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Discovering Grenada: The Caribbean’s Spice Isle

There are almost 30 island nations in the Caribbean.  Unfortunately, cruise passengers visiting only have that one day to experience the islands.  Sometimes, the islands have to make a memorable first impression to be considered for a return land-based trip.  Grenada (pronounced Gre-nay-da) was one of those islands which stood out a little more than the others for us.  We visited Grenada during a port-intensive Caribbean cruise which covered five islands in seven days a couple of years ago.

Grenada landscape

The tiny, independent nation is actually comprised of a three-island state of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petit Martinique and located 100 miles north of Venezuela.  We docked on the biggest one, Grenada, which was 21 miles (34 km) long and 12 miles (18 km) wide.

Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498, Spanish sailors first named it Granada since its green hills reminded them of their country’s Andalusia region.  It was changed to La Grenade by the French who ruled it for 90 years.  The British took control in the 18th century and its current name stuck.  Grenada became an independent nation in 1974.

Grenada fisherman
A lone fisherman in Grenada

It has been nicknamed the Spice Isle for its long history as a leading supplier of spices like, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and ginger.  Grenada now produces about a third of the world’s nutmeg and has more spices per square mile than any other place.  Spice plantations are a major part of the tourism industry.  Its green and lush landscape and weather have created the perfect environment for these spices to flourish .

Grenada forest

We booked a tour with an operator well-known among the cruisers, Mandoo.  Impeccably dressed in white uniform and bermuda shorts, our group of about 15 people learned so much about the island from him.  He was a wonderful ambassador and it felt like everyone knew him with constant honks and waves as we drove through the island.  He was one of the reasons I remembered Grenada well.  Sometimes, you get lucky with a great tour guide.  We were even greeted with a warm welcome by these “kids on the road”.

Grenada kids on the road

Our tour of the island started in its capital city of St. George.  We didn’t spend too much time at St. George but it looked like a bustling town with plenty of colonial buildings and quite a bit of traffic.

St George Grenada
Our first stop was the Dougladston Spice Estate which has long been a part of the island’s spice history.  Its main area was a boucan which was a building with drying trays on rails on the sides.  During our visit, it was cocoa season so plenty of seeds were drying out.  We saw live cacao or cocoa trees, its seeds, and their drying process.  Unfortunately, we didn’t get to how how these all became cocoa powder or chocolate.  We were secretly hoping for chocolate samples but that was done elsewhere.

Grenada cacao and chocolate process

We were greeted inside the building with a wonderful aroma of spices. It smelled heavenly but not too overwhelming.  Several tables were laid out full of leaves and spices to smell, touch and taste.  A spice guessing game ensued among visitors. Plastic bags of fresh spices were for sale – cinnamon, nutmeg, bay leaves, cloves.

Needless to say, I stocked up a bit here.  Spices weren’t grounded but fresh so they lasted a lot longer.  The locals made use of the various spices not only for flavor enhancements but also for healing ailments.  There was nutmeg oil for aches and pains which I passed on and now regret.

Grenada spices

This tiny island has had its share of hardships.  Grenada is known more in history for its revolutionary period which ended when the American and Caribbean forces invaded it in 1983.  This was what I knew of Grenada and that it had a medical school many foreigners attend.  It was also devastated by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.  These two tall palm trees were a couple of survivors.  A symbolic representation of the locals’ enduring survival through political crisis and Mother Nature.

Grenada Palm trees

One of our favorite stops was Grand Etang National Park and Forest Reserve.  This was high in the rainforest with numerous varieties of tropical flora and fauna.  There were many developed trails which we sadly didn’t have a chance to explore and a crater lake in the middle.

Grand Etang National park Grenada

This large and colorful caterpillar greeted us at the interpretive center and were fairly common throughout the gardens.

Grenada caterpillar

Grand Etang is also home to the Mona Monkeys.  They’re usually found in Western Africa but were transported to the island in the 18th century via slave ships.  Mandoo has become quite friendly with these monkeys.  We waited a bit and listened to his best primate call imitation, along with a small banana on hand, before one of the monkeys came bounding out of the forest to greet us.

Grenada mona monkey image

It was so used to visitors, it made an entrance and sat there as one by one people posed next to it and petted it.  Having the chance to pet this beautiful yet wild monkey was definitely the highlight for my kids.  In hindsight, that probably wasn’t the safest idea to be letting kids pet wild creatures even with plenty of hand sanitizing afterwards.  But, it was an unforgettable experience for them.

Grenada monkey petting

We passed by waterfalls along the road which I’m sure can get very wild and powerful during rainy season.

Grenada waterfall

Our last stop was Annandale Falls which was one of the smaller falls but easily accessible for visitors.  Local fruits (like bananas and papayas) and tropical floral graced the well-maintained trails.

Grenada annadale Falls

Grenada’s history, spice plantations, fertile vegetation and varied landscape was a pleasant surprise.  It’s still unspoiled and not overrun by mega resorts.  The government has made efforts to create national parks and protect their valuable natural resources.   There was so much we didn’t get to explore, including the beaches, I would love to return for a land-based trip .

*Have you visited the Spice Islands? Do you find Grenada interesting enough to put on your travel list?

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Annandale Falls Grenada

56 thoughts on “Discovering Grenada: The Caribbean’s Spice Isle”

  1. Your photos certainly make Grenada look worthy of a visit. Those monkeys
    are different from any I have ever seen. If I ever go back to live
    in North America, I would make a trip here, but from Korea it would
    be extremely expensive, and probably take forever to get there!

    1. I’m glad the photos gave the scenry some justice. We’ve never heard of Mona monkeys either or seen them at zoos. They were surprisingly docile and quite soft.

