Grenada

Today, Grenada, a country in the West Indies, located in the Lesser Antilles, is becoming an increasingly popular destination for tourists. It includes the island of Grenada and smaller islands: Carriacou, Sandy Island, Petit Martinique, Green Island, Sugar Loaf, Rond, Jenny and others. Grenada is a member of the British Commonwealth, so nominally the head of state is the Queen of England. Its representative on the island is the governor general, who appoints the government on the proposal of the leader of the party that won the election.

The popularity of Grenada among tourists is simply explained: the place where the country is located is unique in its own way. Pleasant climate, the opportunity to swim in the ocean and not be afraid of marine predators at all, many interesting diving sites, beautiful national parks, an abundance of crater lakes and waterfalls, a rich history that has left its traces … This place is ideal for any type of vacation.

General information about the island

All islands of the state are of volcanic origin. Grenada has no land borders, and by sea the country borders on Barbados, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent. The area of ​​Grenada is 344 sq. km., and the total length of the coastline is 121 km.

The capital of Grenada is the city of St. George’s, located on the main island. Founded in 1650 by French colonists, it is both the largest city of the state and its economic center.

Population

A little more than 110 thousand people live in the state, and most of them live on the island of Grenada; the population is predominantly composed of representatives of the Negroid race (according to some estimates — 55%, according to others — up to 82%). Another 13% of the population are mulattoes. Also on the islands live the descendants of the indigenous Indian population (Arawaks, Caribs and other nationalities), the descendants of French, English and Scottish settlers. The official state language is English, but the population, especially on the islands, speaks mainly dialects — Patois (its “base” is French with the “adding” of words from Scottish Spanish, some African and Indian languages) and Grenadian Creole dialect of English.

Almost all religions of the world are represented on the islands; About 53% of the population consider themselves Catholics, about 13-14% profess Anglicanism. The population is mainly employed in tourism, agriculture and fishing. Bananas, nutmeg and other spices, cocoa, sugar cane are grown on the islands.

Currency and its exchange

The currency of Grenada is the East Caribbean dollar (EC$). The US dollar is also almost universally used. You can pay with American dollars in hotels, restaurants and large stores, but it is more profitable to do it in local currency. In small shops and transport you need to pay in East Caribbean dollars. Without exaggeration, you can exchange currency anywhere — both at exchange offices and banks, as well as in hotels, restaurants and even some shops, but it’s better to do it at banks, because the exchange rate there is more favorable. Banks are open on weekdays from 8-00, from Monday to Thursday they close at 15-00, on Friday — at 17-00. Large hotels and restaurants also accept credit cards.

Climate

The climate on the island of Grenada and the rest of the islands that make up the state is tropical trade winds. The temperature changes little noticeably throughout the year; the coldest months are the winter months and November, when the daytime temperature reaches +25…+27°C. During the hot months, the temperature during the day is within +28… +31°С. The rainy season lasts from June to November, tropical showers are usually heavy, but very short-lived. The annual rainfall is 950-960 mm. Thanks to this climate of Grenada, you can come to rest all year round and enjoy swimming and active pastime.

Spa vacation

In Grenada, the beaches are sandy, mostly narrow. Those that belong to hotels are often enlarged by bulk sand. It is good to relax here with children, as coral reefs reliably protect both from storms and marine predators. The main beaches of Grenada are Grand Anse, Tyrell Bay, Besway and Morne Rouge, located in the resort of the same name.

The ecosystem of both the island of Grenada and other islands remains virtually untouched. Coral reefs are very beautiful, they are inhabited by sea turtles, including leatherbacks, dolphins, some types of sharks and many varieties of fish. A variety of marine fauna and sunken ships off the coast attract a large number of divers. Especially popular with divers and snorkelers is the small island of Jenny, as its waters are exceptionally clear.

Attractions

Where is Grenada located? At the crossroads of many sea routes, in places where pirates dominated for some time and where Britain and France fought for dominance over the region. Tourists will find many attractions that tell about the amazing history of these islands. So, for example, in the capital of Grenada, you should definitely visit the only synagogue on the entire island, the Church of St. George, the National Museum of Grenada, Fort George and the Sandall Tunnel in its vicinity. Of the natural attractions, the Jessamine Eden Botanical Garden and the Grand Etan National Park located near the capital deserve attention. As for other cities, tourists are advised to visit the following places: cocoa plantation, Lever National Park and Lake Antoine in Suturce, Folkestone Underwater Park in Holetown and the fishing town of Grenville.

Hotels

The interior of most hotels in Grenada is decorated in the Caribbean style. It is best to stay in hotels in the cities of the main island, although there are convenient and comfortable hotels on Carriacou and other islands. Among the best are 5 * The Calabash Hotel & Villas in St. George, 4 * Bel Air Plantation Resort in St. David, 5 * Spice Island Beach Resort near Grand Anse Beach, 5 * La Sourse on the southwest coast, 5 minutes from Maurice Bishop Airport at Point Salines and 15 from the capital.

