Grenada Travelers Recommend

Nicknamed the Isle of Spice, the small Caribbean outpost of Grenada has been synonymous with the spice trade for 150 years. It’s most famous for nutmeg—the plants here were imported from Indonesia by the British in the 1840s—and supplies around 40 percent of the world’s annual nutmeg crop today. Local residents use the spice to make jams and jellies and to flavor classic Grenadian dishes. The island is also home to many other herbs and spices, including cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, turmeric, pimento, ginger, and mace. And don’t forget cocoa: Grenada is also well-known for its excellent locally produced chocolate. Here are some of the ways you can explore the history and heritage of this island:

Experiences

• Find out more about the different herbs and spices native to Grenada with a Spice Island tour. You can taste different spices, see how they’re processed, and learn about the lasting legacy of spice growing. 

• Tantalize your palate with a tour of the Gouyave Nutmeg Station, where you can sample a taste of Grenada’s signature spice. Follow it up with a trip to the Diamond Chocolate Factory and the Antoine Rum Distillery.

• Discover Grenada’s plant and animal life with a trip to Grand Etang National Park, where you can hope to see monkeys in their natural habitat and learn about native plants. 

• Learn to cook on a foodie trip into the Grenadian countryside. Visit local farms, taste the fruits native to the island, and whip up Oil Down, Grenada’s national dish, a one-pot meal with chicken, dumplings, breadfruit, coconut milk, and herbs and spices. 

• Visit nearby Carriacou Island and tour the ruins of Belair Estate, a former sugar plantation. 

There’s so much to do and so many different ways to relax when you’re spending time on Grenada, the Caribbean’s Isle of Spice. Bring your camera to capture those stunning waterfalls, your swimsuit to cool off in tropical pools, a sense of history that spans several centuries, and a nose for adventure whether hiking rainforest trails or discovering that ideal cove for a perfect day at the beach.

Day 1: St. George’s Wander You’ll instantly get to know Grenada’s colonial capital on a wander along the waterfront Carenage. Take a promenade around the harbor before choosing a seafront seafood restaurant with views of Grenada’s whitewashed houses trickling down the lush surrounding hills. Bone up on the island’s history at the National Museum or colonial Fort George, with its harbor views from above the Carenage, then hit the Saturday-morning market and shops to breathe in the island’s trademark scent of nutmeg and spices.

Day 2: Tropical Waterfalls Discover Concord’s series of three waterfalls, starting at Concord Falls, with its tropical paddling pool and welcome snack bar. Then up the ante with a tropical hike along rainforest trails through spice trees to reach Concord’s upper cascades. The pools here are pristine and more secluded, the perfect reward for your rainforest trek. Or go wildlife-spotting on a hike through Grand Etang National Park to Seven Sisters Falls, with glimpses of multicolored tropical flowers and mahogany trees.

Day 3: Grenada Beaches Choose Grand Anse for mod cons and beach chairs, snorkel tours and beachfront refreshments and entertainment. For a more tranquil swim and sunbathe, seek out the low-key resort and secluded beaches tucked away at La Sagesse Nature Center on the island’s east coast.