St George, Grenada cruises
Grenada port guide
Grenada offers a little of everything. After arriving in St George’s port, you could spend your morning exploring colonial history, or perhaps venturing into the untamed interior, and then your afternoon enjoying chocolate, spices, and rum-based treats. Palm-fringed beaches, enigmatic wildlife, waterfalls, and colorful markets are all well within your reach during your time here. All you need to do is decide just how much you want to try to pack into your day.
Top landmarks and sights in Grenada
In Grenada, you’ll find remnants of a colonial past. The French first claimed the island in 1650, and then over a century later, in 1783, the British took over. There are a few landmarks left behind that illustrate this period.
Fort Frederick
Built in the 18th century, Fort Frederick towers over St George’s harbor. Construction was begun by the French and completed by the British in 1783. It’s made up four levels, historically used to store arms, water cisterns, and provisions. A visit to the fort today not only brings a chance to learn about Grenada’s history, but also affords fantastic views of the island below.
Leapers Hill
In Sauteurs, in the north of the island – about an hour’s drive from St George, is Leapers Hill. This is the site where native Kalinago people of Grenada are said to have leapt off the cliffside into the ocean below, rather than live under the subjugation of the French colonists. Today you can see a monument to those people who lost their lives.
Concord Falls and Annandale Falls
For something a little different, you could head to one of the more accessible waterfalls in Grenada, either Concord or Annandale Falls. From the capital, the latter is around 10-minutes’ drive and Concord is roughly half an hour’s drive. Walk through colorful, tropical flowers and banana trees to arrive to the instantly calming sound of cascading water, and a scene that begs to be photographed.
Things to do in Grenada
Grenada offers a host of different things to see and do, not least exploring its verdant interior. Rainforests, mountains, and beaches abound, as well as markets, museums, and plantations. Read on to discover a few ways to spend your day.
Spend time on the beach
You may well be thinking all you’d really like to do is relax on a beach and enjoy the sunshine. If that’s the case, two-mile-long Grand Anse is a popular option, boasting watersport activities and plenty of shaded areas. You’ll find the northern end is quite busy, but it gets quieter in the south end. Morne Rouge Beach is another wonderful, quieter choice. With its warm shallow waters, this beach may be preferrable if you’re not too confident in the water or are traveling with children.
Explore the Underwater Sculpture Park
Molinere Bay, around a 15-minute drive from St George, is home to a curious artistic project created by British sculptor, Jason deCaires Taylor. The Underwater Sculpture Park can be seen from a glass-bottomed boat, or on a snorkelling/diving adventure, and features a collection of 75 pieces of work dotted between natural rock formations on the seabed.
Discover St George
The historic capital has plenty to delight its visitors, so why not spend your day exploring it? There’s a lovely market you could peruse for a few gifts or perhaps some delicious, local fresh fruit, or perhaps take in the Grenada National Museum before making your way to the Carenage. A wander along this picturesque little inlet brings vistas of colorful fishing boats and pretty buildings.
Eating and drinking near Grenada
When it comes to eating and drinking, Grenada is known for chocolate, spices, and rum. While you’re on the island, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to try all three if you like.
The River Antoine Rum Distillery is one of the oldest in the Caribbean, having first been established in 1785. It’s possible to tour the distillery today, and of course taste the rum that’s made there with the oldest working water mill in the Caribbean.
To experience the island’s rich and delicious chocolate, you could visit Belmont Estate. With colonial roots as a 17th-century plantation, today the estate is a working farm complete with a fantastic chocolate making experience. Learn about the whole tree-to-bar process and enjoy a few samples as you do.
Much of the island’s cuisine also showcases nutmeg – as Grenada is the second largest producer of this spice, in the world. Cinnamon, clove, turmeric, ginger, and thyme are also grown on the island, accounting for the perfectly spiced dishes you’ll find here. Favorite plates to try include seafood and stews, and the national dish – Oil Down. This uses meat, chicken, or fish with breadfruit, dumplings, vegetables, and plenty of flavorsome spices.
Shopping in Grenada
Should you want to find a gift for someone at home, or a memento of your trip to the island for yourself, there are some lovely and unique things to explore. Because of its reputation as the ‘Spice Isle’, you’ll find carefully packaged spices ready to take home – particularly in St George’s Market, and the craft market close to Grand Anse Beach. Why not take some home and try to recreate one of the tasty Grenadian dishes you’ve tried while you’re here?
Perhaps you’re more interested in the chocolate. If so, it’s worth popping into the House of Chocolate on Young Street in St George, where you can sample some treats in the café before browsing the goods to take home. The Esplanade Mall, outside the cruise terminal, is another great option for picking up some souvenirs.
Getting around: Grenada transport
When you disembark from your ship, you’ll be close to the main center of St George’s. You’ll naturally walk through the Esplanade Mall and into the downtown area. From here you can walk to many of the main attractions, or perhaps hop on the sightseeing train that’s found on the left-hand side as you come out of the terminal. St George’s is quite hilly, so if you’d prefer, you can hire a taxi - you’ll need a taxi to travel anywhere out of the capital too.
Grenada port facilities
The Grenada Port Terminal is located on Melville Street in St George. It offers free Wi-Fi, ATMs, toilets, and a tourist kiosk where you’ll find lots of helpful information. The Esplanade Mall is also located here, so you’ll be able to find drinks and snacks quickly too.
Top tips for Grenada
Currency
The currency used in Grenada is the East Caribbean Dollar, which is also used in St Lucia, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla, and Montserrat. US Dollars are widely accepted throughout the island, but you’re likely to receive any change in local currency. You can purchase cash on your Cunard Queen, or alternatively withdraw it from local ATMs, of which there are many in St George.
Tipping
Tipping in Grenada is not mandatory, but rather it’s up to the buyer’s discretion. If you’ve experienced notably good service, and would like to leave a tip, 10-15% of the final bill is appropriate. Be aware that some bars and restaurants do include a service charge in their bill, so do check this first.
Weather
Grenada sees warm weather year-round. The average lows are between 23-25 degrees Celsius and highs sit at around 30 degrees Celsius. Rain and thunderstorms are most common in August, September, and October, whereas the driest months are February, March, and April.