  2. Looks like you had a beautiful trip. We cruised to the Carribbean though we’ve not been to Grenada. Your pictures almost tempt me to book another cruise. :)

    1. It was a wonderful trip, Tonya. One can never go wrong with a Caribbean cruise. There’s always something different in each island to please everyone.

  3. I haven’t been to Grenada but it’s one of the few Caribbean Islands that I’ve heard good things about .
    Love your monkey photos and your comprehensive rundown of what the island has to offer.

    1. Thanks Leigh! My kids can’t get enough of those monkey photos too. Grenada was one of those off the beaten path locations that make me glad to have cruised there.

  4. What an interesting island. I’m not sure I’ll ever make it to Grenada so it was great to see and hear what the island is all about. Unfortunately it is just toooooo far from Australia especially Western Australia!

    1. Totally understandable about your location, Jenny :) One of the things we love about Caribbean cruising is finding little interesting islands like these on the itinerary. we hope to return someday.

  5. Grenada’s climate must be similar to Penang’s because they grow the same stuff up the road from me at the Tropical Spice Garden. I would have also secretly hoped for a chocolate sample or even a roasted cocoa nib to chew on.

    1. How awesome to live near a tropical spice garden. They probably have all these great health remedies too with all the spices. We were all disappointed on not having any chocolate samples or cocoa :)

  6. I was in Grenada ages ago, such a beautiful, green island – and definitely off the beaten track.

    Also, interesting tip about nutmeg oil for aches and pains – much healthier than paracetamol, I’m sure.

    1. We loved that despite the cruise ships there it didn;t seem to be overrun with tourists. Yes, definitely very green and more so than the Nature Isle of Dominica. I’d have to ask someone for those nutmeg oil one of these days and I bet they worked wonders.

  7. Grenada’s still on my list but you know how it is when things are in your backyard – they tend to get passed over. They’re celebrating a big win at the Olympics this week — their first gold medal.

    1. I heard about their gold medal after publishing this post. I could have tied it better if I paid more attention. I hope you visit your neighboring island soon, Marcia.

  8. Grenada looks stunning! And it’s always great to know that its natural landscape is being protected by conservation bodies! A place where fruit can be picked from the trees and monkeys swing from the trees sells itself!

    1. Grenada was beautiful! Their conservation efforts and ecotourism makes me want to go back for an extended period of time to hike their national parks.

  9. looks so fun and what lush landscape! I have been on only 1 cruise (to Alaska many years ago) but think a Caribbean cruise be a great trip w/ my kids.

    1. I think the Caribbean cruise would be a great introduction for your kids with plenty of beach time. Alaska would be wondeful too. Grenada was stunning and a pleasant surprise.

  10. Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista

    I’ve not been to Grenada but would love to! It is very green and beautiful. I also would be interested in the spices :)

  11. I fell in love with St. Lucia, but it looks like Grenada has a lot of the same attractions. I wouldn’t stay in the city long, either, with that alluring jungle to head for. But I won’t go there on a cruise ship! I want more time in a destination.

    1. I loved St Lucia and Grenada was as lush and beautiful. We used the cruise ship as a preview of the islands and now we know we want to go back to this one. I’m with you in exploring the national parks and jungles of this island.

  12. Wonderful tour of Grenada, Mary! The country has gone through a lot. I remember the 1983 invasion very well. Interesting about it being such a great producer of spices, too. I haven’t thoguht of it as a travel destination really — until now!

  13. We were in Grenada 20 years ago and have always wanted to return. It was so beautiful and, at least at that time, relatively undeveloped. I’m glad to see it is still beautiful.
    Lovely shots!

    1. Thank you! There’s still a lot of Grenada undeveloped and I’m sure its latest focus on eco-tourism would make it an even better visit. I hope you get to return soon.

  14. You visit some of the neatest and most exotic places and I think I have finally
    figured out your secret-Cruises! Thanks for sharing another great place with
    great pictures.

    1. Thanks Jessica! Yes, the only way to see these remote islands is through cruises. Sample them and see if you want to return for a land-based vacation :)

  15. I remembered back in my elementary days, we have a UN fashion show and I happen to represent Grenada and this post evoke that raw feeling of excitement. As I read on and saw your photos, this is impressive take on a country i dreamed on as a child.

    Cheers!

  16. We saw a little snipit on NBC last week about Grenada and Kirani James on the Olympics and it looked like a beautiful island. And now you post about it- hmmmm….maybe I need to book a trip???

    Thanks for posting this week – it looks like a beautiful island!

  17. We must have taken a cruise similar to yours because Grenada was one of five islands we visited on our last cruise. It was our favorite port of that trip. We took a guided hike to Seven Sisters Falls in Grand Etang National Park and spent our remaining hours at Grand Anse Beach. We purchased spices just before boarding the ship in the afternoon. Every time I use my nutmeg, it reminds me of this beautiful island.

    1. We missed Grand Anse Beach and Seven Sisters falls. We saw totally different parts of Grenada but still loved it. i need to start looking into a return trip.

    1. Thanks Sabrina! The Caribbean islands are beautiful! We always love taking cruises to them to get a preview of each island and see which one we want to return to. It’s a perfect escape during the winter blues.

  18. Wow! what a stunning place to explore. I wish i can visit this place someday. Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos with us and i’m looking forward to read more from you!

  19. Grenada looks so beautiful, and the spice tour just amazing! It’s great to learn about the island–and I’m happy to see that it’s bounced back after the hurricane.

  20. Hi Mary, this is just great! Visiting Grenada is such an adventure with the nature. How I wish I will have the chance to visit to a place as wonderful as this. You really gave justice to the pictures, you captured the nature views perfectly. Thanks for sharing your experience…

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