Grenada Travel Guide

GRENADA TRAVEL GUIDE

PURE GRENADA A GUIDE TO TRAVELING IN GRENADA IMPORTANT INFORMATION. WHERE TO STAY. WHAT TO DO & SEE. PLUS MUCH MORE.

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TRAVEL GUIDE: GRENADA

PURE GRENADA WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL GRENADA TRAVEL GUIDE, A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE GRENADA HOTEL AND TOURISM ASSOCIATION AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE.

By Poppy Johnson The Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association is a non-profit, private sector organization, dedicated to the development, increased profitability and professionalism of the tourism industry in Grenada. Often referred to as “Pure Grenada”, we’re an island that’s not overly developed, with a strong focus on agriculture. We’re also known as the ‘Spice of the Caribbean’, a nod to our love for growing and cultivating our spices!

There’s a lot of space in Grenada. We might be a small island, but it’s easy to get lost here – a fact we’ve captured in our Just for You campaign, offering tourists a travel experience tailored exclusively to them. We’re not as commercial as many other destinations in the Caribbean – a uniqueness that allows tourists to really immerse themselves in the country, its culture, and its people.

We have a vibrant cuisine, including some of the best organic chocolate in the world, and a rich history. During their stay, tourists can experience various African traditions firsthand, from boatbuilding, to food, cocoa, and rum festivals – some of which have remained unchanged since the 1700s!

In our family- and locally-owned hotels with their distinctive boutique-style, there’s yet another element that makes Grenada unique.

Whether you remain on the southern belt of the island, or whether you decide to spend time in the interior or the north, they’re all 2 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

very different experiences, but you can be sure that they’ll all provide that important sense of escapism!

For our visitors, it’s important that they feel safe and secure from the moment they arrive, to the second they leave. As a country, we’ve implemented a number of measures behind-the-scenes to earn a Level One safety ranking from the US CDC, making Grenada one of the safest destinations for travel.

At the GHTA, we’ve played an active role in that effort, contributing to the vaccine rollout among our frontline workers, and offering our hotels as convenient sites for vaccination. We’ve also been instrumental in launching public education campaigns, hosting webinars and information sessions, with our members and with the entire community at large.

Without our focus on the environment, we wouldn’t be pure. Here in Grenada, we spend a lot of time focused on preserving nature and maintaining our vital marine areas. We’ve introduced a ban on single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam, and we’re also home to the only underwater marine park in the Caribbean, providing vital support for our coral reefs.

It’s important that tourists can play their part, too – whether diving for lionfish, or participating in beach clean-up campaigns, or simply using a re-fillable water-bottle. In Grenada, anyone’s welcome to get involved!

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TRAVEL GUIDE: GRENADA

WHERE TO START GRENADA KEY FACTS

YOUR CELEBRATION Capital:

St. George’s

Population:

111,454

Language(s):

English

Currency:

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Time zone:

UTC−4

Dialling code:

+1-473

Major resort areas: Saint Patrick and Saint Andrew Saint John and Saint Mark Saint George and Saint David Carriacou and Petit Martinique Tourist season:

May - August

Annual visitors:

528,077

Annual tourism earnings:

499 million US$

Avg. temperature:

88 °F (day), 75 °F (night)

Highest point:

Mount St. Catherine 840 m (2,760 ft)

KEY ATTRACTIONS

Annandale Waterfalls

Grenville Nutmeg Processing

Soubise Waterfalls

Beach

House of Chocolate Museum

Sunnyside Gardens

Botanical garden

Mount Hartman Dove Sanctuary

Sunset City Food Fest

Carriacou Museum

Mount Saint Catherine

Turtles hatching at Levera Pond

Clabony Sulphur Spring

River Antoine Rum Distillery

Underwater sculpture park

Concord Falls

Seven Sisters Falls

Welcome Stone

Crayfish Bay Organic Cocoa Estate

Shakespeare done Carriacou-style

WesterHall Rum Estate

Forts of St. George’s

Snorkel on Sandy Island

Wreck of Bianca

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Sauteurs

Victoria

Mount Saint Catherine

Gouyave

Concord Falls

Grenville

Seven Sisters Falls

Marquis Annandale falls

Constantine

ST. GEORGE St. Davids

KEY REGIONS Calivignu L’Anse aux Epines

Saint George and Saint David Saint John and Saint Mark Saint Patrick and Saint Andrew Carriacou and Petit Martinique

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TRAVEL GUIDE: GRENADA

WHATTO DO...

