Day Trip Around Grenada

Prior to Hurricane Beryl pummeling Grenada, we were privileged to be able to take a tour around the island and discover its beauty. It has taken me a while to get this post up because the hurricane hit right after our tour, and there were so many more important things to focus on than writing this blog entry. But now that the hurricane has passed, our boat is back to normal, and we have had the opportunity to help others who were negatively affected by Beryl, it’s time to share about our adventure.

Our friends, Craig and Bobbi on Mona Kai, have been to Grenada before and they knew a taxi driver, Matthew, who was more than willing to take us on a 6-hour tour around the island. We split the cost between us, and it turned out to be about $20 per person. That’s a great price for a day of explorations with our own personal tour guide.

Matthew mapped out a plan for our outing and made our first stop at Fort Frederick, one of the few forts in the world which has never fired a shot in anger. Fort Frederick was built by the French who seized the island from the British in 1779. Four years later, the Treaty of Versaille gave the island back to Britain, leaving the British to finish what the French had started. In addition to its historical significance, Fort Frederick offers panoramic views of the southwestern coastline, including the capital town of St. George’s. It was a nice stop to see the fort and the beautiful scenery!

We then stopped at 1910 Lookout, located at the highest point on the island — 1,910 feet above sea level. From this vantage point, at the edge of Grand Etang Forest Reserve, we viewed the city’s capital and the surroundings below.

We ventured further into Grand Etang National Forest, which spans an area of 3,816 acres and encompasses three of Grenada’s highest mountains: Southeast Mountain (2260 ft), Mount Sinai (2267 ft), and Mount Qua Qua (2339 ft). Grand Etang Forest is a nature lover’s wonderland, with over 50 waterfalls, a natural crater lake, 21 miles of designated hiking trails, and an abundance of wildlife and indigenous vegetation.

Since we were on a quick tour around the island, we merely got a taste of this vast and marvelous rainforest. On our bucket list was to see monkeys and hike to a waterfall, and that’s exactly what we did.

One of the highlights of our outing was to Annandale Waterfall. When we first arrived, there was a man with a pet baby monkey named Albert. He allowed me to hold him and feed him, but Albert was more interested in my sunglasses and long hair than in his food. Holding the large Mona monkey was incredible, but holding baby Albert was even more exciting because I got to interact with this silly little guy and experience the meaning behind the saying, “monkey around.”

Annandale Falls is one of the most visited waterfalls by locals and tourists alike, largely because its easy to access, and it doesn’t require a big hike. Just a short walk along a paved jungle-like pathway will lead you to the falls.

While the waterfall isn’t a big one, it is a refreshing sight to see the water flowing over the rocks, spilling into a large pool below, and trickling down the river. The sun was glistening on the waterfall as it splashed over the rocks creating a rainbow and a memorable display of beauty.  The lovely cascade and lush gardens of colorful blooms and tropical foliage made this one of our favorite stops.

After our waterfall adventure, it was time for lunch. Matthew drove us high in the mountains near the northeast side of the island to one of his favorite local Caribbean restaurants. Most of the group ordered chicken rotis (circular flatbread, kind of like a tortilla, with curried chicken inside). I ordered one of the special fish dishes which turned out to be a feast, requiring a doggy bag to go.

Next up was Belmont Estates, a 17th century plantation with a working cocoa bean farm, chocolate factory, restaurant, and goat dairy. I wish we could have spent more time here touring the farm and learning all about the tree-to-bar chocolate making process, but we were running out of time on our tour. We were able to walk around the grounds a bit, take some photos, and visit the chocolate store where we sampled the varieties of dark, milk, and white chocolate. And of course, no visit would be complete without purchasing a few bars of this world-class organic chocolate to take home.

Before visiting Grenada, I may have never considered flying to this island. But having spent time here, I have discovered that it is a hidden gem among the Caribbean islands. The Grenadian people are friendly and welcoming, the culture is vibrant, the beaches and tropical rainforests are stunning, the history is fascinating, and the cuisine (with its chocolate and spices) is delicious. The summers get hot and humid, so it’s best to visit between the months of December-April, but any sojourn here would be worth it!