To read our reviews of popular tours and excursions in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe (coming soon), Jamaica, Martinique, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and more… just click HERE
There are plenty of interesting places to explore and fun things to do in Guadeloup! One day on Basse Terre Island while we were on our way to a hiking adventure, we passed a modest little sign at the side of the road that read ‘La Maison du Cacao’. Well, that certainly piqued our interest, so we visited the ‘house of chocolate’ a few days later – What a great way to spend an afternoon. Of course, I couldn’t resist also visiting some of the island’s unique rhum distilleries as well!
After walking under the colourful entrance arch and paying a nominal fee, we wandered around the garden while we waited for our ‘English language’ presentation to begin. The small garden was packed with several different types of cacao trees along with other plants and trees as well as various informational exhibits. Reading the displays, we learned about the history of chocolate and how cacao trees found their way to the Caribbean. It was fascinating to learn that cacao trees were originally native to ancient Mesoamerica, present-day Mexico. The indigenous peoples used the cacao plant to make a drink from the dried cacao beans, typically mixed with hot water, hot peppers and sweetened with honey – Ya, sounds pretty tasty! Mesoamericans also used cocoa fat as a medicine for a variety of skin ailments.
After a few minutes, our host was ready to start the presentation. Just over a handful of us grabbed a seat and listened to our knowledgeable host tell us more about cacao, starting with the difference between it and chocolate as well as milk chocolate. Essentially, cacao (or cocoa in English) consists only of the plant’s bean and can be consumed with or without the fat, affectionately called butter. Chocolate on the other hand is cacao mixed with sugar while milk chocolate, as you guessed, consists of cacao mixed with sugar and powdered milk. She explained how the cacao bean, after drying and roasting is typically ground into a paste, then pressed to remove the fat content. The fat-free cacao can then be further ground into a dry powder for better storage and safer transportation. As I’m sure you know, cocoa butter is often used in cosmetics or other skin conditioning products.
Anyway, our friendly host told us all about the chocolate-making process, and to our delight, the presentation became more interactive. We happily sampled some raw fruit, then 100% pure cacao powder, followed by 90% cacao with 10% sugar, 70% cacao with 30% sugar, then several different 70% cacao mixtures before the piece-de-la-resistance – A warm chocolate beverage made from cacao, water and sugar.
Large cacao pods contain dozens of individual beans that are covered in white fruity flesh. This fruit pulp has a strong sweet & sour flavour and a fibrous texture while the brown seed (or bean) within the flesh tastes a bit like chocolate, but is quite bitter. The pure cocoa we sampled had an intense flavour while the 90% sample unsurprisingly tasted slightly sweeter. Our host explained that the chocolate products they sold on site were all blended with local cane sugar which provides a subtly different flavour and texture than chocolate commonly made with highly refined beet sugar. The 70% cacao chocolate we tried had a great crunchy texture and was pleasantly sweet, although the 70% cacao concoctions were even better! Some were delicately flavoured with what our host called Jamaican Allspice, which tasted to me as if contained a variety of ‘warming’ spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Another sample was made with hot pepper – This one really awakened my tastebuds. There was also another tasty concoction that contained 50% cacao with gluten-free flour made from a cassava-like plant – This sample had an excellent crunchy texture and delicious flavour reminiscent of a typical chocolate bar. Of course, the chocolate drink we sampled was as good as expected… OK, better!
Our ‘La Maison du Cacao’ host was extremely friendly and informative – The experience was absolutely worth the small price of admission. Once the presentation was complete, we were free to wander around the garden some more before visiting their storefront where we had a chance to purchase several products locally made by artisan chocolatiers. My favourite was probably their 70% cacao bar with a little sweet heat – Yum!
FYI – Another interesting and enjoyable attraction, Jardin Botanique de Deshaies (Botanical Gardens), is just 20 minutes further up the coast from La Maison du Cacao.
For more touristy as well as adventurous ‘things to do’ while visiting the French island of Guadeloupe, check out our Guadeloupe Vacations page.
Anyone who follows our Active Caribbean Travel blog knows that I believe a vacation to a Caribbean Island is incomplete without a visit to a local distillery, and Guadeloupe was no exception!
While we visited a few rhum distilleries while staying in Guadeloupe, including ‘Distillerie Bologne’ and ‘Rhumerie Karukera / Distillerie Longueteau’, I want to tell you about the ‘Distillerie Reimonenq and Corsair Musee du Rhum’ (rum museum) as well as our favourite distillery on the island, the totally cool and old school ‘Distillerie Montebello’. Before proceeding, I will note that French “Rhum Agricole” (‘agricultural rum’) is made directly from sugar cane juice, not molasses like most other Caribbean rums. It is also common for French Caribbean rhums to be labelled as ‘vintages’, with classifications such as VO, VSOP, and XO.
One day on our way back from an exciting mangrove kayaking adventure near Saint Rose, Basse Terre, we paid a visit to the nearby Distillerie Reimonenq and Corsair Musee du Rhum. The grounds of the museum and storefront are quite inviting, with a nice garden decorated with what I’m assuming is old distillery equipment. That said, the feature attraction has to be the massive ceiba (silk cotton) tree that dominates the landscape! As we neared the front door of the museum, I just couldn’t resist getting a photo of myself as a pirate and I have to say, it’s a good look for me (lol). Once inside, we paid the nominal entrance fee and strolled around. We started on the first floor by reading the bilingual displays that told the story of the rhum-making process in Guadeloupe. We then ventured upstairs where we found a few rooms filled with a diverse set of exhibits and interesting artifacts.
