Travel Guide: Grenada

THE SPICE OF THE CARIBBEAN

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

The Grenada Tourism Authority is the national tourism organization for the three-island destination of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique. Our vision statement says that through purposeful collaboration, we will consistently strive to develop Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, as the premier tourism destination of choice, strategically promoting our niche offerings and uniqueness.

Our brand is ‘Pure Grenada: the Spice of the Caribbean’. As a destination, we are about authenticity, wellness, experiences, and rejuvenation. We have identified five niches which attract many of our visitors which are adventure, sailing and yachting, cruising, romance, and diving.

In September of 2018, Grenada banned the importation of Styrofoam, and in February 2019, we banned the importation of single-use plastic bags with handles. The government is also working on other single-use items such as plastic straws and cutlery. We also encourage our stakeholders to implement green initiatives in their operations, and we’ve seen a lot of that happening. The research shows that many visitors, when

26 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE they are looking at their next tourism destination, are conscious about sustainability and protecting the environment.

Our people are friendly, warm, and go above and beyond to deliver great service. We encourage visitors to go out and join in our festivals, meet the people, eat local food, and immerse themselves in the Grenadian way of life. Tourism really drives community growth. Recently our Ministry for Tourism and Civil Aviation has been going into the communities and seeing what each one has to offer which could be developed by local people to create revenue and sustainable livelihoods.

We have a Tourism Awareness Campaign which seeks to educate persons about the tourism industry and motivate them to get involved in the industry and protect the environment. The tagline is ‘Tourism Is Everybody’s Business’. Whether you’re a farmer, or a student, or a banker, everybody has a role to play. We distributed a booklet (Tourism and Me) to students between the ages of 8 and 12, educating future generations about tourism and disposing of litter properly. On completing that program, the students receive pins marked ‘Tourism Ambassadors’.

We also give advice to prospective investors in the tourism industry and people who want to create an experience or business. They are supported with advice on what they need to have, assistance with developing ideas, and they are pointed in the direction of suitable funding, from organizations such as the Grenada Industrial Development Corporation.

Presently in Grenada, the sale of food or products in Styrofoam has been completely banned and in February 2020 plastic bags with handles should not be found on island. We are looking forward to the day when we completely ban single use plastics. We will be focusing more on sustainable tourism, and how we can get more of our stakeholders to implement sustainable tourism practices. We also plan to focus more on community tourism, getting communities involved in developing and implementing experiences that can add to our product, and continuing to work with students and schools, encouraging young people to get interested and involved in the tourism sector.

WHERE TO START YOUR CELEBRATION

KEY ATTRACTIONS

Beach

Botanical garden

Carriacou Museum

Concord Falls

Forts of St. George’s

House of Chocolate Museum

Mount Saint Catherine

Mount Hartman Dove Sanctuary

River Antoine Rum Distillery

Seven Sisters Falls

Shakespeare done Carriacou-style

Snorkel on Sandy Island

Sunset City Food Fest

Turtles hatching at Levera Pond

Underwater sculpture park

Wreck of the Bianca C

KEY REGIONS

Saint George and Saint David

Saint John and Saint Mark

Saint Patrick and Saint Andrew

Carriacou and Petite Martinique

WHAT TO DO IN...

SAINT GEORGE AND SAINT DAVID

RELAX ON A BEACH Grenada’s best-known beach is Grand Anse Beach in Saint George’s – and for good reason. A mile and a half of white sand, the beach is skirted by several excellent small restaurants, and Grenadians and tourists mingle together in the shade of the ubiquitous palms. Alternately, try Morne Rouge, or La Sagesse beach in Saint David for a taste of quiet romance.

VISIT A BOTANICAL GARDEN Saint George and Saint David are home to several botanical gardens with a variety of indigenous tropical plants. Seek out Palm Tree Gardens, Laura’s Herb and Spice Garden, Sunnyside Garden, or Hyde Park Tropical Garden. Just make sure to arrange your visit with a tour guide or at least call ahead, to ensure you won’t clash with a cruise visit.

DIVE TO THE WRECK OF BIANCA C For advanced scuba divers only, the Bianca C shipwreck is sometimes referred to as ‘the Titanic of the Caribbean’. Named by The Times of London as one of the top ten wreck diving sites in the world, the 600-foot cruiseliner sank in 1961 with one fatality, and today, accomplished divers can see eagle rays, nurse sharks, barracuda, moray eels, and Atlantic spadefish – and go for a swim in the ship’s pool!

