Best Things To Do in Grenada
Grand Etang National Park
Like many Caribbean islands, Grenada is formed from a dormant volcano. There are several craters around the island, but the largest and most important is Grand Etang. Located at the center of the island, Grand Etang National Park has the highest peaks in Grenada, surrounding the Grand Etang lake. Here you can see untouched nature, hike through the dense rainforest, and even see the elusive Mona monkeys.
When we arrived to the park, the first thing we did was check out the crater lake. It’s not the largest crater lake, but it sure is beautiful. Wind was ripping through the trees and over the lake, creating some pretty choppy water. They say the lake is bottomless, but it’s only about 20 feet deep. From here you can hike all around the crater, however the conditions weren’t great so we enjoyed the scenery from the pier.
Just off the parking area is a pavilion where you can meet mona monkeys. These monkeys are not from Grenada, being brought from sub-Saharan Africa in the 1500s during the slave trade. Unlike the many varieties of macaques we’ve met in Asia, these monkeys are very calm and friendly with humans. They’re a bit skittish, but with the help of a local guide they will softly jump on your shoulders and you can take an incredible picture.
Remember, these are fully wild and untrained monkeys, so you must treat them with respect. Don’t feed them anything, and don’t be mad if they don’t come. The day we visited, many people on tours didn’t get to see the monkeys because the wind was too strong and they didn’t want to come down. Thankfully, we had a car and could wait around long enough.
Underwater Sculpture Park
Grenada is known for its crystal clear blue water. Sadly, the lush reefs that once surrounded the islands were mostly destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Since then, the islanders have worked to revitalize the ecosystem, and one of their methods is the Underwater Sculpture Park. Here, they have placed many sculptures from various artists along the seabed, with the intention of fish feeding on algae that grows, and coral attaching itself over time. There are many sculptures, from local mythical beasts, carnival celebrations, and symbols of the spice island. Taking a tour to the sculpture park is a highlight of any Grenada trip, and we wrote a whole article about it if you want to see more.
Sulfur Springs
One of the remnants of the islands volcanism is the Sulfur Springs, far from St. George’s on the north corner. Here, a natural spring flows through sulfur deposits, creating mud pools the locals say is excellent for your skin. I’m going to be honest, I kind of get the ick from mud, and I especially don’t like bathing in water where I can’t even see my own feet. I was pretty hesitant but this is right up Yemisi’s alley, so we decided to go for it.
After entering the area there were several people offering full spa treatments. You can just get in the pools without paying, but Yemisi wanted us to get the full package. We ended up going to The Earth Spa, who has a shack towards the back where you can change into swimwear. She mixed up a sand, sulfur, and mud mixture, and they slathered it all over our skin. Then they sent us out into the hot sun to bake and let the mud dry. Apparently, the mud hydrates and soothes the skin, and it felt cooling in the sun. After it dried, she aggressively scrubbed it into our skin, exfoliating our pores.
Last but not least was the step I was most nervous about, the mud bath. We slowly stepped into the spring, and I was relieved to find it was gravel instead of mud at the bottom. Because the spring is flowing, you can feel the water rushing up from underneath, creating pockets of warm bubbling sulfur water. I got over myself and actually found it quite relaxing after a while. This is the part that really helps you glow, and after soaking in several pools for 30 minutes we got out.
At end the spa treatment, she coated our skin In a shea butter and coconut oil mixture to hydrate and soften. I didn’t feel too different, but Yemisi was absolutely glowing. It was a very unique experience, so I’m happy we took the drive out to do it. It was one of the more expensive things we did on our trip, but if you’re into spa treatments and massage, this is a must-do.
Belmont Estate
As I eluded to earlier, Grenada was a colony with many plantations. One of the plantations is the modern Belmont Estate. Originally a slave-run coffee plantation in the 1600’s, the estate passed through many hands over the years. Finally, it was purchased by Grenadians Norbert and Lyris Nyack in 1944, and transformed into a chocolate farm. Here, they make the chocolate from bean to bar, with as minimal processing as possible. You can take several tours including a chocolate making experience, but we chose the most popular option which was a general walk through of the grounds.
