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HIGLIGHTS OF GRENADA
HIGHLIGHTS OF GRENADA
The Culinary Capital
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In July 2021, Grenada was named the World Food Travel Association’s first ever ‘Culinary Capital’ - quite a coup for an island nation of just 100,000 people. But this accolade won’t come as a surprise to anyone who knows Grenadian cuisine, with its spice-infused flavours drawing on culinary traditions from Europe, Africa, South Asia and the Caribbean.
Grenada’s nickname is the ‘Spice Island’, and you’ll soon discover why if you peruse the colourful market stalls in the little capital, St George’s. You’ll find fragrant nutmeg and yellow turmeric root in abundance, along with great piles of bananas and plantains, juicy limes and guavas, and a host of less familiar fruit and vegetables such as soursop, callalloo, breadfruit and carambola.
Between the various eclectic local beach bars and restaurants and a variety of water sports available, like gorgeous clear kayaks or aqua bikes, you can easily spend a couple of weeks exploring the famous Grand Anse Beach alone, a gorgeous sweep of white sand that attracts tourist and locals alike. Luckily, there is plenty more to justify an extended stay. Grenada is an island where you can hike through pristine
rainforest and bathe under refreshing waterfalls in the morning, scuba dive in an underwater sculpture park in the afternoon, and enjoy sumptuous fine dining once the sun goes down.
Few outsiders are aware that Grenada is a Tri- Island State, with smaller sister islands, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Carriacou is a sleepy little place with a population of just 8,000, and reminds many visitors of the Caribbean of old. The name comes from the Carib language and means ‘Isle of Reefs’, an apt description since this is a fantastic destination for snorkelling and scuba diving. The island also has an unusual cultural mix, drawing on both African and Scottish roots, with unique traditions including the re-enactment of Shakespeare’s plays during Carnival.
Petite Martinique is sleepier still, home to maybe 900 people, and accessible by boat from Carriacou. It’s a place to wander along deserted beaches, explore coastal caves and enjoy that special feeling that comes with being somewhere most people have never even heard of. And where better to contemplate your splendid isolation than the top of the Piton, the highest point on the island, with wonderful views of the neighbouring Grenadine islands.
