Many people don't realize that Grenada is made up of three inhabited islands, Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, and it's surprisingly easy to hop around and switch up the pace of your vacation! Use this guide to make your trip to Carriacou Grenada more memorable--it's based on my own time on the island.
And if you enjoy this post, you'll love my full Grenada travel itinerary, too!
Jump to:
Carriacou is the middle-sized island of Grenada's inhabited islands, encompassing about 13 square miles or 34 square kilometers with a population of around 6000 people. So it felt like everybody knew everybody there!
Versus Grenada, Carriacou is quieter, slower-paced, and sometimes described as "sleepy." It's not the place to go clubbing at night, but the peace and quiet were exactly what I was looking for after a week in St. George's. It's full of wonderful people, stunning natural beauty, and good food--and the weather feels like summer year-round.
Hungry for more? Here are the must-eat foods in Grenada!
How to Get from Grenada to Carriacou
From Grenada, you have two options to get to Carriacou: by air or by sea.
SVG Airlines is the fastest way to hop between the two islands, with a typical transit time of 25 minutes from Maurice Bishop International Airport in Grenada to Lauriston Airport in Carriacou. Round-trip flights run six days a week, and airfare starts around $140 during the low travel season.
Keep in mind that the planes are small, so pack light, and steel your nerves if that kind of thing bothers you! If you plan to do just a day trip from Grenada to Carriacou, flying is your best bet.
Osprey Lines runs ferries between Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique six days a week, with morning and evening options. I took the evening ferry from Grenada to Carriacou and the morning ferry back, and found the process to be pretty straightforward. Round-trip tickets currently cost $62 USD or $160 Eastern Caribbean Dollars for adults--cash only.
If you are prone to motion sickness or sea sickness, I recommend sitting on the upper level of the boat and taking something like Dramamine before your departure. The boat ride from Grenada to Carriacou took about one hour and 45 minutes, and the water got choppy around the one-hour mark as we passed over Kick 'em Jenny, an underwater volcano between the two islands.
Getting Around
Just like Grenada, Carriacou is hilly with winding roads. There's one main coastal road and several smaller two-lane roads. You can drive across the entire island in just a few hours.
My accommodations included transportation to local sites, but if you plan to explore the whole island, you'll want to rent a car, specifically a 4x4 SUV to manage the roads. At the moment, you won't find rental options available on major booking sites or rideshares like Uber or Lyft, so it's best to get a referral from your local guide or lodging host. Wayne's Auto Rentals and Carriacou Auto Rental are highly rated.
Use my free Grenada vacation packing list and check it twice to make sure you have what you need!
Pro Travel Tip
Sunset is pretty early in Carriacou--around 6:30 pm--and it gets quite dark on the roads, so keep that in mind if you plan on driving!
Where to Stay in Carriacou
Lodging options on Carriacou are also more laid-back compared to its big sister island. You won't find sprawling all-inclusive resorts gobbling up the beachfront!
There is a handful of traditional hotels and inns, but I found mostly guest houses, cottages, and apartments available when I traveled there most recently this April, and booked the Onyx at Dee's Pearl in the Argyle area.
Compare prices on top-rated Carriacou hotels!
My stay was wonderful, and the hosts, Ayeesha and David, made sure I had everything I needed--from transportation to arranging an island-hopping tour (more on that below). And if you're into gardening or farming, like me, you will love exploring the flora and fauna all over this hilltop homestead. I highly recommend this property!
Book Dee's Pearl on:
My Mini Carriacou Itinerary
Friday - Lowkey Late Night
For a full weekend, you'll want to depart on one of the Friday ferries or flights. I took the Friday evening ferry and got settled at my accommodation just in time for dinner and drinks at The Original Slipway right on the water.
The menu incorporates local elements, but the dishes are definitely more geared toward the American palate, with burgers & fries and several different pastas. I really enjoyed the coconut shrimp, blended fruit punch, and key lime pie!
