10 Things You Must Do in Grenada 

I’ve been to Grenada more times than I count and every time I visit I discover at least one new activity or place that blows my mind – the list containing engaging activities to happily occupy your time doing while you’re on the island is quite extensive. whether you’re a land-lover, beach-bum or a water-baby, but if I had to narrow down to the top 10 must-do items, here’s what they would be…

1. Spend a Day on Grand Anse Beach

There’s a reason Grand Anse is Grenada’s most popular beach. After all, who doesn’t want to kill time sunbathing, kayaking, banana-boating or standup paddling on a near-perfect white-sand and blue-water coastline? With comfortable lounge chairs available for rent; trees with thick foliage for shade; and some of the calmest water you’ll ever encounter, it’s ideal for anything from a relaxing swim to an adrenaline pumping water sport. As an added bonus, there are restaurants and bars nearby offering up tasty and reasonably priced food and drinks so it’s the ideal all-day beach for solo travelers or groups with a variety of interests.

2. Go on a Road Trip 

For someone who doesn’t love to drive, I love road trips a whole lot! I believe road-tripping is something you should do anywhere you visit, if it’s possible – even if it’s just for a day. Grenada has at least 3 major road trip routes you can take, each requiring at least one day of your time. Your options range from the route along the island’s east coast, one along the west coast, and another that cuts through the rainforest in the center. They all give you the opportunity to see beautiful sites and do amazing things, including visiting the Grand Etang Forest Reserve, Concord Waterfalls and the centuries’ old River Antoine Rum Distillery. However, if you want to cover the key sites in one go, this route takes you to the 7 best spots! 

3. Go Scuba Diving 

Grenada’s clear water and vibrant marine life make it a diver’s paradise. With dozens of dive sites, including 15 wrecks and the famous underwater sculpture garden, novice and veteran divers have their pick of the type of diving they want to indulge in. Whether you sign up for a multi-day dive package or just a two-tank dive; whether you go down with a large dive center or you choose a smaller, boutique operation, you’ll have the opportunity to take in some amazing underwater sights and get up close and personal with the island’s colorful marine life.

4. Go Tubing along the Balthazar River

When I say river tubing, I’m not talking about the leisurely exercise done on lazy rivers moving at an unhurried pace…I’m referring to the invigorating experience of being bumped and tossed around boulders and down rapids by a powerful current…with some calm breaks along the way. Lined by towering trees that provide much-needed shade and spotted with large rocks throughout its course, the Balthazar River is perfect for an invigorating tubing experience. Whether the water is high or low, there are ample obstacles to offer you a fun ride. Check out my blog post on this experience to gain a better understanding of what the experience will be like!

5. Spend a least a Day on Carriacou

You can either book the 45 minute flight or the 2 hour ferry ride from St. George’s to Carriacou, in order to be transported from paradise to Eden. At 34 square km, with a population of  approximately 8,000, Carriacou is the perfect escape from the busier, tourist dominated mainland. Visit the island for a day, or consider overnighting in order to enjoy as much time as possible on its secluded white-sand beaches. While there, schedule in a few hours to pop over to Sandy Island, and of course venture up to the fort and take in the stunning view from one of Carriacou’s highest points. Check out my travel guide to Carriacou to see what else there is to see and do while you’re there.

6. Get a Taste of Petite Martinique 

Once you’ve made it to Carriacou, it’s only another 30 min boat ride to get to Petite Martinique, so don’t pass up the opportunity to visit this gem. At 586 acres with a population of approximately 900, PM is a charming dot in the Grenadines that mesmerized me when I visited last year. There’s no data access (only wifi), just a handful of cars, a lot of fishing boats, and you can see every single star in the sky when all the lights go out well before 9:30 pm each night. It’s the perfect spot for anyone seeking absolute seclusion and a much slower, more peaceful and unpretentious way of life. Sounds like your cup of tea? Here’s my guide to this truly off-the-grid destination.

7. Visit Any (or All) of the Waterfalls 

Grenada is famous for its waterfalls so you can’t leave without visiting at least one. Some, like Royal Mount Carmel and Annandale are easily accessible either by driving up or making a short trek. Others, like Seven Sisters and Victoria Falls require a lot more time and effort to witness their majesty, but you’ll find that once you’ve prepared yourself for the journey, it’s quite manageable. And totally worth it. Be adventurous and scale the rocks to leap into their deep pools, or play it safe and wade in their cool water…either way, it’ll be a magical experience.

8. Chow down at the Fish fry

Food. Yummy, delicious, home-style cooking. You can get it at so many different restaurants on the island, but I find it even more satisfying to sample the local fare at the weekly Gouyave Fish Friday Festival. It’s quite a long drive through dark countryside roads to get there, but once you arrive and take in the sight of dozens of food vendors lining the streets, the scent of lobster tail, fried coo coo, lambie broth, and the sound of soca and steelpan music filling the narrow lane, you’ll agree that it’s something you can’t miss.   

9. Seek Excitement or Solitude on Hog Island

In an interesting twist, Hog Island offers two very different experiences depending on the time of the week you decide to visit. If parties and liming (hanging out) are your thing, hop a boat from Woborn to the island on a Sunday when Roger’s Barefoot Beach Bar stocks its shelves and hosts the most epic beach bash. But if you prefer a lot of alone time, then find yourself on the island any other day of the week, when the activity dials down to zero, and the seaweed and abandoned conch shells are your only company.

10. Get Your Hash On

Like being outdoors? Enjoy hiking? Don’t mind getting dirty? And not at all bothered by the idea of navigated heavily wooded areas without an actual trail? Then hashing is for you! And Grenada’s hashing community is pretty active. Sign up for the Hash House Harriers mailing list and join them on one of their excursions. The terrain may appear extreme to beginners, with steep hillsides and thick foliage, but just listen to the call of ‘On on!’ from those ahead of you to know you’re on the right track. It’s not the easiest of activities but some of the views you’ll encounter along the way are so beautiful and once you’ve completed the course, have all the fun downing a cold beer with some of the new friends you made on this unconventional adventure! 

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I consider Grenada my second home and I take pride in the many wonderful things the island has to offer both residents and visitors alike. Have you ever been? What are your favorite things to do in the Spice Isle?

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