Grenada in a Day

Dear lilioftheworld.com reader, here is Lili, your co-editor. Today I will take you to another beautiful island in the Caribbean- Grenada. Grenada was one of the 12 islands we visited during a two-week cruise across the Lesser Antilles in the beginning of 2020. This island, also known as the “island of spices”, was one of our most favorite ones as it provided a unique experience. What did we do for this one day in Grenada and why we would like to go back there, read in the story below. 

The article about Grenada is part of the series of posts presenting the islands we visited and giving you tips on what to see and do “in a day”. The other islands we visited were:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Barbados
• British Virgin Islands
• Dominica
• Guadeloupe
• Martinique
• St Kitts & Nevis
• St Maarten
• Saint Lucia
• St Vincent & The Grenadines
• Trinidad & Tobago

In order to read our recommendations for each island, just follow the links. We also shared our overall cruise experience and tips when going on a cruise for the first time.

Grenada 

Grenada gets its fragrant nickname “the Spice Isle” because of its long history as a producer of nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, clove and other spices. It is the world’s largest producer of nutmeg after Indonesia. Like many other islands in the region, Grenada was discovered by Christopher Columbus. He sighted the island in 1498 during his third voyage to the Americas.

Grenada including its six surrounding islands is a relatively new autonomous state. After being under British rule for two centuries, it finally got its autonomy in 1974.  Although there are no direct proofs, the name of the island most probably comes from the Andalusian city of Granada. 

What to do in Grenada for a day?

In the previous posts from the cruise trip, I had already mentioned that our main goal was to visit as many beaches as possible. And Grenada was not an exception. We knew that there was a beautiful beach, located just five kilometers away from the port and that was a perfect spot for spending our day. 

Once we arrived at St George’s port (Grenada’s main town), we could see why it was considered as one of the most picturesque ports in the Caribbean. Colorful houses were covering the surrounding hills, a castle and a clock tower were overlooking the harbor. It was clear that we should spend some hours in the afternoon exploring St George. 

Right at the harbor, we saw a sign that there was a water taxi to our point of interest- Grand Anse Beach. The taxis were small boats departing from a tiny pier, located 50 meters away from our ship. Ten minutes later we had already arrived at Grand Anse beach.

• Grand Anse Beach 

We were among the first people to arrive at the beach and it was completely at our disposal. We chose a place located on the left of the quay, with a nice guy who offered free wi-fi and a good atmosphere. 

Grand Anse beach and the luxurious resorts

Grand Anse Beach is one of the top beaches in the Caribbean, with two miles of white sand nestled beneath the hillside of Spice Island Beach Resort and Mount Cinnamon Resort. This celebrated beach is the most popular on Grenada owing to its gentle surf, beautiful wide swath of sand, and ample activities, including a diversity of water-sports, restaurants, beach bars, and fine hotels.

On the day of our visit, the weather was beautiful. Sunshine, 27 degrees and perfectly blue sky. There was not even a sign of the storm which was raging there the previous days. Besides the fact that the water was a bit blurry. It still had its turquoise color, but the visibility for snorkeling was poor. Otherwise Grand Anse beach is perfect for snorkeling as well. Right in front of the place where we were staying, there were some interesting things underwater, including a star-fish. The fisherman boats on the horizon made it the perfect spot for beautiful pictures. 

• Underwater sculptures park

Besides Grand Anse beach, we wanted to visit one other place. It is an underwater sculpture park. We had researched that we should get to another beach and from there we can take a boat. However, it seemed too complicated and time consuming.

As Grand Anse beach is the most popular beach in Grenada, we thought that there are trips to Moliniere bay from here. And we were not wrong- there were two options. Either we could take the trip from one of these five-star hotels (its price was $75 per person) or we could use the water taxis (they also were allowed to offer such a trip- for $35 per person). Both options seemed too expensive. And then we decided to ask the owner of the beach chairs where we were staying. He immediately found a friend of his, who had a fishing boat. The fisherman agreed to take us there for $60 for all of us (we were four)- what a good deal! 🙂 

The first underwater sculptures park in the world

The underwater sculptures park is the world’s first underwater sculpture park. Their sculptor- Jason deCaires Taylor, has other underwater sculptures in the world, but he started his career from here. The intention of the British sculptor was not just to put together something that would look good underwater but would also aid conservation efforts. “Reef damage had already been done, and the statues were put in after to help protect the reefs, help maintain the health of the ecosystem, and eventually, help restore underwater life in that area.”

“Molinere Bay suffered considerable storm damage from Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and the placement of these artificial structures has provided a new base for marine life to proliferate. A long-lasting and pH neutral cement offers a stable and permanent platform which is textured to allow coral polyps to attach themselves to the sculptures.” (part of the description which you can find on the official Jason deCaires Taylor’s website. 

Snorkeling above 75 concrete sculptures

Our biggest concern was whether the visibility in the water will be good enough, so that we are able to see the sculptures. Although they are not located deep in the water (between five and eight meters), due to the storm from the previous day in Grenada the water was not clear. It is not necessary to go scuba diving- snorkeling also gives you the opportunity to observe the underwater park.