ALSO IN SAINT GEORGE AND SAINT DAVID - Explore the forts of St. George’s - Tour the House of Chocolate Museum - Visit the Grenadian doves at Mount Hartman Dove Sanctuary

SAINT JOHN AND SAINT MARK

EXPLORE THE UNDERWATER SCULPTURE PARK The Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park, created by sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, was the world’s first underwater sculpture park. Constructed using environmentally safe materials which encourage the growth of marine life, and partly intended to divert tourists away from nearby reefs, the sculptures can be visited by snorkelers, scuba divers, or seen through glass-bottomed boats.

HIKE MOUNT SAINT CATHERINE The tallest peak in Grenada, Mount Saint Catherine’s summit is accessible by three routes. The climb takes about four hours each way for a moderately fit climber. Find a guide in Victoria, and they will show you untouched native vegetation and lead you to the Tufton Hall Waterfall, Grenada’s tallest waterfall, on the way up. Try to climb on a clear day, to take advantage of the pristine views.

SEE NUTMEG BEING PROCESSED The Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Station, owned by the Grenada Co-operative Nutmeg Association, offers short, inexpensive tours, where visitors can watch local workers sort nutmeg by hand and purchase a variety of spice products. A fascinating glimpse into the history of an island which remains, despite its size, the second-largest producer of nutmeg in the world.

ALSO IN SAINT JOHN AND SAINT MARK - Enjoy a quieter pace of life - Eat local food at the Sunset City Food Fest - Venture out to the Concord Falls

SAINT PATRICK AND SAINT ANDREW

TOUR BELMONT ESTATE Visit a historic, beautiful 17 th century cocoa plantation and see the chocolate-producing process up close. Learn about cocoa and chocolate products, enjoy an organic chocolate tasting, and finish the tour with a meal in the Belmont Estate restaurant, much of which is prepared with ingredients grown on-site.

TREK THROUGH THE RAINFOREST AT GRAND ETANG NATIONAL PARK AND SEE THE SEVEN SISTERS FALLS High in the mountains Grenada’s interior is Grand Etang National Park. A rainforest centering on a pristine lake, you can explore the park for a few minutes or go on a trek lasting for hours. One highlight is Seven Sisters Falls, a relatively straightforward hike, about an hour from the entrance center.

ALSO IN SAINT PATRICK AND SAINT ANDREW - Visit the River Antoine Rum Distillery - See the turtles hatching at Levera Pond (SPECTO)

Tel: 473-439-1412 grandansepalace@gmail.com www.grenadabeachpalace.com

CARRIACOU AND PETIT MARTINIQUE

SEE SHAKESPEARE DONE \ CARRIACOU-STYLE Carnival in Grenada is a special experience, and nowhere more so than Shakespeare Mas on Carriacou. Scheduled for February 24th-25th 2020, masqueraders dressed in petticoated costumes recite speeches from Julius Caesar and strike one another (mostly gently) with sticks when they forget their lines, with the festivities getting wilder throughout the day.A oncein-a-lifetime experience for visitors. SNORKEL ON SANDY ISLAND The almost-uninhabited Sandy Island is the perfect spot for peaceful snorkeling. After a short water taxi, you’ll see a wide variety of colorful fish, and you’ll likely have the island almost to yourself. Just ensure you wear reef-friendly sunscreen, as shade is almost non-existent.

ALSO IN CARRIACOU AND PETIT MARTINIQUE - Venture out to tiny Petit Martinique - See Carriacou’s first telephone at the Carriacou Museum - Explore the Oyster Bed Mangrove

A YEAR OF CELEBRATIONS

Grenada is well-known for its vibrant culture, extravagant celebrations, and unique festivals. Whenever you’re traveling to the ‘Island of Spice’, you’re sure to find a unique carnival, celebration, or event just around the corner.

