, dance, cuisine, and festivals, including the vibrant Spicemas Carnival. Grenadians are known for their warmth and hospitality, making visitors feel welcome as they explore this authentic Caribbean gem that remains relatively untouched by mass tourism.
133 sq mi (344 km²)
112,000
English, Grenadian Creole
Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
UTC-4 (Atlantic Time)
December to April
Grenada earns its Spice Isle nickname within minutes of landing - the air carries nutmeg and cinnamon as you drive the winding roads through the interior, past hillsides thick with cocoa, clove, and mace trees. Start in St. George's, widely considered the prettiest harbor town in the Caribbean, where pastel warehouses and red-roofed churches climb the hills around the Carenage, the inner harbor where fishing boats and yachts bob side by side.
Walk up to Fort George for a panoramic view of the harbor and the coast stretching north, then descend through the narrow streets to the spice market near the cruise terminal, where vendors sell fresh nutmeg, turmeric, cinnamon sticks, and nutmeg jelly by the bag. The drive from St. George's into the mountainous interior takes you through a landscape that feels more like Southeast Asia than the Caribbean - Grand Etang National Park sits in the crater of an extinct volcano at 1,900 feet, with a lake-filled crater and trails ranging from a 15-minute loop to the challenging three-hour hike up Mount Qua Qua, which rewards with views across the entire island.
The Concord Falls are a series of three waterfalls accessible via a trail through nutmeg and cocoa plantations - most visitors stop at the first, easily reached cascade, but the 45-minute hike to the upper falls at Au Coin is where you can swim in a deep pool beneath a 65-foot drop in near solitude. On the coast, Grand Anse Beach stretches for two miles of soft white sand along the southwest shore, consistently ranked among the Caribbean's best, with calm water, no vendors hassling you, and a handful of beach bars rather than a wall of high-rises. Underwater, Grenada's signature attraction is the Moliniere Underwater Sculpture Park, installed by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor in 2006 - a collection of concrete human figures on the seafloor at shallow depth, now encrusted with coral and sponges, accessible by snorkel or a short boat ride from Grand Anse.
Serious divers should head to the Bianca C wreck, a 600-foot Italian cruise liner that sank in 1961 and now sits upright in 165 feet of water, the largest accessible shipwreck in the Caribbean. For a cultural deep dive, visit Belmont Estate in the parish of St. Patrick, a working organic plantation where you can trace chocolate from cacao pod to finished bar, tour the nutmeg and spice gardens, and eat a Grenadian lunch cooked in an outdoor kitchen.
Moliniere Bay's underwater gallery features over 75 concrete sculptures by Jason deCaires Taylor, submerged at depths of 5 to 25 feet and now colonized by coral, sponges, and tropical fish. Most operators run short boat trips from Grand Anse Beach. Snorkelers can see the major pieces in waist-to-chest-deep water on calm days.
The trail to Au Coin, the uppermost of the three Concord waterfalls, winds through nutmeg and cocoa groves for about 45 minutes. The reward is a 65-foot cascade pouring into a deep, swimmable pool surrounded by rainforest. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a dry bag for your camera.
This 300-year-old working plantation in St. Patrick parish offers a complete farm-to-bar chocolate experience. Watch cacao beans fermented, dried, roasted, and tempered into finished chocolate. The estate also grows nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon, and serves a traditional Grenadian buffet lunch cooked over open fires.
The 600-foot Italian cruise liner sank in St. George's harbor in 1961 and now rests upright at 100 to 165 feet. It is the largest accessible shipwreck in the Caribbean, with swim-throughs along the upper decks and dense marine life including barracuda, eagle rays, and reef sharks. Advanced certification recommended.
This three-hour round-trip ridge hike in Grand Etang National Park follows a narrow trail through cloud forest to a 2,373-foot summit with views of both coasts. The trail can be muddy and steep, so a local guide from the visitor center is worth the $40 fee. Mona monkeys are commonly spotted along the route.
The oldest functioning water-powered rum distillery in the Caribbean has been making rum the same way since 1785. The overproof Rivers rum (138 proof) is sold only in Grenada because it is too strong to legally export to most countries. Tours cost about $5 and include a tasting that will make your eyes water.
A tiny sandbar surrounded by reef off the coast of Carriacou, Grenada's sister island. Water taxis from Hillsborough take 15 minutes. The snorkeling is excellent with brain coral, fan coral, and sea turtles. Bring your own food and water - there are no facilities, just sand, sea, and palm trees.
The market near the Carenage sells bags of fresh nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, turmeric, cocoa balls, and nutmeg jelly and syrup. Vendors are happy to explain the uses of each spice. Prices are a fraction of what you would pay at home, and the quality is incomparable because everything is locally grown and dried.
Grand Anse Beach anchors most of Grenada's hotel inventory. Spice Island Beach Resort is the island's top luxury all-inclusive, with rates from around $600 a night for beachfront suites that include meals, drinks, and water sports. Sandals Grenada, on Pink Gin Beach just south of Grand Anse, is the premium couples-only all-inclusive option starting around $500 per night.
