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Carriacou has no casinos, no glitzy nightlife, no
expensive boutiques. It’s a place to get away from all
that. A place to swim, hike, snorkel, dive, sail, read, relax, refresh.
(A place where Grenadians go to get away from it all.)
Swimming
Just about the entire leeward side of Carriacou is a beach. Some are
accessible only by hiking or water taxi. (In the cottage we have a guide
with recommendations and telephone numbers for water taxi service.) Others are right in the middle
of town. All are turquoise and calm. The following is a short overview:
Anse La Roche: Named for a huge rock where pelicans gather, Anse La Roche is a
little more difficult to get to but oh so worth it. If you’re looking
for the quintessential deserted beach with clear waters shown in travel
magazines, this is it. (Standing neck deep, you can count your
toes.)
Hillsborough Beach: Running along the entire
length of town, this is a great beach for a quick dip before shopping or
lunch or even while waiting for the bus.
Paradise Beach: Past the airport, this is
where Carriacouans (also locally called Kayaks) go to swim. Probably the finest sand on the
island, this beach now has public restroom facilities. You can enjoy a
beer or rum punch at the Hardwood Bar.
Tom’s Bay: In lower Craigston, this is
a pleasant private smaller cove – and it's only a +/-10 minute
walk there.
Sandy Island: This is the sandy, palm-
treed
crescent (shown in our picture gallery) you see from Tamarind’s patio.
One of the most idyllic beaches and snorkeling spots in the Grenadines,
Sandy Island is surrounded by a 5 square mile (underwater) Marine
Protected Area. A favorite hangout of the sailing crowd, it’s usually
fringed with sailboats. (A water-taxi can take you there.)
Hiking
and Nature Walks:
In addition to the walk DOWN to Anse La Roche, you can also hike UP to
High North, the highest elevation (943 ft ASL) on the island. Other
scenic walks include:
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Up to the hospital in Belair for a great
view of the bay and town
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Through the national park around the northern
tip of the island, past Gun Point (which is technically part of
another country)
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To Windward where you can take the boat to
Petit Martinique (see “Visitors Guide” for schedule)
Fly to
Venezuela
Carriacou’s just 90 miles from Venezuela. So if you’re looking for some
real bustle, Bullen’s Travel Agency (in town) can arrange a trip to Caracas.
Or you can even book a charter flight right past the famous Angel Falls, the
tallest waterfall in the world.
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Scuba
Among the island’s dive sites are “Magic Garden” (with underwater volcanic
activity) and many acclaimed reefs. With the influx of divers from all over the
world, Carriacou now has three diving facilities.
…and
Snorkeling
White and Saline Islands: Great places to swim, these are THE best for
snorkeling – actually “drift snorkeling.” You simply float along, face
down, and let the water drift you over the reef. Put lots of sun lotion on
your back and neck for this one.
Sailing
Day Trips
Two trips we really recommend:
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Tobago
Cays. This is the aerial
view
in the picture gallery. Great swimming and snorkeling.
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Another day trip we recommend is to PSV (at $1200.00
per night, one of the
toniest resorts in the entire Caribbean), Palm Island, and Mopian (the latter an idyllic sand bar with a single thatched umbrella for shade amid aqua waters).
Other Day Trips
If you’ve never been to Grenada, try a day trip. The Osprey leaves
Hillsborough jetty at the crack of dawn (6AM) on weekdays, delivers you in St.
George’s in just 1 1/2 hours, and returns you to Carriacou by 7PM. St
George's is one of the most beautiful towns in the Caribbean, but if you tire
of it, you can go to
Grand Anse, another great beach with 2.5 miles of fine sand and calm
water.
a
Brief Calendar of Events and Holidays in 2010
Independence Day - February 7
Good Friday - April 2
Maroon Festival - April 30-May 2
A celebration of music
and local food (including big drum music). About as authentic as it gets.
Labour Day - May 1
Whit Monday - May 24
Corpus Christi - June 3
Carriacou Regatta - July. 25-August 2
Emancipation Day - August 4
Sailing Yacht Regatta - November
Thanksgiving Day - October 25
Parang - December
17-19
A local music festival where the lyrics are
topical, political and often controversial. It has been held on the weekend
before Christmas since 1977.
Relax
Phew! Just writing all this has made me tired. Which brings me to biggest
reasons to visit Carriacou: to
relax and refresh. So in addition to packing swim suits, suntan lotion and
hiking shoes, bring a stack of novels, CD’s, and your favorite piña colada
recipe.
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Picture Gallery
(click to
enlarge)
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