The Grenada Carnival—or Spice Mas—is a celebration synonymous with the Grenadian region and culture. Spice Mas takes place in August and is recognized as a public holiday. It features art and performances that can be linked to Grenada’s diverse Caribbean, African, French, and British heritage. The carnival includes street parades, beauty pageants, and competing live music from orchestras, calypso acts, and soca bands. Spice Mas is also a perfect time to try some of Grenada’s national food and drink, including rum punch, spice cake, and Oil Down—a spiced, coconut milk-based stew usually made with vegetables, breadfruit, and salted meat. Oil Down is a uniquely Grenadian dish, and while the exact preparation varies from person to person, it is always made from local ingredients and the island’s famous spices.

For sweet-toothed visitors, the Grenada Chocolate Festival is a detailed exploration of sustainable chocolate-making. The week-long festival takes place in May, and explores cocoa as an ingredient, as well as sustainable cocoa-based beauty products and arts and crafts. Grenada is home to several chocolate producers, including The Grenada Chocolate Company—the first of several small batch, ethical, tree-to-bar chocolate makers to work from the island.

The island of Carriacou also has its own carnival, complete with street dancing, parades, and live music. Unique to the Carriacou carnival is Shakespeare Mas, which takes place on April 23rd—a date celebrated globally as Shakespeare’s birthday. Participants dress in colorful costumes,

carry sticks, and challenge each other with renditions of the playwright’s most popular lines. A combatant must respond in kind, without fumbling or misquoting, or they will be whacked with the opponent’s stick.

Petite Martinique, an island approximately 2.5 miles from Carriacou, hosts the yearly Whitsuntide Regatta. The festival is one of Grenada’s most famous sailing events, and takes place on the seventh Sunday after Easter—a nod to the region’s history of Catholicism as well as its rich sailing culture. Whitsuntide is generally considered to provide the best conditions for sailing, and the regatta includes a combination of local boat racing, on-shore activities, and other celebrations.

The Pure Grenada Dive Fest is also extremely popular, and usually runs at some

point in September and October. Sustainability is a key component of the festival, and sustainable diving is extremely important for both the diverse Grenadian ecosystems and the future of the sport. During 2018’s Dive Fest there were scheduled clean-up dives, educational presentations on good diving practice, and discussions on the tackling of invasive fish species.

Independence Day is February 7th, and is also a much celebrated occasion. It is an annual recognition of Grenada’s independence from the United Kingdom, including parades, parties, and ceremonies.

Festivals and events are a great way for travelers to immerse themselves in Grenadian culture and meet local people. Check online before traveling to anticipate the events that will be taking place during your visit.

SBM TOP PICKSSBM TOP PICKS HOTELS

La Sagesse Boutique Hotel, Restaurant, and Beach Bar YOUR ULTIMATE CARIBBEAN GETAWAY Situated on the La Sagesse bay, the boutique hotel is just a few steps away from a palm tree shaded beach with a stunning view of the sea and the surrounding countryside. La Sagesse is a perfect blend of natural elements and contemporary comforts, featuring indoor and outdoor living in perfect harmony with nature. Our tropical gardens are home to a dazzling array of plants, birds and butterflies that will tantalize your senses as you relax and rejuvenate at La Sagesse. Call: +1(473)444-6458 Email: Reservations@LaSagesse.com or visit www.lasagesse.com

Grenada Grand Anse Beach Palace www.grenadabeachpalace.com Millennium Connection Guest House (Petite Martinique) +1 473 443-9243 Mount Edgecombe Plantation mountedgecombegrenada.com

Grand Anse Beach Palace Hotel Inc. and Car Rental

SBM TOP PICKS ACTIVITIES

Scuba-Tech Grenada ScubaTech is providing Scuba diving excursions, all level of diving courses, snorkelling-, sightseeingand Sunset Champagne Cruises. We have the most personalized service on the island with small groups of 4 divers per Divemaster/Instructor. Located at the beach of the Hotel Calabash in L’Anse aux Epines (Prickly Bay).

Calabash Hotel, L’Anse Aux Epines, St. George’s 1-473-439-4346 | info@scubatech-grenada.com www.scubatech-grenada.com

Leatherback Turtle Tour with SPECTO +1(473) 405 8395 spectogrenada.com Clarkes Court Boatyard and Marina +1 473 439-3939 www.clarkescourtmarina.com Spice Island Marine Services +1 473 444-4342 spiceislandmarine.com

VISIT GRENADA FOR THE CELEBRATION OF A LIFETIME