A popular tourist hang out on a small island nation in the West Indies. Grenada is tiny, being just a few hundred square kilometers and there are just over a hundred thousand people living here. When cruise ships dock at the ports it makes such a difference that the streets are noticeably more crowded and so is the beach. This photo was taken on a cruise ship day and any of the less crowded beach photos were taken when a cruise ship is not in port.
Taxis, busses and boats ferry tourists five kilometers from the cruise ship terminal in the capital, St. George's to Grand Anse Beach. Grenada is off the beaten path for most and it is not very developed like neighbouring Barbados or Trinidad. It is the sort of destination where people go to who are well travelled.
This was not a busy cruise ship beach day. We were able to get a photo when just a few locals and guests were hanging out. The sun is strong so trees and umbrellas make for popular real estate. Clouds in the sky provide much needed shade as one could burn in just a few minutes.
While the beach sure is more interesting when thousands of people flock to it, we prefer the less crowded days. There are a few hotels along this three kilometer long beach but they are not the multi story type apartments found on other islands.
Grenada has a unique history, we have been to quite a few other Caribbean nations and each one is different. Another name for this place is the Spice Islands, they grow nutmeg. There are a lot of hills and jungle here, it was invaded by USA in 1983 and while it certainly isn't the poorest Caribbean island, it's a far cry from its similar sized neighbours in terms of wealth and development.
The people here are more relaxed and seem less greedy than the other islands. Prices are fair and we were not hassled to buy drugs, sex or asked to give money. Luxurious private yachts were parked at sea. It is my understanding that some very wealthy tourists come here to be left alone.
Then there is beach day, where ordinary people hang out. One can engage in water sports, go fishing, or just sit on a chair and occasionally get in the water to cool off. I'm not a beach person, while we love swimming, we don't really sit on the beach and just walked along the sand.
In the middle of the beach there is a market where you can buy souvenirs and spices. We got some nutmeg jelly which was pretty good. Most of the souvenirs were the typical type made in foreign factories or were overpriced crafts but the spices are unique and coming from the spice island you know you are getting good stuff.
We stayed in a boutique hotel nearby, similar to the house on the hills pictured here. Having a kitchen is essential unless you have a car or want to splurge on room service everyday. While there are a few restaurants near the beach, the good ones seem to be spread out across the island and walking along the narrow roads as cars speed by is not pleasant.
For the most part the best thing to do here is to sit and stare at the sea. We would eat outside and were pretty much outside looking at the water for a week straight. Some people go hiking in the jungle to see little waterfalls but we hung on to the coast.
This is the hotel I would recommend. Silversands Grenada is almost $1000 per night for a regular room but it has some luxurious grounds and it's right on the beach. If you're on a budget, don't bother travelling to some of these islands, you are better off staying elsewhere where your money goes a lot further. Or taking a cruise ship with an all-inclusive meal package.
It's certainly worth visiting Grenada and Grand Anse Beach is almost perfect, depending on if a ship is in port or not. The water is very warm in the South Caribbean and the seas are usually calm. The sand is nice and the island vibes are even better. There's night time entertainment and watersports just like any other big beach.
Thanks for reading and enjoy your winter holidays!
All photos were taken with an s24 or iphone 16 pro and are unfiltered.
[//]:# ([//]:# (!worldmappin 12.02442 lat -61.76152 long Grand Anse Beach d3scr))