Coyaba Beach Resort on Grand Anse offers a more intimate, locally owned experience with rates from $250 to $400 and a well-regarded restaurant. For boutique character, True Blue Bay Resort near St. George's University has colorful Caribbean-style rooms, a marina, and a Mexican-Grenadian restaurant, with rates from $180.
Budget travelers do well in Grenada compared to most Caribbean islands - guesthouses and apartments in Grand Anse and the Lance aux Epines area start around $60 to $90 a night. The Petite Anse Hotel on the remote northeast coast is a hidden gem with just eleven rooms perched above a quiet beach, starting at about $150. For a plantation experience, Mount Cinnamon Resort sits on a hillside above Grand Anse with cottage-style suites from $220. On Carriacou, accommodation is simple but charming - Ade's Dream Guesthouse in Hillsborough offers clean rooms from $70, while the more upscale Hotel Laurena starts around $120 with sea views.
Grenadian cuisine is the most underrated in the Caribbean - a fusion of West African, French, British, and East Indian influences seasoned with the island's own spices. The national dish is oil down, a one-pot meal of breadfruit, callaloo, salted meat, chicken, dumplings, and turmeric-stained coconut milk, slow-cooked until the coconut oil settles at the bottom.
You will not find it on many restaurant menus because it is considered a communal dish, but ask around and someone will point you to a Saturday cook-up. For restaurant dining, BB's Crabback on the Carenage in St.
George's serves the signature crabback - crab meat sauteed with cream and spices and served in the shell - alongside grilled lobster and lambi (conch) in a waterfront setting. The Aquarium Restaurant on Magazine Beach is a feet-in-the-sand spot with seafood platters and one of the best sunset views on the island.
Patrick's Local Homestyle Cooking in the Lagoon area near St. George's serves authentic Grenadian plates - stewed chicken, curried lambi, callaloo soup - at local prices, around $8 to $12 for a full plate. Umbrellas Beach Bar on Grand Anse is the go-to for a casual lunch of fish tacos and Banks beer with your toes in the sand. De Big Fish on the Carenage does excellent sushi-grade tuna prepared Caribbean style. For fine dining, Rhodes Restaurant at Calabash Hotel features a menu developed by the late Gary Rhodes, with dishes like nutmeg-crusted rack of lamb that showcase Grenadian spices in refined preparations.
Grenada's dry season runs January through May, with February to April being the driest and most popular months. Temperatures hover in the low to mid-80s Fahrenheit year-round, with trade winds providing natural cooling. Grenada sits at the southern edge of the hurricane belt and has historically been spared, though Hurricane Ivan in 2004 was a devastating exception.
The wet season from June through December brings afternoon showers that are usually brief and intense, with lush green landscapes as a trade-off. Hotel rates drop 30 to 50 percent in summer and fall. Spicemas Carnival falls in August, peaking with J'ouvert and Monday's parade through the streets of St.
George's - it is smaller and more authentic than Trinidad's or Barbados's celebrations. For diving, visibility peaks from January through April when seas are calmest. The Carriacou Regatta in late July or early August is a sailing tradition worth planning around.
Minibuses run between main towns. Taxis available but agree on fares beforehand. Rental cars drive on the left. Water taxis connect to Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
Picturesque waterfall surrounded by ferns & other greenery, with a small pool at its base.
Enduring planation offering tours of the grounds & cocoa making facilities, plus a museum & eatery.
Easily accessible waterfall on a sheer rock face fringed by tropical greenery, with steps to a pool.
BBC Beach is a nature attraction on Grenada. This natural area showcases the lush tropical landscapes and diverse ecosystems that Grenada is known for. Visitors can explore the local flora and fauna in a serene setting.
The oldest working water-powered distillery in the western hemisphere, continuously operating on the same site since 1785. The grinding mill is still driven by a waterwheel fed by the Antoine River, crushing sugarcane stalks as it did in the 18th century. Fermentation happens in open concrete vats under the Caribbean sky before a single distillation in a pot still produces the famously potent Rivers overproof rum, sold only locally.
Grand Étang National Park is a nature attraction on Grenada. This natural area showcases the lush tropical landscapes and diverse ecosystems that Grenada is known for. Visitors can explore the local flora and fauna in a serene setting.
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Popular dining spots near Grenada
Restaurant chain known for its buckets of fried chicken, plus combo meals & sides.
Average Temperature
75°F to 85°F (24°C to 29°C)
Rainy Season
June to December
Hurricane Season
June to November
Best Time to Visit
December to April
US, UK, EU, and Canadian citizens need a valid passport. No visa required for stays up to 90 days.
Grenada is very safe and welcoming. Standard precautions apply. Some hiking trails are steep and slippery - proper footwear recommended. Outside the main hurricane belt.
Minibuses run between main towns. Taxis available but agree on fares beforehand. Rental cars drive on the left. Water taxis connect to Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
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