Grenada

Grenada is a small nation in the south Caribbean, often overlooked. This underestimated country packs a punch, with world class water activities, beaches, and food.

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Grenada Travel Info

Language

English is the only language spoken in Grenada. Like many Caribbean countries, the day to day dialect is an English creole with a heavy accent. However, native English speakers should have no issue communicating with locals. Due to being briefly controlled by the French, there is also a patois less commonly spoken, but you aren’t likely to encounter it.

Demographics

Grenada is a small island chain at the far south of the Caribbean. The nation is made of 30 islands, Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique. is a rather small island, with about 117,000 people. Grenada is by far the largest island of about 110,000 people, with Carriacou and Petite Martinique with roughly 7,000 and 800 respectfully. Unlike other nearby islands like Trinidad, Grenada’s population is almost entirely of African descent, with only 10% being mixed or European.

Weather

Grenada well within the tropics, not far from the equator. The weather is very stable, with year round temperatures of 30°c (87°f) most days. Winter months are very dry, with slightly rainy precipitation throughout the summer and fall. However, most days are fair and partly cloudy with occasional short downbursts. Being so far south, Grenada is right on the edge of the hurricane zone, making it one of the few Caribbean countries with little risk for a weather event effecting travel.

Public Transit

Public transit is nearly non-existent in Grenada. There is a bus system, where large vans with consistent routes will pick people up who are walking and hail them, or are waiting at stops. While the vans are very cheap, service can be inconsistent. Extreme budget travelers will make the most of this option. Renting a car is very easy and cheap, being the only other way to get around the island. There are also ferries from St. George to Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

Grenada FAQ

Being a less tourist-heavy island, Grenada is quite affordable. Of course, if you stay at a resort the costs rack up fast. Thankfully, there are plenty of nice hotels in good areas that are far cheaper. You can comfortably stay near Grand Anse from 80-150 USD a night. Cars can be rented for about 50 USD per day, and meals at local restaurants are from 8-16 USD per person. Altogether, a budget traveler on a 5 day vacation for two people can spend under 1,000 USD with amazing day trips, delicious food, and quality accommodations.

Some Caribbean islands have a reputation for being unsafe outside of resorts. Thankfully, that’s not the case in Grenada. It is one of the safest countries in the Caribbean, with a low violent crime and petty crime rate. You can comfortably explore cities, hikes, and drive through the countryside with no worries. Scams are also not as prevalent as other islands, and peddling on the street is minimal. Feel free to stay off of the resorts without issue.

The island of Grenada is not very large. You can drive from one end to the other in less than two hours. Furthermore, almost every major attraction is located near St George’s. A minimum of 3 days is required to see the major beaches, snorkeling, waterfalls, and forts. 4 days will open up a long day trip to Levera Beach in the north, and 5 days will give plenty of time to spend at beaches and thoroughly exploring the city.

Due to the stable tropical climate and low risk of Hurricanes, Grenada is one of the few Caribbean countries we can happily recommend all year long. June through November is hurricane season, but Grenada sees less than one a year on average, so it shouldn’t be a concern. The busiest season is during American summer break in July and August, however the crowds heavily depend on whether a cruise ship is in port. If you time it when there is not a cruise, you can experience most activities to yourself. Any time during the shoulder seasons or winter when there is no cruise in port will give you low crowds and great weather.

Grenada is a very small country, so cash is usually preferred. Of course, resorts and large restaurants will accept card. However, we found that almost all waterfalls, forts, tours, and small restaurants are cash only. Grenada uses the East Caribbean Dollar, having joined the system in 1968. You can exchange USD for XCD at most banks, the airport, and even some hotels and resorts.

Unless you plan on staying at a resort, we highly recommend renting a car for your stay. The rate is very affordable, and the country is quite small, making a trip around the island possible in a day. The public busses do work, but they are quite slow and crowded, and usually don’t take you exactly where you want. Many popular activities are greatly enhanced by having a car and being on your own schedule. For example, we visited Grand Etang National Park to see the mona monkeys, but the whether was not good, scaring them away. Hundreds of tourists came and went, and were disappointed, but since we had a car we could wait and were able to see them. The same goes for all major waterfalls and beaches.

Travel Diaries

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