May 14, 2024
The little known island haven of Grenada – a jewel in the Caribbean Sea – offers travellers pristine white sand beaches, verdant forests and barely-trodden natural wonders.
Poised northwest of Trinidad and Tobago, northeast of Venezuela, and southwest of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, this idyllic location paints a picture perfect Caribbean setting. May in Grenada serves up attractive weather conditions with temperatures typically hovering between a balmy 29C to 31C during the day and dipping slightly to 23C to 25C in the evenings. The pleasingly warm days and rejuvenating cool nights serve as an enticing escape from England’s notorious weather.
Yet, despite its appealing climate, Grenada remains somewhat off-the-beaten-track compared to its neighbouring islands as it greets only around 366,000 tourists each year. This pales in comparison to Antigua (680,000) and St Lucia (783,000). Known for its fragrant nutmeg and mace crops, Grenada has earned the moniker “Island of Spice”. Its rich history saw the original settlers of Arawaks and Caribs, a spell under French rule during the 17th century, and later became a British colony, reports the Express.
It gained its independence from Britain in 1974 and is now a member of the Commonwealth. The nation boasts a vibrant cultural heritage, influenced by a blend of African, European and native Caribbean traditions. This is evident in the country’s music, dance, culinary delights and grand festivals such as Carnival.
Grenada
Grenada has warm days and cooler nights ( Image: Getty Images)
Not only known for its historical wealth, it is also a thrill seeker’s paradise. Visitors can indulge in various water sports including sailing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, and kiteboarding – thanks to Grenada’s fantastic conditions. Numerous resorts and aquatic sport centres provide equipment rent-outs and instructive sessions.
Walkers can take a short hike to Annandale Falls, nestled in the core of Grenada, reveals a scenic cascade. Here people can choose to dive into the waters at its base, or marvel at the serene natural beauty that surrounds it. Adventurers who have chanced upon this secluded treasure have shared their experiences on TripAdvisor.
One traveller said: “First visit, only there for a day from a cruise ship, but just love this beautiful country. The people are extraordinarily polite and friendly. Taken around the island on a one hour taxi ride that lasted much longer and showed Grand Anse beach (absolutely gorgeous and where the locals play) and the famous University.
“Any Uni with its beach must be a winner! A beautiful, calm place to study with lots of happy-looking students milling around. Flowers and trees are in full bloom and taxi driver Ronald is incredibly knowledgeable about the political history of the island. The waterfront is beautiful and so many fish to see. Some serious hills to climb to the fort etc, so wear comfy shoes.”
Another visitor added: “A must, Grenada is my favourite West Indian Island with the locals being very helpful and friendly, and the local shops being interesting and cheap. Our favourite trip was on the Rhum Runner, a twin-hulled boat with a large flat deck and upper deck above. We boarded it for our second time just before Christmas with a steel band playing.
“A trip around the main harbour followed by the crew feeding the local large fish. During this time the Rum Punch flowed in abundance, along with soft drinks, fresh local fruit, and cheese. The next stop was a very beautiful beach which we landed on by literally walking down a gangplank.
“The rum still flowed whilst enjoying the scenery, even trays of drink appeared to float along on their own with crew members under the water.”