Destinations / Grenada

Grenada and sister islands Carriacou and Petit Martinique comprise the country of Grenada and complete the southern section of the Windward Islands.

Grenada, one of the world¿s true paradise islands, welcomes those who wish to tie the knot and honeymoon to its shores!

Imagine getting married on a treasure island against a backdrop of palm-fringed white sands and a turquoise sea sparkling behind you, or on a sailboat, or in an arbour, scented with the perfume of exotic tropical flowers.

If you are looking for the perfect destination for this special celebration, then Grenada will fulfill your dream of a Caribbean paradise. Together with its sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, Grenada is renowned as one of the prettiest and least spoilt islands in the Caribbean. Let our pristine white sandy beaches, gently swaying palms and fragrant emerald green mountains enhance the romance and beauty of your marriage.

LOCATION :

Among the southern-most of the Caribbean Islands, Grenada is located south of St. Vincent & The Grenadines, off the north-east coast of South America.

LANGUAGE :

English

CURRENCY :

Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$)

TIPPING :

Most hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge. Additional gratuities are discretionary.

ELECTRICITY :

Voltage is 220 volts/50 cycles. Most hotels provide dual voltage shaver units, but an adaptor plug is necessary for small appliances.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sampling anything - drinks, stews and even ice cream - made with fresh nutmeg
• Showering at the base of Annandale Falls
• Hiking through Grand Etang National Park

OVERVIEW
Grenada and sister islands Carriacou and Petit Martinique comprise the country of Grenada and complete the southern section of the Windward Islands. Though its mountains are dwarfed by those on islands farther north, Grenada's slopes are fertile, yielding nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and ginger mix with those of saffron, all-spice and cocoa - thus the nickname "The Isle of Spice."

To sample nutmeg, of which Grenada fills one-third of the world's needs, have a frothy rum drink at one of the bistros along L'Anse aux Epines.

Grenada's capital, St. George's, with its tile-topped buildings, hugs a deepwater harbor in the southwest that plays host to cruise ships. Old warehouses that have been converted into quaint restaurants and small shops front the harbor area, known as the Carenage. The Sendall Tunnel, a 350-foot-long excavation that bridges the two halves of St. George's, provides access to the distinctly East Indian open-air market.

Proof of Grenada's volcanic origin is found more than 1,700 feet above sea level, where a 30-acre crater is filled with the glittering waters of the Grand Etang Lake. From here you can see the emerald-green summit of Mount Qua Qua. Mount St. Catherine is nearly 400 feet taller at 2,757 feet, but the vista-laden hiking trails of Qua Qua should not be missed.

Another awe-inspiring sight is the Bianca C, a cruise ship that caught fire and sank in 1961. Resting upright off the southwest coast of Grenada, the enormous Bianca C. is nicknamed "the Titanic of the Caribbean."

Check out the island's 40-some beaches, including Grand Anse, the islands most noted. From the tidal beaches of the north, where the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean meet in a fury, look to Petit Martinique and Carriacou just 20 miles to the north.

Carriacou, only 13 square miles, is home to one of the Caribbean's most famous artists, Canute Caliste. To view some of his works, stop by his studio in the town of L'Esterre. There's not much to do on Petit Martinique, except sail around it. The whole island is less than one square mile; the biggest thing on it is the quietness.

GEOGRAPHY

Topography: Grenada is lush and mountainous in the center, topping out at nearly 2,800 feet. The foothills are fairly steep and roll right down to the beaches. Carriacou and Petit Martinique are flat with slightly rolling hills.

Climate: The dry season is from January to May; the rest of the year is the rainy season. The average temperature is 80?F and constant trade winds keep humidity low.

HISTORY
If Columbus had come ashore in 1498 when he spotted Grenada in the distance, he would have marveled at the dense rainforests kept lush by scores of waterfalls. The first European settlement, however, was not formed until 1609, when the British dared to infringe upon the island's inhabitants, the ever-ready-for-war Caribs. In 1650, the French commandeered the island. Throughout the 18th century, the island teetered between French and British control. In the end, the British won. In 1877, Grenada became a British crown colony. Three years shy of a century later, Grenada was granted independence.

In 1983, a coup led to a U.S. military intervention. Since the welcomed occupation, Grenada has enjoyed peace, prosperity and free elections.

WEBSITE :

www.grenadagrenadines.com

CAPITAL :

St. George's

TOURIST INFORMATION :

473-440-2001

POLITICAL STATUS :

Constitutional monarchy with Westminster-style parliament

AREA SIZE :

133 sq. miles

TAXES :

$20 departure tax, 8% Government Tax at hotels and restaurants.

AREA CODE :

473

TIME :

Atlantic Standard Time (Eastern Standard Time plus 1 hour).

DOCUMENTS :

Passport or proof of citizenship with photo ID and a return or onward ticket.

POPULATION :

102,000

AVERAGE WATER TEMPERATURE :

78 degrees F

AVERAGE VISIBILITY :

30-100 feet

TYPES OF DIVING :

Wreck, shore, boat

BEST TIME TO DIVE :

Grenada is a year round destination, However te greatest chance of hurricanes is in August and September.

WHAT TO WEAR :

three quarter to full wetsuit, depending on depth of dive, 1.5-3mm thickness.

DIVES NOT TO MISS :

The 600 ft wreck of the Bianca C, a cruise ship that went down in 1961 in 167 feet of water. It is an advanced dive in deep water with strong currents. Some of the best diving is off Grenada's sister island Carriacou with pristine reefs.