Grenada, the Caribbean Island Nation With So Much More Than Beaches

Tucked into the southwestern corner of the Caribbean Sea, Grenada has some of the best beaches in the Americas—nearly four dozen of them—but it also has bird-filled mangroves, dense rainforests, and farm-to-table experiences rooted in local flavors and tradition. The country is also blessed with rich volcanic soil that helps nutmeg, mace, and cocoa thrive, hence its sobriquet: The Spice Isle.

In 2027, the country’s Spicemas festival—Grenada’s answer to Carnival—will celebrate its 150th anniversary with islandwide parties and live calypso concert. But the heartbeat of the event remains the sacred Jab Jab ritual, in which participants proudly cover themselves in black oil as a reminder of the cruelty of slavery and the resilience of their ancestors. Also next year, the 500-room Grenada National Resort will open near Levera National Park, offering visitors prime access to mangrove lagoons where leatherback turtles nest from March to July.

(See all 25 of the destinations that made our list of the best places to visit in 2027.)

When to Go

Grenada has beach-worthy weather year-round, but the dry season runs from January through May, while June through December is likely to bring brief, tropical showers. Prices tend to fall in May and June, when the crowds are thinnest. May also brings the Grenada Chocolate Festival, a celebration of the island's world-renowned cocoa. The country’s two biggest cultural highlights, Spicemas and the Carriacou Regatta.

What to Do

Visit Carriacou:

Just a 20-minute flight or a two-hour ferry from the main island of Grenada, the island of Carriacou is full of colorful fishing villages where you’ll find locally owned guesthouses and small beach bars. Boating is central to daily life here, and you can take part in traditions that include sailing to Sandy Island and White Island, snorkeling coral reefs, and enjoying freshly caught lobster and rum punch at Tim's, a beachfront restaurant accessible only by boat.

Attend the Grenada Chocolate Festival:

Held each May at the family-owned True Blue Bay Boutique Resort, the Grenada Chocolate Festival showcases the island’s prized cocoa bean with farm visits to learn about the tree-to-bar process, meetings with local chocolatiers, and cocoa-infused spa treatments.

Soak in Hot Springs:

At River Sallee Boiling Springs, a geothermal basin on the northern end of the island, there are warm soaking pools to dip in and mineral-rich volcanic mud to slather on your skin.

Swim Between Sculptures:

Created by artist Jason de Caires Taylor in 2006, Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park features submerged statues made of concrete and rebar that double as artificial reefs. The site supports marine life and coral recovery while offering a unique experience for divers and snorkelers.

Wander the Capital:

Ditch the car in busy St. George's and explore on foot. Take in the spice markets and harbor views from Fort George, then stop at Market Square and wander the stalls selling the island's famous nutmeg, cinnamon, and cocoa.

Explore the Mountains:

Grand Étang National Park showcases Grenada's wild, elevated side with crater lakes, rainforest trails, and native wildlife. You can embark on anything from an easy stroll to a rugged hike, keeping an eye out for mona monkeys, tropical birds, and endangered frogs.

Sip Rum:

Established in 1785, the River Antoine Rum Distillery uses the Caribbean’s only working waterwheel in the region to crush sugarcane. Guided tours take visitors inside the centuries-old process and let them taste the distillery’s famous overproof product (but be careful; it’s guaranteed to be at least 75% APV).

Getting Around

Direct flights are available from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom to Maurice Bishop International Airport, as well as other islands in the Caribbean. St. George is easily walkable, but to immerse yourself in Grenada’s spice farms, beaches, and waterfalls, it’s best to rent a car or hire a driver; the latter is a good idea if you don’t feel comfortable navigating the country’s winding roads. Water taxis provide access to nearby beaches and offshore refuges such as Sandy Island and White Island.