SAINT ANDREW GO WILD IN THE NATURAL PARADISE OF GRAND ÉTANG NATIONAL PARK – VAST RAINFOREST. Breathtaking waterfalls. A 30-acre crater lake, the remnant of a now-dormant volcano. All this is to be found within Grand Étang National Park. Home to the highest peak in Grenada, Mt Qua Qua, at more than 2700 feet, there are nevertheless many accessible hiking trails for beginners and 6 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

experienced visitors alike, with hikes ranging from 15 minutes to four hours with a guide.

The park is a nature watcher’s dream, with armadillos, mongoose, and the Mona monkey, as well as a variety of species of birds, and vividly-colored amphibians and reptiles.

Passing by seven of the park’s incredible waterfalls, the Seven Sisters Trail is a popular attraction. Make sure you go for a refreshing dip in the trail’s large natural pool!

WATCH THE TIVOLI DRUMMERS Dynamic and incredibly entertaining, the Tivoli Drummers aim to promote the indigenous culture and heritage of Grenada through their performances. It’s an ideal way to educate yourself about the country, and a unique musical experience that can’t be found anywhere else.

TAKE-ON THE RAPIDS OF BALTHAZAR RIVER Get ready for thrills, twists, and turns! A popular attraction in the Saint Andrew parish of Grenada is river tubing down the Balthazar River, rushing through the rapids and taking in the scenery at speed. Along the route, you can stop off in the river’s beautiful natural pools, with their many species of tropical flora and fauna. It’s perfect for those who want an action-packed adventure!

Also in Saint Andrew: - Feel the sand beneath your feet at Telescope Beach - Go for a splash at Mount Carmel Falls - Discover the relics of the Rome Museum - Clabony Sulphur Spring - Soubise Waterfalls - Adelphi Waterfalls - Grenville Nutmeg processing station

SAINT DAVID TREAT YOUR TASTEBUDS AT LAURA’S HERB AND SPICE GARDEN Grenada’s famed spices can all be found here, at Laura’s Herb and Spice Garden! You can take an educational tour around the garden, learning about all the plants, and sampling the array of herbs and spices. Afterwards, remember to top up your kitchen cupboard at the gift shop!

TRY A NATIONAL DRINK AT WESTERHALL ESTATE DISTILLERY Award-winning and traditionally made, Westerhall Estate’s rum is a real Grenadian experience. You can tour the distillery, learning about the methods used to make rum, seeing the waterwheels and museum, and tasting the finest rum at incredible quality!

UNWIND AT LA SAGESSE BEACH Relaxing and secluded, the sheltered sands of La Segasse are perfect for a rest. A quiet paradise, the atmosphere is incredibly romantic and magical.

Also in Saint David: - Get lost in the rainforest at Morne Gozo - Take a dip in Shadow Hole Waterfall - Visit the Petit Becaye Lime Kiln SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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TRAVEL GUIDE: GRENADA

SAINT GEORGE DEEP DIVE FOR UNDERWATER ART – From art, to shipwrecks, to an underwater volcano, diving in Grenada is sure to be exciting and fulfilling. The pick of diving spots are located on the south of the island, but the Underwater Sculpture Park on the west coast is an unmissable underwater art gallery, featuring 65 sculptures anchored to the sea floor. The most famous exhibit is known locally as the Circle of Children – a life-size ring of 26 children holding hands.

The artist said of his work that it “highlights the importance of creating a sustainable and well-managed environment, a space for future generations.”

SHOP YOUR WAY ACROSS SAINT GEORGE MARKET Grenada’s capital is a stunning working port. Here, tourists can find colorful market stalls run by local vendors selling farm produce, piled high with spices, exotic fruits and vegetables, and other local products.

Lively, popular, and vibrant, the market is a perfect way to experience Grenada!

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SEARCH FOR SEA-LIFE AT GRAND ANSE BEACH Close to the capital of St. George’s on the southwestern coast of Grenada, the Grand Anse Beach is blissful: two miles of white sand and clear blue Caribbean water. The perfect place to unwind, visitors can sunbathe, relax, and explore, with opportunities to snorkel at Boss Reef and take in the sealife. There’s also a Craft and Spice Market on the north end of the beach for those wanting to experience Grenada’s famed spices and creations.

Also in Saint George: - Enrich your mind at the Grenada National Museum - Survey the town from Fort George - Cool off in St. Margaret’s Falls - The House of Chocolate - Annandale Waterfalls - The Tower Estate - WesterHall Rum Estate - Sunnyside Gardens

e s i d Para Step on to

Experience the warmth and hospitality that Coyaba offers in our alluring surroundings. Relax your mind and body, as you make us your home away from home.

