Grand Anse Beach Travel Guide
About Grand Anse Beach
Grenada claims as many as 45 different beaches, but none compares to 3km (2-mile) long Grand Anse Beach, ideally situated on the sheltered leeward southwest coast. Only a short distance from the capital city of St George's, Grand Anse is Grenada's most popular beach and main resort area with accommodations ranging from guest houses and small luxury hotels to 240-room mega-resorts.
Beach:
Lined with large hotels containing more than 200 rooms as well as small locally-owned inns, 3km- (2 mile-) long Grand Anse Beach is Grenada's waterfront showcase. Located on Grenada's calm leeward south coast and packed with activities, at Grand Anse you can go water-skiing, parasailing or kayaking, join a snorkel or dive boat tour for fish-filled waters nearby or simply sunbathe. In the past, beach peddlers were sometimes an annoyance but no longer since a vendors market was built near the Grand Beach Resort. It's now one of the best places for local souvenirs.
If you're a truly experienced scuba diver and feel adventurous, dive to the wreck of the Italian luxury liner the Bianca-C, one of the Caribbean's largest ship wrecks, where, at night, you can see sleeping fish and sea turtles.
Beyond the beach:
The main port city of St George's and its horseshoe-shaped harbour called the Carenage are quite photogenic. Empress Joséphine's childhood bathtub along with tons of memorabilia is housed at the Granada Grand National Museum. The city's Saturday morning market is always a lively open-air affair with mounds of papayas, yams, oranges, bananas, plantains, exotic roots and vegetables piled atop display tables. A system of hiking trails in the Grand Etang Forest Reserve includes both casual walks and strenuous day-long hikes.
Family fun:
Grenada markets itself largely to couples and honeymooners, so the best place for families to stay is on Grand Anse Beach at a larger hotel with organised programmes for children. Many of the shorter hiking trails in the Grand Etang Forest Reserve are perfect as an introduction to the Caribbean's rainforest. In summer, join a night time excursion to watch nesting sea turtles.
Exploring further:
The neighbouring island of Carriacou, only a 30-minute flight from Port Salines, is an interesting daytrip that offers a glimpse of how slow-paced Grenada used to be. Carriacou is the most populated island in the Grenadines, and its main attractions are sailing, snorkelling and scuba diving. The island's finest beach is scenic Anse La Roche.
