|
|
"Where
is Carriacou?"
This is the first question we get asked. Here’s the
stats (you can also click on the map): 850 miles -12.5° north of the equator,
23 miles north of Grenada, and just 90 miles north of Venezuela (see “Things to do”).
Carriacou is also the southernmost of the Grenadines, a string of
nearly 200 islands (some only tennis court size) between St. Vincent and Grenada.
While some of Carriacou’s sister islands (Bequia, Mustique, PSV, and
Palm Island) earned tony reputations years ago as playgrounds for the
yachting crowd, Carriacou’s always been a quiet, less touristy place
for those who truly want to get away from it all. (Although Mick Jagger
was spotted here recently.)
"What's there to
do?"
On Carriacou, you’ll find NO casinos, discos, five star restaurants
or fancy boutiques. What you will find are great beaches, great hiking,
beautiful views and, for all you divers, (pardon the expression)
breath-taking reefs.
Which brings us to the island’s name. As every guidebook will
tell you, “Carriacou” is Amerindian for “land of reefs.”
No surprise then that it attracts
divers from around the world. An extra special diving attraction is an active underwater volcano.
"What about
beaches?"
Ringing much of the island (there’s even a beach in town),
beaches are picture postcard perfect. One, Sandy Island, even made it to the cover of
Germany’s prestigious GEO magazine which rated it “one of the ten
best places in the Caribbean.”
"Where do I find
official info?"
USA
Grenada Board of Tourism
P.O. Box 1668
Lake Worth
FL 33460
Tel: (561)-588-8176
Fax: (561) 588-7267
Toll-free: 1-800-927-955
Canada
Grenada Board of Tourism
439 University Ave. Suite 920
Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Y8
Tel – 416 595 1339 Fax – 416 595 8278
Email – tourism@grenadaconsulate.com
United Kingdom
Grenada Board of Tourism
11 Blades Court
121 Deodar Road
London SW15 2NU
Tel: 020-8877-4516
Fax: 020-8874-4219
|
"When's it best to
go there?"
Anytime. While the
temperatures are the same year round (nighttime lows of 75-78° and
daytime highs of 84-88°), there are two distinct seasons. A “dry season,” generally from December 15 through
May 15th
and a “rainy season,” from June 1st through November
30th. But these terms overstate the case. Even during the
rainy season, the sun shines 80% of the time, enough to give you a good
sunburn. Like a tropical car wash, the rains are heavy and short,
sweeping over the island and gone after just 10 or 15 minutes. Also
most of the showers are at night.
"Who owns
Carriacou?"
No, it’s not part of the ABC’s. (It’s often confused with
Curaçao)
Carriacou is politically and economically part of the three island
nation of Grenada, Carriacou & Petit Martinique. The size of Key
West or Manhattan, just 5000 people live here.
"What about its history?"
Like most Caribbean islands, Grenada and its sister islands have
been tossed back and forth between the Spanish (they named it after their
Grenada), and, then, the French and the British. For web visitors with an anthropological
or academic bent, Carriacou
is famous for its Big Drum Dance which has been virtually unchanged from
its original 18th century African form. To see it, you have to be lucky
. . . or
invited to some special local occasion. One of the most common occasions
is the Tombstone Feast,
a giant "block party"
Fast Facts:
Language: English. (With each other, a local Patois is
used.)
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (or EC dollar) which is pegged to the US
dollar. To convert most world currencies click here €£¥$.
(opens in a pop-up window)
Banks: There are two in town; First Caribbean Bank (formerly Barclays) and
Republic Bank
Shots: None required.
Visa: Issued upon arrival.
Driving: On the left. Requires a temporary permit issued at local
Police Station. Bring your driver’s license to apply. The cost is EC$30
for 90 days
Additional Caribbean links: click
here
|
Picture Gallery
(click to enlarge)
The Weather
Today
|