The world famous 2.5 mile Grand Anse Beach is only a few steps away from your room. Feel the fresh tropical breeze and the warmth of the sun.

Call. + 1 473 444 4612 E. reservations@coyaba.com

www.coyaba.com

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TRAVEL GUIDE: GRENADA

SAINT JOHN TAKE A DAREDEVIL DIP AT CONCORD FALLS Tucked away in the hills of Concord, St. John, on Grenada’s western coast, there you’ll find the three incredible waterfalls that make up the Concord Falls. Whereas the first waterfall is easily reached, the other two are only accessible by hikes, taking you through the tropical rainforest. You can pay a small fee (EC$2.50 per person) to get to the viewing gallery, the best place to take in the breathtaking view of the falls and the rainforest. They’re perfect for more adventurous visitors who want to dive from the cliffs or swim in the natural pools!

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WANDER AROUND GOUYAVE The capital of Saint John, Gouyave is a vibrant fishing village. With a weekly festival, ‘Fish Friday’, the mouth-watering seafood dishes and lively music are unmissable.

Known locally as ‘the town that never sleeps’, there’s always something to find in Gouyave, and it’s best to wander around and take in the exciting atmosphere!

x a el R ...at The Relax Inn and experience the Isle of Spice.

The Relax Inn is located on Calliste Hill in Grenada. We are close to Grenada’s Maurice Bishop International airport and the world famous Grand Anse beach.

Regular public transport is available at our doorstep to take you to the main shopping area of Grand Anse beach and our beautiful capital town of St Georges.

Each of our rooms has a private balcony, with stunning views of the hills and the ocean. We have an on-site function room for hire for conferences, seminars and celebrations. Please contact us for more information.

We are particularly popular with guests on a budget and those who would like to experience the island like a local.

NOURISH YOURSELF ON NUTMEG The Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Station is a great experience for those who want to learn about the largest nutmeg processing factory on the island. For a very inexpensive US$1.00 per person, you can watch the workers choose, grade, and package the nutmeg, learn about the process behind it, and visit the gift shop for souvenirs!

Also in Saint John: - Enjoy the deep dark of Black Bay Cave & Beach - Party into the night at Palmiste Beach - Study the unique architecture of Melrose House

Covid-19: Our staff have been trained, approved by the Ministry of Health, and have the requisite knowledge to keep our guests safe. Our protocols comply with the Grenada Tourism industry, recognised as a global standard by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

Contact Information: P.O Box 561, St Georges Grenada West Indies.

Tel: (473) 439-2333 or (437) 456-6237 Email: reservations@relaxinngrenada.com

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TRAVEL GUIDE: GRENADA SAINT MARK IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE SUNSET CITY FOOD FESTIVAL Held on the last Saturday of every month, the Sunset City Food Festival is family friendly, lively, and exciting, with live music or DJs, and a large variety of Grenadian dishes and drinks. Gloriously illuminated by the setting sun every night, Saint Mark’s is known as the Sunset Parish, and the Food Festival is the most dynamic experience it has to offer.

TACKLE THE HEIGHTS OF TUFTON HALL Tufton Hall is the tallest waterfall in Grenada! Only accessible for more experienced hikers, the climb is difficult and quite strenuous, but yields incredible results, with views that stretch across the landscapes various other waterfalls, natural pools, and springs.

It’s a gorgeous adventure!

Also in Saint Mark: - Get your chocolate fix at Diamond Chocolate Factory - Blow off some steam in the Hapsack Springs - Traverse the craters of the Mount Saint Catherine stratovolcano - Crayfish Bay Organic Cocoa Estate

SAINT PATRICK

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TRAVEL BACK IN TIME AT THE BELMONT ESTATE Situated in Grenada’s north, Belmont Estate is an authentic 17th century working plantation, organic cocoa farm, and fermentry.

Guests can visit the on-site heritage museum and learn about the estate’s rich history, taste freshly prepared Grenadian dishes in the open-air dining room, or sample treats at the Bon Bon Chocolate Shop. Plantation tours illuminate the history of cocoa at the estate, while visitors can also visit the petting farm, purchase home-grown spices, walk around the beautiful gardens, and try goat’s cheeses at the on-site dairy!

natural life. There’s much to be found here, including a mangrove swamp, rich with birds and aquatic life, a glorious beach with a natural reef, and a lagoon filled with marine life.

EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF NATURE AT LEVERA NATIONAL PARK A sustainably minded tourist’s dream!

