Grenada, The Spice Island
Creators: The Chews (Chews to Explore) | Focus: Affordable travel with full pricing
Overview
A multi-day trip to Grenada covering beaches, waterfalls, the underwater sculpture park, Independence Day celebrations, chocolate, rum, and the national dish — with prices shown throughout for trip planning.
Arrival & Getting Around
Flight: Delta, one-way, $86/person (deal fare)
Entry (U.S. citizens): Valid passport + immigration form filled out on the plane; smooth process
Airport note: No ATM at the airport — USD accepted island-wide
Ground transport:
- Bus from airport to St. George bus station: ~15 minutes
- Accommodation was a 2-minute walk from the bus station
- Rental car: ~150 EC for the trip (delivered directly by a local company)
Accommodation: Ocean View Suites, St. George — $67/night
- Centrally located in St. George
- Bed, kitchen, private bathroom (not a wet room)
- Steep uphill walk from the bus station
Day 1 – Arrival & The Carenage
- Walked ~8 minutes from the hotel to The Carenage (harbor area in St. George)
- Described as resembling a European dock — colorful hillside houses, boats, beautiful sunset views
- Passed through a road tunnel on foot to reach it
Day 2 – Underwater Sculpture Park Boat Tour
Tour operator: Tours to Grenada | Captain: Derek (scuba certified)
Boat ride: ~40 minutes to the sculpture park
Underwater Sculpture Park
- First and one of the only underwater sculpture parks in the world
- ~50 sculptures submerged to increase tourism without impacting natural reefs
- Confident swimmers can go without flotation device; harness belts available for others
- Notable: touch the mermaid's tail for good luck
- Snorkel time: ~30 minutes
On the boat:
- Rum punch in multiple flavors: coconut, melon, spice, gold, white
- Two dogs on board — jumped into the water mid-trip for their own beach day
Highly recommended — great staff, great rum, memorable experience
Grand Anse Beach
- World-famous beach; wide, soft white sand
- Water described as clear, refreshing, and cool
- Spice market at the entrance — vendors selling spices and beachwear; described as friendly and non-pushy
- Restaurants and bars line the beach entrance
Dinner: 473 Flavors (also called Flavors on Wheels/Wings) — right up the street from Grand Anse Beach
- 10-piece chicken wings (sweet chili) + fries with pork
- Grilled shrimp with coconut rice
Day 3 – Independence Day
At the stadium:
- Prime Minister in attendance; marching bands, national anthem, vendors selling local goods
- Lively, festive atmosphere with green, red, and yellow everywhere
Food & drink at the stadium:
- Icy (snow cone): 7 EC (~$2 USD)
- Oil Down (national dish): pork, chicken wings, coconut, potatoes, plantain, carrots — slow-cooked one-pot stew until liquid is absorbed
"Hearty, flavorful, not spicy — definitely try it"
- Nutmeg ice cream from a vendor: creamy, sweet, distinctly nutmeg-forward
Dinner: Chews Restaurant (same name as the creators)
- Outdoor/indoor seating, upstairs
- Curry shrimp with fried rice and plantain
- Crispy chicken with fried rice and plantain
- Note: Tuesday wing specials at 1 EC each
Day 4 – Island Exploration by Car
Breakfast – Knife & Fork (Port Louis Marina)
- Granola bowl with Greek yogurt and fruit + Americano with coconut syrup
- Grenadian breakfast: bakes (crispy fried dumplings), saltfish, eggs, plantain
Annandale Waterfall
- Entry: $5 USD
- Short, easy 2-minute walk down
- Refreshing water; jumping spot is safe — shallow enough to stand nearby
- Had the waterfall to themselves
Granatang National Park
- ~10 minutes from Annandale
- Contains four of Grenada's highest peaks: Mount Sinai, Mount Qua Qua, Southeast Mountain, and one unnamed peak
- Volcanic activity formed Granatang Lake (freshwater crater lake)
- Wildlife: birds, frogs, lizards, mongoose, opossums, and Mona monkeys
- Monkeys originated from West Africa (Cameroon, Ghana); brought to Grenada on slave ships in the 18th century
- Hiking options: easy 15-minute trails or multi-hour longer trails
Belmont Estate – Chocolate Tour
- World-renowned for bean-to-bar chocolate; one of Grenada's best
- Tours available: ~$6 USD (covers the full process, cultivation, and local spices)
- Missed the tour (only one guide available that day)
- Chocolates purchased: dark sea salt, oil down, dark spice
River Antoine Rum Distillery
- Oldest water-powered distillery in the Caribbean
- Closed weekends (open Monday–Friday only)
- Still uses traditional wood-powered equipment — same method as hundreds of years ago
- Known for extremely high-proof rum (75%+) — cannot be taken back to the U.S. (too flammable)
- Lower-proof version (69%) available for export
Sulphur Springs
- ~7 minutes from the rum distillery, east coast
- Sulphur scrub: highly recommended — described as smooth, sweet-smelling, rejuvenating
- Two sulphur lakes to soak in; rinse-off from a well on site; oil rub-down available after
La Verra Beach
- ~15-minute drive from Sulphur Springs
- Virtually empty — almost entirely to themselves
- Gray sand described as soft, form-fitting, clay-like, barely sticks to feet
- Water warm and refreshing
- Miles of coastline
Day 5 – Last Day
Fort Frederick
- Entry: $2 USD/person (cash only)
- Steep, winding drive up — views worth it from the road alone
- Built by the French in 1779 after briefly taking over from the British — designed to guard against inland attacks
- Returned to British control in 1783 via the Treaty of Versailles; fort was completed but never fired a single shot
Magazine Beach
- 5–7 minute walk from the airport (steep walk — take your time)
- Uncrowded, beautiful, and convenient
- Recommended as a first or last stop due to airport proximity
Food Notes – Last Day
- BB's Crabback: planned breakfast spot — listed as opening at 8am online, actually opens at 11am
- Most places not open early on Monday mornings; Independence Weekend also affected hours
- Ended up at KFC the night before (Sunday) — longest KFC line ever encountered
Grenada At a Glance
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Flight (one-way, Delta) | $86/person |
| Accommodation (Ocean View Suites) | $67/night |
| Rental car | ~150 EC total |
| Boat tour (sculpture park) | Not specified |
| Annandale Waterfall entry | $5 USD |
| Granatang National Park | Not specified |
| Belmont Estate chocolate tour | ~$6 USD |
| Fort Frederick entry | $2 USD/person |
| Stadium icy | 7 EC (~$2 USD) |
Key Highlights & Tips
- Best beach: La Verra (secluded, gray sand, stunning) and Grand Anse (world-famous, white sand)
- Must-eat: Oil Down (national dish) — try it at the Independence Day stadium if timing works
- Must-do: Underwater sculpture park boat tour — unforgettable snorkel experience
- Hidden gem: Sulphur Springs scrub and soak
- Skip if short on time: Antoine Distillery visit is weekdays only
- Locals are extremely hospitable — multiple unsolicited warm interactions throughout the trip
- Independence Day falls in late February — great time to visit for cultural immersion