After sailing for about 40 minutes (we passed by our cruise ship and went beyond), we finally got to the spot. There were only two or three other boats in the bay. The map below (copied from https://www.dedeceblog.com/2010/10/13/cancun/) shows you where exactly you can find the different sculptures.

We were really lucky as we could see the sculptures quite clearly. Some of the most popular sculptures are “Christ of the Deep”, the “lost correspondent” and “the Vicissitudes” . They have very interesting stories which I would like to share with you. 

Christ of the Deep

This sculpture is a replica of the original sculpture of Christ of the Deep on the waterfront of the Carenage, St. George’s harbor. The original statue was a present to the locals for their  hospitality and selflessness when they aided 600 passengers and crew members of the Bianca C.

The Bianca C, known as the ‘Titanic of the Caribbean’, is a cruise liner which sank in 1961 and sits upright on her keel in 50 meters of water. The Bianca C is one of the top ten wreck sites in the world according to several diving magazines and international experts. It is 180-meter long and only  advanced level divers can visit it due to its depth. In case you are an experienced diver, do not miss this attraction when in Grenada. The underwater sculpture of the Christ of the Deep marked the 50th anniversary of the Bianca C sinking. 

The Correspondent

Another interesting sculpture of the 55 cement pieces in the underwater park is the lost correspondent. Often they also call him “the newspaper man”. The Lost Correspondent depicts a man sitting at a desk with a typewriter. The desk is covered with a collection of newspaper articles and cuttings that date back to the 1970s. Many of these have political significance, a number detail Grenada’s alignment with Cuba in the period immediately prior to the revolution. The work depicts  the rapid changes in communication between generations. Taking the form of a traditional correspondent, the lone figure becomes little more than a relic, a fossil in a lost world.

The Vicissitudes

This is the most popular picture from the underwater sculptures park. It is located a bit aside from the others, but make sure you do not miss it. It is truly an iconic, breathtaking experience to see this group of children, 26 in total, Grenadian, holding their hands. They are positioned in a circle, and until now the meaning of the sculpture is not clear. There are various theories, but here is what we find on the official website of their sculpture: “Cast from children with diverse backgrounds, they are a symbol of unity and resilience. They are an example of how we are inscribed and formed by the nutrients we absorb. However, locally it was widely interpreted as a tribute to slavery due to the structural connections resembling shackles and the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the Middle Passage”. One thing is for sure- the feeling is amazing.

After spending around one and a half hours at Moliniere bay, we were ready to go back to Grand Anse Beach for some sunbathing and relaxation. It was after noon, so the sun was already on its way down. We tried some of the local rum punches (highly recommended for the beach). In the afternoon the water was clearer and we could do some snorkeling from the shore. At around 15:30 we decided to head back to the main town in order to explore St George.

• St George 

St George is the capital of Grenada. The town is surrounded by a hillside of an old volcano crater and is located on a horseshoe-shaped harbor. It is also the place where the country’s international airport is located. 

Streets of St George

The first thing you see when you land there are the pastel-colored houses. Brick and stone buildings with red-tiled roofs line the streets, where locals sell spices and crafts. Here are some of the most interesting places we could explore in the remaining hour and a half before we went back to the ship. 

• Fort George 

Fort George is the oldest fort in Granada, located on a top of hill overlooking the harbor and the sea. The french built the fort in the early 18th century in order to protect the harbor. Today, it stands mostly derelict. Nowadays, the fort is headquarters of the local police, but some parts of it are accessible to the public. 

Fort George view to the cruise ships pier

By the time we went up the hill, there was no one at the ticket office, so we entered free of charge. A couple of guns are still present there and are overlooking the cruise ship pier. Although the hill where the fort is located is not high, there are some steps to climb. Take some water with you in case you go there around noon. 

Fort George view to Grand Anse beach

• The Carenage

From the backside of Fort George, you can spot the inner harbor and anchorage, known as the Carenage.

The Carenage as seen from Fort George

Unfortunately we did not have time to get there, but people say it is a lovely place to wander along the waterfront, browse the shops, and watch the dockside activities. There are a lot of restaurants selling fresh seafood and snacks. The main street is Wharf Road which runs along the harbor offering great views of the area. This is also where you can see the original sculpture of the Christ of the Deep.

• Sendall Tunnel

The Sendall Tunnel beneath Fort George connects the Carenage with the town. The locals built the tunnel originally for horses and carts, but nowadays people and cars are using it. For cars it is only one-way- for those coming from the Carenage. If you have time, right when you go out of the tunnel on your left you will see stairs leading to the hospital and the fort. The area is very peaceful and you can enjoy the view of the Carenage. 

Other things to do in Grenada (if you have additional time)

Although we did not have time for them, we had made our research and here are some interesting places you can still visit. 

• Annandale Waterfalls

• Annandale Falls

• Dragon Bay

• Magazine Beach

We hope you enjoyed traveling with us. Do not miss the stories about the other islands from the cruise route.

They are all coming soon in the section Caribbean.