Levera National Park is a 450-acre stretch of protected coastal parkland, and a beautiful place to explore and marvel at Grenada’s

Also in Saint Patrick: - Trace the coastline of Lake Antoine - Reward yourself with a hike of Mount Rich - Learn about Indian history at Irwin’s Bay - River Antoine Rum Distillery - Carib’s Leap, Welcome Stone

GO TURTLE WATCHING AT BATHWAY BEACH With a beautiful coral reef, enclosing a swimming and snorkeling strip on the white sand, Bathway Beach is both striking and picturesque. The main attraction there is turtle watching – the sea turtles lay their eggs in the sand, and the beach is one of their biggest nesting places!

www.laheliconia.com

perfection A PLACE WHERE

EXIST

RELAX IN GRENADA Holiday apartments and treatment spa with on-site bar and restaurant. Located on the beautiful island of Grenada in the West Indies. Situated close to the airport for rapid transfers and to fine golden sand beaches, we are ideally placed for self-catering holidays or visiting your friends and relations in Grenada and at St. George’s University.

Point Salines, Maurice Bishop Highway | T. +1 (473) 439-8585 / +1 (473) 449-7689 | E. sales@laheliconia.com

TRAVEL GUIDE: GRENADA

CENTURIES OF GRENADIAN

CHOCOLATE Grenada is a chocolate-lover’s paradise, combining a perfect tropical climate with volcanic soil, and a thickly forested interior, all of which give the ideal conditions for the very best cacao beans to grow. All the cocoa grown in the country is so-called “fine or flavor”, produced from varieties of Criollo or Trinitaro trees. Setting Grenadian chocolate apart, however, is the infusion of a uniquely armoatic taste, thanks to the natural flavours of the socalled ‘Spice Isle’.

For a symbol of the country’s long history with chocolate, look no further than the Belmont Estate. Dating back to the 17th century, this authentic working plantation has been transformed into a modern-day agrotourism attraction, sitting pretty on the north side of the island in St. Patrick’s.

Belmont has seen several landlords over the years, throughout Grenada’s backand-forth between British and French rule.

Initially the property of the Bernago family, in 1763 the estate passed into the hands of Scotsman John Aitcheson Jr, an active 14 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

voice within Grenadian politics. By the time of Aitcheson’s death, the value of the estate’s estate had risen to a formidable £21,000, equivalent of roughly $US 2.5 million by contemporary standards.

Aitcheson’s daughter, Bethia, sold the Belmont Estate in 1944 to Norbert and Lyris Nyack of Hermitage, St. Patrick, the first Grenadians of Indian descent to own an estate on the island. The couple were humble philanthropists, making considerable donations towards homes for children and the elderly, hospitals, churches, and schools across Grenada. Under their ownership, the Belmont Estate established a huge role for itself within the island’s agricultural economy, growing products including sugarcane, cotton, cocoa, nutmeg and bananas.

Fast-forward to the present, and much has changed in Grenada. Few plantations have survived the disintegration and partition of land, but Belmont retains more than 400 acres of lush hills, today functioning as an organic cocoa farm and fermentary,

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TRAVEL GUIDE: GRENADA

SETTING GRENADIAN CHOCOLATE APART, HOWEVER, IS THE INFUSION OF A UNIQUELY ARMOATIC TASTE, THANKS TO THE NATURAL FLAVOURS OF THE SO-CALLED ‘SPICE ISLE’.

and continues to honor the legacy of the Nyacks with a commitment to ethical conduct and responsibility.

Visitors can follow the journey of cocoa with a plantation tour, following as the beans are hand-sorted, roasted, cracked and winnowed, grinded and conched, aged, tempered, molded and wrapped, creating a dark and healthy treat, with samples readily available at the Bon Bon Chocolate Shop. Nutmeg is organically home-grown on the grounds, along with organic cloves, bay leaves, cinnamon, pimento, turmeric, ginger, and mace – all of which can be 16 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

found in the open-air dining room, where visitors can indulge in a number of freshly prepared Grenadian dishes. The Dairy also provides a home to the The Grenada Goat Dairy Project Inc., a separate non-profit that makes the cheese as a means of sustaining, supporting and empowering low-income farmers, and offering visitors a number of goat’s cheese samples.

The on-site heritage museum offers exhibits and displays detailing Grenada’s ancestral traditions and lifestyle, social and plantation history, and decorative arts such as Grenadian household furniture and

styles. Visitors are also encouraged to take their time strolling through Belmont’s many beautiful gardens, including the sugarcane garden, orchid garden, and blue garden, all teeming with life. The estate’s petting farm also includes friendly animals like monkeys, parrots, and tortoises! c

VISIT GRENADA FOR THE

C E L E B R AT I O N

OF A LIFETIME

www.puregrenada.com

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