Please note: in general, only 5 * work on the principle of «all inclusive»; in 3 * and 4 * at best, you will be entitled to breakfast, but even in 3 * hotels there are often swimming pools.

National cuisine of Grenada

The cuisine of Grenada is very diverse — French, African and cuisines of local Indian tribes «met» and intricately intertwined with each other with «interspersed» dishes of English and Scottish cuisines. The most common seasoning for dishes is nutmeg. However, perhaps the most «national» dish can be called «oil down» — breadfruit stewed in milk along with corned beef. And the most popular dessert is breadfruit flowers in sugar.

St. George’s has the best restaurants in Grenada; among them are Umbrellas Beach Bar, Rhodes Restaurant at Calabash and BB’s Crabback. The Beach House Restaurant in Grand Anse, The Beach Club at Calabash in Lance aux Epines, Lazy Turtle Pizzeria & Bar on Carriacou Island, Belmont Estate in Belmont, Mount-Cinnamon Boutique Hotel in Grand Anse, Ans.

Holidays

On the islands of Grenada they love and know how to have fun; many holidays are held here on a grand scale — both global, which are celebrated throughout the country, and local ones in individual towns and villages.

The main public holiday is Independence Day, which is celebrated on February 7th. In January, a number of events take place here: both the garfish fishing tournament and the La Serse Grenada Yacht Festival. The end of February is marked by the four-day Carriacou Festival.

In March, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated, the International Food and Drink Festival takes place. On the eve of Catholic Easter, the Kite Festival is held. In April and May, the Maroon Vocal Festival and the Drum Festival take place, and at the end of May, the Jazz Festival. In late July and early August, Rainbow City is held in Grenville, a festival in honor of the liberation from slavery. In August, a regatta is held on the island of Carriacou, in which only boats made on this island can participate. Since 2010, Grenada has hosted the Caribbean Rum and Beer Festival every year in early November.

Shopping in Grenada

Shops in Grenada, including food, for the most part work only on weekdays, supermarkets from 9-00 to 19-00, other shops — from 8-00 to 16-00, some are open on Saturday until 13-00. Souvenir shops are often open on weekends, especially on those days when cruise ships call at ports.

What do tourists mainly bring from the island? Of course, rum. No less popular are nutmeg and vanilla, which are grown here, as well as textile and leather products, wood carvings. If you manage to visit the island of Carriacou, buy flower pots, which, according to an old tradition, are made here from petrified corals.

Tourist safety

1. The level of solar activity on the islands is very high, so it is recommended to carry sunglasses with a high degree of UV protection and creams with a high SPF at all times.
2. You can swim in the sea near the beaches without fear — coral reefs serve as reliable protection from sharks and other dangerous animals. However, one should not swim in the open sea, both because of marine predators and because of strong currents and the presence of underwater rocks.
3. Grenada, in terms of the level of crime, is a fairly calm state. However, you should not carry documents, large sums of money and valuables with you. No need to leave them in the hotel room — it is best to use the safe. Leaving things unattended in the front seat of a car or taking out a wallet in crowded places is also dangerous. You should also beware of the so-called «volunteer assistants»: even if nothing is stolen from you, they will at least demand an exorbitant fee for the service performed, while loudly calling everyone around to witness.
4. It is recommended to be vaccinated against typhoid, yellow fever and polio. If you come from an area where yellow fever is common, vaccination will be a mandatory requirement, but if you are a transit passenger and will not leave the airport transit area, you will not be checked for a certificate of vaccination.

Important nuances

1. In no case should corals be taken out of the sea and taken out of the state.
2. Import and export of foreign and local currency is not limited.
3. It is forbidden to import into the country not only firearms and ammunition, but also meat, vegetables and other fruits, soil and plant samples.
4. In Grenada, you can not be in swimsuits off the beach, and also wear pants that show underpants. If for the first time law enforcement officials limit themselves to “returning” violators to the beach or forcing them to dress, then a fine of $270 is imposed if they refuse to comply with this requirement.

How to get to Grenada?

The fastest way to get to Grenada is by air, either with British Airways flights with a connection in London, or with a joint Lufthanza and Condor flight, in which case the connection will be in Frankfurt. International flights mainly arrive at Maurice Bishop Airport at Point Salines, 8 km south of the capital. There is another airport in Grenada — on the island of Carriacou, not far from Hillsborough; you can fly there from Miami, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.

You can also get to the island by sea: there are many ports on the island where passenger ships call. By the way, you do not need a visa to visit Grenada, unless you plan to spend more than 90 days on the island.

Transport links within the country

There is municipal transport on the island, but if you want to get somewhere quickly enough, it is better to take a taxi. You can get to the islands by renting a boat or yacht. It is better to negotiate the cost of the trip with both taxi drivers and boaters in advance, and pay special attention to currency, because at the end of the trip they will try to charge you for the fare in US dollars. It is better to order a licensed taxi, it is usually equipped with meters. Charges are EC$4 per mile for the first 10 miles and EC$3 per mile from 11th. The nightly fare is different and you will have to pay an extra EC$10 per trip.