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How many days in Grenada? 4 days: spice estates, rainforest, reefs and Carriacou
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Grenada is the 'Spice Isle': a green, volcanic island about 34 km long that grows nutmeg, cocoa, cinnamon and cloves, with one of the prettiest harbour towns in the Caribbean. Four days gives you St George's and the beach at Grand Anse, the reef and the underwater sculptures, a day inland among rainforest, waterfalls and old estates, and a boat to the sister island of Carriacou. The numbered minibuses reach almost everywhere for a few EC dollars.
Short answer
Three days covers St George's, Grand Anse, a snorkel trip and the interior. Four adds Carriacou, the flat, quiet island two hours north by ferry.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: St George's and Grand Anse
Morning. Walk the Carenage, the horseshoe harbour of St George's, then climb to Fort George (1705) for the view over the red roofs and the bay. On Saturday mornings, the Market Square is at its busiest, with spice stalls selling nutmeg, mace, cinnamon and bay leaf, and cocoa balls for tea.
Afternoon. Take minibus no. 1 (about EC$2.50) 10 minutes south to Grand Anse Beach, 3 km of white sand with calm water. The Spice Market craft stalls sit at the northern end.
Evening. Have dinner on Grand Anse or at Morne Rouge (BBC Beach) next door, with grilled fish for EC$60-90. Sunsets from here face across the bay to St George's.
Fort Frederick and Fort Matthew on Richmond Hill have even wider views of the island and the harbour.
Day 2: The underwater sculptures and the south coast
Morning. Take a snorkel or dive boat (EC$110-200) to the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park, created by Jason deCaires Taylor from 2006, with figures such as the circle of children holding hands on the sea floor at 3-8 m. Many boats also stop at the reefs of Flamingo Bay nearby.
Afternoon. Spend the afternoon on the beaches of the south coast: Magazine Beach near the airport, or La Sagesse, a sheltered bay with a small nature centre on the south-east.
Evening. On Friday, go to Gouyave Fish Friday on the west coast (about 40 minutes): stalls grill lobster, tuna and lambie (conch) from about EC$15-40, with live music.
Divers can also dive the Bianca C, a 180 m cruise liner that sank in 1961 off St George's, often called the Titanic of the Caribbean (deep, for experienced divers only).
Day 3: Rainforest, waterfalls and spice estates
Morning. Drive or take a tour into the Grand Etang Forest Reserve (about EC$5-15 entry) for the crater lake and short trails; Mona monkeys often wait near the visitor centre. Stop at Annandale Falls (small fee) on the way, or hike to the Seven Sisters Falls (about 1.5 hours round trip, with a guide).
Afternoon. Continue to Belmont Estate in St Patrick, a 17th-century plantation that grows cocoa and makes organic chocolate, then to River Antoine Rum Distillery, where a water wheel has crushed cane since the 18th century. Its 75% rum is not allowed on planes.
Evening. Return via the west coast through Gouyave and its Dougaldston Spice Estate or the nutmeg processing station, and have dinner back near Grand Anse.
Bring rain gear even in the dry season; the interior is much wetter than the coast.
Day 4: Day trip to Carriacou
Morning. Take the Osprey ferry from St George's to Hillsborough on Carriacou (about 2 hours, roughly EC$80-90 each way), or a 20-minute flight. Carriacou is small, about 13 km long, and slow-paced, with a boat-building tradition in Windward.
Afternoon. Take a water taxi to Sandy Island, a sandbar with palms and reef, or swim at Paradise Beach at L'Esterre, with beach bars serving fish. Snorkelling around Sandy Island is among the best in the country.
Evening. Catch the afternoon ferry back, or stay the night and eat lobster in Hillsborough or Tyrrel Bay, about EC$70-100.
Check the Osprey timetable: sailings change by day of the week and fewer boats run on Sundays.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, keep St George's and Grand Anse, the sculpture park, and the interior with Belmont Estate, and skip Carriacou.
Got extra days?
Extra days fit Levera Beach and its turtle nesting (March to July), a hike up Mount Qua Qua or Mount St Catherine, the highest point at 840 m, or a sailing trip through the Grenadines to Petite Martinique. Divers can spend several days on wrecks and reefs.
Where to stay in Grenada
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | St George's guesthouses | Rooms above the harbour, walking to the market and the minibus terminal. | EC$220-350 |
| Mid-range | Grand Anse | On the island's main beach, 10 minutes from town. | EC$450-750 |
| Mid-range | Lance aux Épines / True Blue | Quieter peninsulas with small hotels and marinas near the airport. | EC$400-700 |
| Comfort | Morne Rouge / Grand Anse resorts | Beachfront resorts with pools and spa, a few with private villas. | EC$1,100-2,500 |
Getting around
Privately run minibuses follow numbered routes from the main bus terminal in St George's; fares are EC$2.50-10, and you flag them down anywhere. Taxis are unmetered with posted fares: about EC$45-55 from the airport to Grand Anse. Car hire needs a local driving permit (about EC$60, issued by the rental company); driving is on the left and roads are steep. For the interior, a half-day tour is often easier.
What to eat in Grenada
Grenada's national dish is oil down, a one-pot stew of breadfruit, salted meat, dumplings, callaloo and turmeric simmered in coconut milk, often cooked for groups at weekends. Try lambie (conch), callaloo soup, roti for a cheap lunch (EC$15-20), and anything with nutmeg, including the jam and the syrup on ice cream. The local beer is Carib; rum punches use nutmeg on top. Local restaurants charge EC$40-70 for a meal; resort dinners EC$120 and up.
Best time to visit
January to May is the dry season, 27-31°C with trade winds, and the busiest. June to December is wetter, with short tropical showers. Grenada lies at the southern edge of the hurricane belt; Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricane Beryl in 2024, which struck Carriacou hard, show that storms do reach it. Spicemas, the carnival, peaks in mid-August.
Month-by-month weather for Grenada →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | EC$140 | EC$300 | EC$800 |
| Food & drink | EC$80 | EC$160 | EC$300 |
| Sights & tickets | EC$40 | EC$120 | EC$250 |
| Local transport | EC$15 | EC$60 | EC$150 |
| Total per person, per day | about EC$275 | about EC$640 | about EC$1,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Eastern Caribbean dollars, fixed at about EC$2.70 to US$1; US dollars are widely accepted. Hotels add VAT and a service charge, and a small room levy applies per night.
Before you go
Common questions
Can I use US dollars in Grenada?
Yes, almost everywhere, though change usually comes in EC dollars, and some small shops give a less favourable rate. Minibuses, market stalls and Fish Friday are best paid in EC dollars cash. Cards are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets.
Is Grenada safe for visitors?
Yes, it is one of the more relaxed islands in the Caribbean. Usual precautions apply: do not leave valuables on the beach, use registered taxis at night, and avoid isolated areas after dark. Swim only at calm beaches on the west and south coasts, as the Atlantic side has strong currents.
Has Carriacou recovered from Hurricane Beryl?
Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 damaged most buildings on Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Rebuilding has continued since, and ferries, guesthouses and beach bars have reopened in stages. Check current openings with your accommodation before booking, and expect some places to still be under repair.
When is turtle season?
Leatherback turtles nest on Levera Beach and other northern beaches from about March to July, and hatchlings appear into September. Visits are at night with local conservation guides, who keep groups small and lights dim. Book through the Ocean Spirits group or your hotel.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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