Saturday - Island Hopping
Froggy's Island Hopping Tour - Grenada is home to nearly 50 uninhabited islets and cays (small islands), and many of the most popular ones are close to Carriacou. Dave helped me book a full-day tour with Froggy that included Sandy Island, White Island, and Saline Island.
Pro Travel Tip
Group excursions like this one are one of my favorite ways to meet other people when I'm traveling solo! Don't be shy about asking for local guide recommendations here because, again, everybody seems to know everybody.
If you can believe it, the water was even more beautiful in person than I was able to capture in pictures! We swam with sea turtles near Saline, and lounged on felled coconut trees on Sandy Island.
This tour included a local BBQ lunch with fresh-caught Caribbean lobster at Tim's Sunset Beach Bar. Even if you don't do this tour, dining at Tim's is a must-do!
We ended the day snorkeling at Carriacou's Underwater Sculpture Installation. I wasn't able to visit the one in Grenada, so I'm really glad I could see the one in Carriacou--the statues are surprisingly realistic and look majestic standing in the midst of all the fish, coral, and other marine life.
Sunday - Pure Relaxation
After a long day of swimming, I took it easy on the last full day in town. This was the perfect day to hang out at Paradise Beach Club, which is known for its amazing food, live music, and access to Sandy Isle. The grilled lobster is fab, and don't skip the rum punch!
While you're there, go shopping at Fidel Grenada for unique, locally-made souvenirs. I already planned to visit their main shop when I got back to Grenada, but later learned that each shop has different offerings, and I still regret not grabbing a Carriacou t-shirt while I was there!
After a tour of Dave's homestead, I walked down to the marina and had drinks at Lambie Queen and dinner at Gallery Bistro Carriacou. Lambi Queen is a local hub that stays open late and is known for lambi (conch) dishes, wood-fired pizzas, and cocktails. Get there early during lambi season if you want to taste the fritters!
Gallery Bistro serves British-style Indian cuisine, and the portions are really generous. As a certified heat freak, I found the spice level to be mild to moderate.
What else is there to do in Carriacou?
I took the Monday morning ferry from Carriacou Island to Grenada to catch an early afternoon flight back to the United States (Houston), but wish I would have stayed longer. If I were to do this trip again, I'd trade one of my days on Grenada for an extra day on Carriacou! Here are a few more Carriacou Island things to do that I'd add to the list:
Black Sands Beach is located on the West side of the island and is the island's only volcanic black sand beach. It's actually just five minutes away from White Sand Beach and known for great snorkeling!
Carriacou Museum was seriously damaged by Hurricane Beryl and is in the process of rebuilding. You can support their efforts through their GoFundMe campaign.
Kayak Mas is Carriacou and Petite Martinique's Carnival celebration, which takes place ahead of the Catholic Lenten season, and includes traditions you won't find anywhere else in the world. The Easter season is a popular time to visit Grenada for this reason!
Scuba Diving in Carriacou is supposed to be one-of-a-kind, and there are dozens of dive sites around the island and surrounding Grenadines.
The Maroon & String Band Festival actually ended one day before I got to Carriacou. 😭 This annual event highlights traditional foods, dances, historical practices and other parts of Grenada's culture that tie directly to its West African roots.
Windward Village has been home to builders of traditional vessels known as Carriacou sloops for centuries, and you can watch these master craftsmen at work to this day.
Read everything you need to know about visiting Grenada's black sand beach!
Frequently Asked Questions
In my own experience, absolutely. As a woman traveling alone, I never felt uneasy while there. It's the kind of place where people don't lock their doors at night. Of course, I recommend taking the same safety precautions you would anywhere else in the world, including in your hometown.
More Unique Things to Do in the Caribbean
Looking for more like this? Try these:
I hope this article helps you make the most of your Carriacou excursion soon and very soon. And sharing is caring, so be sure to pin this list of things to see in Carriacou for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Ask me a question!