ग्रेनाडा

Do

thumb | 300px | Annandale Waterfall Scuba diving and snorkelling are on the reefs a mile or two west of Grenada island and Carriacou. Dive shacks are concentrated in Grand Anse and offer training, with the dive sites just a 5-10 minute boat ride away. The shallower reefs have soft coral within snorkelling depth and the usual cast of Caribbean critters. There's usually a current so dives are drifts. The signature dive is Bianca C, a 600-ft cruise ship which caught fire and sank in 1961, now lying in 90-160 ft depth. Surfing: not on the sheltered west coast. Prickly Bay south of Grande Anse often has surfable waves, as do the exposed Atlantic beaches facing northeast. thumb | 300px | West Indies cricket, with Grenada at 2nd Slip Cricket: the National Stadium in St George's hosts the national team and often the combined West Indies team for "Test matches" - internationals. The domestic playing season is the drier months of Dec-May. Soccer and athletics are staged at the adjacent Kirani James stadium. NFL (American football) is not regularly played, but Grenada is seeking to boost sports tourism, for example by re-starting their rugby sevens tournament in 2022. Hashing: running trails are set up at varied spots around the main island, usually on Saturday afternoon. Enjoy the brutal slopes, muddy footing and scratchy bush, then undo the damage with copious draughts of rum. Sailing. Day sail charters are available from various companies; dingy tours are also possible by renting …

Eat

Fish and chicken are the staple offerings, well-seasoned with island spices. Pelau, a rice dish cooked in pot, is enjoyed by many. Cassave Pone dessert are commonly eaten in Grenada.

Grand Anse hotels have the best dining and mostly cater to non-residents.

St George's is geared to quick lunches for people with business in town, and they close early.

Drink

thumb | 300px | River Antoine rum distillery Water is always a good choice in the tropical heat. Tap water is safe and pleasant to drink, as it runs off the rain-lashed mountains and only needs to be lightly treated. Restaurants serve it on request without sulking. Bottled water is also available. Rum is made at three distilleries on the main island, Clarke's Court and Westerhall to the south and River Antoine north, and tours are available. The other islands have no distilleries but cheerfully assist in consuming the main island's products. Beware very high strength rum served in local bars. Breweries: there are two near Grande Anse.

Sleep

Grenada island accommodation is concentrated in Grand Anse near the airport. Rooms are expensive, but long-distance fly + stay packages cost little more. There's very little in the capital St George's. Carriacou has small mid-range places, mostly in Hillsborough with a few southwest in Tyrell Bay. Petite Martinique accommodation in 2023 has yet to re-open after Covid.

Stay safe

thumb | 300px | Mona monkey at Grand Etang Grenada is a safe country and enjoys the lowest crime rate in the Caribbean region. Please keep it that way by safeguarding valuables and not flashing bling.

Beware of the sun. Grenada is only 12 degrees north of the equator and you can burn quickly even if it's cloudy and the breeze is keeping you cool. Seek the shade, use a parasol, wear a wide-brimmed hat and long clothing and slap on high-factor sun-block. Minimise outdoor activity from noon to 3 pm when there's maximum UV and heat.

Allow for the high humidity: it can top 90%, and anything above 60% is unpleasant. Drink plenty of water (the tap water is safe), though on humid days your sweat cannot evaporate quickly to keep your body cool.

Mosquitoes are more of a nuisance than a danger: it's rare for them to carry serious diseases such as malaria. You don't need anti-malarials, just standard anti-mozzy precautions - they get busy after sundown, so spray on a repellent before heading out for al fresco dining. Dengue Fever, Zika and Chikungunya Virus are likewise rare.

Your accommodation will know of local primary care doctors available to make house calls. There's a hospital in St George's, a smaller one at Mirabeau to the east and another on Carriacou. All treatment must be paid for, and anything serious might mean an airlift to the US mainland, so you must have adequate health insurance.

Connect

Almost everywhere on the three islands has 4G from Flow and Digicel, with only a few dead spots in the mountains. As of Jan 2023, 5G has not rolled out in Grenada.