Grenada and Carriacou in 10 Days

Spice island beaches, a sleepy sister island and a pool suite to finish.

10 days3 stops

Original illustration

At a glance

Three nights at Grand Anse, four on quiet Carriacou and two more back on Grenada, linked by a ferry of about 90 minutes or a short flight. It suits independent couples who want rainforest, chocolate estates and reef snorkeling with a genuinely low-key island in the middle. Go January through May for dry weather and calm seas.

By the Honeymoon Huts editors · How we research

This 10-day honeymoon pairs Grenada with Carriacou, its small, sleepy sister island to the north. You start with three nights at Grand Anse, cross to Carriacou for four quiet nights and finish with two more on Grenada in a suite with a private pool.

The shape is deliberate. Long-haul flights to Grenada often land too late to connect onward the same day, so the trip opens on the mainland with waterfalls, a chocolate estate and the underwater sculpture park. Carriacou is the slow middle, with empty beaches, wooden boats built by hand at Windward and no cruise crowds. Returning to Grenada at the end puts you 10 to 15 minutes from the airport, which cushions any ferry or weather delay before your flight home.

Go January through May for the driest, calmest weather. Carriacou is still rebuilding after Hurricane Beryl in 2024, so confirm your lodging directly before you book.

The route

Best months: January to May
Trip length: 10 days
Budget: About $250–900 a night for two on Grenada and $150–400 on Carriacou (approximate)

Day by day

Days 1–3: Grand Anse, Grenada

Fly into Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND), with nonstops from Miami and New York JFK. Grand Anse is only 10 to 15 minutes away, one of the shortest transfers in the Caribbean. For these first nights, a mid-range room near the beach or a cottage at Laluna on Morne Rouge Bay works well, saving the big splurge for the end.

Spend day one walking two miles of soft sand and swimming in calm water, then watch the sun drop behind St. George's across the bay.

On day two, book the underwater sculpture park for a calm morning, when the water is clearest. Snorkeling over the circle of figures on the seabed is the most memorable thing you will do on Grenada. Spend the afternoon in St. George's, a hillside harbor town with a busy spice market.

On day three, hire a driver-guide for the interior. Swim beneath a rainforest waterfall, wearing water shoes on the slippery rocks. Then tour a chocolate estate from cocoa pod to bar. If it is a Friday, finish at Fish Friday in Gouyave.

Days 4–7: Carriacou

Take the Osprey ferry from St. George's, which runs most days and takes about 90 minutes on a direct sailing. Seas can be rough, so take motion sickness tablets if you need them. Short regional flights to Lauriston Airport (CRU) are the alternative, though schedules can be limited.

Carriacou lodging is small scale: guesthouses, cottages and villas, many owned by local families. Hillside villas above Tyrrel Bay offer views and privacy. The area around L'Esterre and Paradise Beach suits couples who want to walk to the sand. Many guests choose a villa with a kitchen.

This is the slow stretch. Swim at Paradise Beach and hike to Anse La Roche. Visit the boatbuilders of Windward, where sloops are still built by hand. Watch the sunset over the moored yachts in Tyrrel Bay.

The romantic moment is a water taxi to Sandy Island, a sliver of sand and palms on the reef. Bring a picnic, shade, water and snorkel gear, since there are no facilities. Spend the afternoon with almost no one else in sight. A day trip to Petite Martinique is a fine extra.

Days 8–10: Back to Grenada

Return by ferry or flight on day eight and check into your splurge. Spice Island Beach Resort on Grand Anse is a long-established luxury hotel with suites that have private pools. Silversands Grenada has a modern design with a very long pool running toward the beach. Calabash Hotel at Lance aux Epines has garden suites facing a quiet bay.

Use these last two days for nothing much: a spa treatment, a long lunch, an hour in your own pool. If you skipped anything earlier, a second snorkel at the sculpture park or a sunset stroll on Grand Anse makes a good last evening.

On day ten, the transfer to GND takes 10 to 15 minutes, so even a morning flight is easy.

Getting Between Stops

The Osprey ferry links St. George's with Carriacou most days, often more than once. A direct run takes about 90 minutes. Some sailings stop at Petite Martinique. The channel can be choppy, so sit outside or near the back if you feel queasy.

Short regional flights connect Grenada with Lauriston Airport near Hillsborough, but schedules can be limited and routings sometimes indirect. Check before you plan around them.

On Grenada, taxis charge set fares between the airport, Grand Anse and St. George's. Minibuses are cheap during the day. For the interior and the north coast, hire a driver-guide rather than renting a car, since roads are steep and narrow. On Carriacou, taxis wait at the dock and airport. Car and jeep rentals make it easier to reach beaches and villas. Drive on the left on both islands.