On our tour, we got to taste beans, learn about the fermentation and drying process, and had plenty of historical context added as well. I’ve never seen cocoa pods in person before, so I was very fascinated with the taste and the process. Of course, Yemisi grew up eating the fresh cocoa pulp, so for her it was like memory lane. At the end we got to sample some chocolate which was incredible. We didn’t buy any there because we were worried it would melt, but they sell their chocolate all over the island so we had plenty of chances to buy it later.
River Antoine Rum Distillery
Only a few minutes drive from the Belmont Estate and the Sulfur Springs is River Antoine Rum Distillery. If you didn’t know, rum is one of the alcohols of choice in the Caribbean, and Grenada is no exception. This distillery is the oldest colonial era distillery in the Caribbean, and one of the last places in the world using completely original equipment. You can take a tour to see up close every single step, from crushing the sugarcane to bottling, everything is done here.
I was shocked to learn the facility is still using its original water wheel to power the cane crusher, fed from the River Antoine, the namesake of the distillery. The massive wheel slowly lifts the sugarcane into the crusher, and pours the liquid into the adjacent building. Many of these parts are several ton castings from over 250 years ago, and of course these parts aren’t made anymore. Hopefully nothing breaks, but it’s incredible that the nations most popular alcohol brand is still made in the original way.
We then toured the rooms where the liquid is boiled down, and fermented. You can see every step of the process up close, which I’ve never experienced before. It’s made of straight cane juice, so the entire warehouse smelled amazing. The last step is the massive copper distillation chambers, heated over roaring hot wood stoves. One part of keeping the original process means absolutely no further processing. The only ingredient is pure cane juice, with no sweeteners, colors, or aging. It’s the most simple and pure type of rum you can get.
At the end, they gave us some sample of their two products, a 75% and a 69% rum. The 69% is so tourists like us can legally take it on a plane. I was surprised, usually rum has an off-taste I really dislike. But even at 75% this one tasted sweet like the cane juice it’s made from, with no bitterness at all. Of course it burned on the way down, but it was smooth and honestly very enjoyable.
Fort Frederick
One of the first things you’ll see in Grenada is Fort George, the largest fort on the island. It was constructed by the British who originally ruled the island, but was overthrown by the french in 1779. Wanting a more secure position, the French constructed Fort Frederick high on a hill overlooking St George. While not as visually impressive as Fort George, this was a great defensive position that offered a 360 view of the side of the island. We wanted to visit both forts, but at the time of visiting Fort George was under renovations.
These days, the fort is a great place to learn some history, and enjoy incredible views of the city. It’s pretty high up, so you definitely need a car to get up the very steep hills. But if you can make it, you’re rewarded with a calm grass lawn and by far the best view on the entire island.
House of Chocolate
Back in downtown St. George is House of Chocolate. This shop sells chocolate from local brands all around the Island. You can ask for a demonstration, where they explain every type of chocolate, and the history of chocolate making on the island (albeit in less detail than at the Belmont Estate). This was the absolute best place to get chocolate, the walls are lined with chocolate bars and the smell is amazing. Not only do they have chocolate bars, but they also have home made ice cream.
Grand Anse Spice Market
One of the biggest tourist attractions on the island is the Grand Anse Spice Market. Located on the famous Grand Anse Beach, this place used to be a market to buy all sorts of local goods. However the few times we visited, it was primarily just mass-produced souvenirs and a food court. It’s worth noting that there was not a cruise in port when we visited Grenada, so it was certainly a little more dead than usual. Still, if you are looking for souvenirs it’s not a bad place to stop and maybe grab a bit to eat. You only need 15-30 minutes though.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there’s no lack of things to do in Grenada. You may be tempted to stay on a resort the whole time, but you’ll be missing out on amazing culture, history, sights, and experiences. Of course, it’s great to get to know the people that make it all possible as well. Hopefully we’ve inspired you to explore the best things to do in Grenada, happy adventuring!