Where to Stay

On Grenada, Grand Anse is lined with resorts. Spice Island Beach Resort has suites with private pools and is the classic splurge. Silversands Grenada is modern, with a very long pool. Mount Cinnamon sits on the hillside above the bay. Laluna, on Morne Rouge Bay just south, is a cluster of cottages with plunge pools that honeymooners love. Calabash Hotel at Lance aux Epines is quieter and refined.

Sandals Grenada, a kid-free all-inclusive on Pink Gin Beach near the airport, suits couples who want everything bundled.

On Carriacou, base yourselves in Hillsborough, the main town, or Tyrrel Bay, a sheltered harbor in the southwest. After Hurricane Beryl, some places reopened quickly and others are still closed. Contact your host directly and ask about water, power and Wi-Fi. Also confirm that nearby restaurants are open.

When to Go

January through May is the dry season on both islands, with sunshine and calm seas. February and March are often the most comfortable months on Grenada. Carriacou is drier than Grenada. Its reefs are at their clearest in these months.

June through December is wetter, with short heavy showers followed by sunshine. Hurricane season runs June through November. Grenada was struck by Ivan in 2004 and Beryl in 2024, so travel insurance matters in these months.

Festivals can shape your dates. Spicemas, Grenada's carnival, fills St. George's and Grand Anse in August. The Carriacou Regatta celebrates locally built boats on the first weekend of August. Parang, the weekend before Christmas, brings string bands to Carriacou. Each one is fun but books up rooms and ferries.

Budget and Booking

This route mixes a splurge with good value. As an approximate guide, Grand Anse resorts run from about $250 to $900 a night for two, with private-pool suites at the top. Carriacou guesthouses and villas are simpler and generally cheaper, roughly $150 to $400 a night.

Book your Carriacou stay first and confirm it directly, since rebuilding continues. Then book the splurge for the final nights on Grenada. Reserve the sculpture park trip for a calm morning and your Sandy Island water taxi once you arrive.

Bring cash. ATMs are few on Carriacou and card machines are not universal on either island. Small bills help at beach bars, minibuses and the spice market. Buy travel insurance with medical evacuation cover, since serious cases on Carriacou are flown off the island.

Staying Comfortable and Safe

Grenada is relaxed, but use licensed taxis or hotel drivers at night rather than walking along quiet roads. Wear water shoes on waterfall hikes and check cruise schedules if you want a quiet day on Grand Anse.

On Carriacou, bring what you need. Pack reef-safe sunscreen, insect repellent, snorkel gear and any medicine. Mosquitoes can carry dengue, so if you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices before you go. Bring shade and water to Sandy Island.

The ferry can be rough on windy days, so pack motion sickness tablets. Dress is casual on both islands, with swimwear kept for the beach. Ask your hosts about local festivals during your stay. Even a small village event can be a highlight for the two of you.

Make It Shorter or Longer

For a 7-day trip, spend one night at Grand Anse, three on Carriacou and two back on Grenada. You will need to pick between the waterfall day and the chocolate estate, but the shape still works.

If Carriacou feels too simple for your taste, skip it and stay seven nights on Grenada, splitting time between Grand Anse and a quieter bay such as Lance aux Epines or Morne Rouge.

With 12 to 14 days, add a night or two on Carriacou or stretch the final Grenada stay to four nights. Couples who love sailing can also charter a boat through the Grenadines, which begin just north of Carriacou, though that needs separate planning. Whatever you add, keep the last night on Grenada so a late ferry or a rough sea never threatens your flight home.

FAQ

Planning this trip

How do you get from Grenada to Carriacou?

Take the Osprey ferry from St. George's, which runs most days and takes about 90 minutes on a direct sailing. Short regional flights also connect Grenada with Lauriston Airport, though schedules are limited. Long-haul flights usually land too late to connect the same day, so plan a night on Grenada first.

Is Carriacou open after Hurricane Beryl?

Carriacou is welcoming visitors, but rebuilding continues and some lodgings and restaurants are still closed. Contact your accommodation directly before booking. Ask about water, power and Wi-Fi. Check which restaurants and boat trips are operating near you. A villa with a kitchen gives you more flexibility.

Why end the trip back on Grenada?

Ferries can be delayed and seas can be rough, so spending your last nights on Grenada protects your flight home. Grand Anse is 10 to 15 minutes from the airport. It also lets you finish in a polished resort suite after Carriacou's simpler stays, which feels like a reward.

What is the best snorkeling on this trip?

The underwater sculpture park off Grenada is the highlight, best on a calm morning. On Carriacou, Sandy Island and the reefs around Paradise Beach are excellent. Bring your own gear if you can, along with reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard for long sessions.

Is Grenada good for a honeymoon?

Yes, for couples who want a friendly, uncrowded island with real things to do. Grenada mixes calm beaches with rainforest waterfalls, spice and chocolate estates and good snorkeling. The airport is close to the main beach. Its resorts range from cottage retreats to suites with private pools.

Stops on this route

Grenada

Grand Anse

Grenada

Carriacou

Grenada

Grand Anse

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