I was first attracted to the room with a wall display housing a large number of machetes from all over the world – An interesting documentation and comparison of the traditional tools used to chop down sugar cane and other crops – A fascinating collection for sure.
I was then drawn into another room filled with amazingly detailed large wooden model ships. This is the stuff of dreams, transporting me back several centuries to imagine taking part in adventurous journeys at sea! They have displays of schooners, sloops, and large three-mast ships, mostly French, although I also noticed a model of the ship that Sir Francis Drake captained as well as the famous Mayflower (of American pilgrim lore. Yet another room was home to display cases filled with colourful insects and butterflies… It’s incredible to see such vibrant colours that exist in nature! When we had our fill of viewing all these curiosities, we went back downstairs to a small viewing room and watched a short video in English about the history of Guadeloupe, including, of course, the island’s storied rhum-making plantations. Upon leaving the theatre, we then had an opportunity to taste and purchase some of Distillerie Reimonenq’s finest.
One slightly overcast day, we knew the hiking and snorkeling wouldn’t be very good, so we headed to the other side of the island from where we were staying to visit the charming rustic Distillerie Montebello and we were glad we did. We showed up just in time as a small gathering was encircling an animated man standing in the middle of the open-air rum distillery factory floor. He started to give us a tour, although unfortunately for us, he gave the presentation entirely in French. While we have a basic understanding of the language, we were unable to discern most of what was being said – Too bad because our host seemed extremely passionate about what he was saying and showing us.
Anyways, he started by showing us a large mound of sugar cane that was just on the other side of a half-wall from all the distillery equipment, then pointed to a conveyor belt that fed short sections of sugar cane into the first machine. An old steam-powered engine was noisily powering equipment that was crushing the sugar cane and we watched as the juice flowed out into a large funnel and pipe. He also pointed to an escalator belt that was filled with the recently crushed cane known as bagasse that was being removed from the area – I suspect that he was telling us that the leftover cane was dried and then used as fertilizer as well as fuel for some of the machines in the factory.
Our super-friendly host, who I assume was an owner or senior manager of the company, then showed us a handful of large metal tanks where the fermentation of the cane juice was taking place as well as the tall column still they use for the distillation process. The amazing thing about this tour is that we were right in the middle of a working distillery, free to wander around to take a good look at all the noisy, steam venting machines. It appears that the majority of their whole rhum-making process takes place right here, except for the bottling and aging areas that we did not see. Eventually, we left the noisy factory floor and stepped outside where our host talked to us about, I don’t really know. What I can tell you is that he had a friendly but serious passion for what they do at Distillerie Montebello. His facial expressions and body language moved from exuberant, to playful and joking, then very serious and professional. At one point he went to his car and returned with a small metal case that contained little fancy curved drinking glasses. He seemed to be spending a considerable amount of time telling us about how to properly smell and taste fine cane syrup based rhum, then describing what we should expect to recognize when doing so – I believe I heard the French words for vegetal, floral, and sweet, as well as something related to the aging of rhum in American oak and French cognac barrels. It was then that I wished that I understood French better, as I felt that I could have learned a lot from our knowledgeable host.
Regardless, after about an hour or so of the tour, we walked around and entered the other side of the building that houses the Montebello Rhum “boutique” where we sampled various rhums that were of interest to us. I sampled a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old, while a few other visitors experienced their special 8-year-old rhums.
While we had a great time on the tour and appreciated the tasting, it was too bad for us that we didn’t understand more of what our gracious host had been saying. He spoke with intensity and passion about the distillery’s tradition and products – I felt robbed of some of the overall experience. At least I walked away with a bottle to help remember our enjoyable experience!
FYI – This blog provides just a small taste of some of the places to visit on Guadeloupe’s Island of Basse Terre. We also enjoyed the Musee du Cafe (Coffee Museum), and the impressive Fort Delgres, as well as recognizing the struggles of the island’s slaves at the Memorial de la Liberte!
ACT Staff
For more touristy as well as adventurous ‘things to do’ while visiting the French Caribbean Island of Guadeloupe, check out our Guadeloupe Vacations page.
While it is awesome to relax and unwind on a beach when vacationing on a Caribbean island, after a while we get the urge to turn it up a notch by getting out and exploring the island. On this day, we pretty much travelled the full length of Grenada, venturing from our resort on the southwest tip of the island, all the way to the northeast corner of the island, taking in many amazing sights and experiences along the way.
Our first main stop was at Belmont Estate, an amazing cocoa plantation with a boutique chocolate factory. We were excited to try some chocolate, but first, the hostess who greeted us at the entrance asked us to join a few others in an unassuming building on the Estate near the road. There, we met Belmont’s friendly and knowledgeable host Kelly, who was just about to start a tour with a handful of other tourists – Perfect timing. Kelly took us outside for a casual stroll around the plantation, showing us some of the plants that grow in the area. We smelled some aromatic plants including Thai basil, lemongrass, and a dandelion-like plant – They all had distinctive and powerful odours – Pretty cool. We then headed across the road to a stand of cocoa trees where Kelly searched for a nice ripe pod to show us. He quickly found one, picked it from a tree, then cracked it open on a rock. After carefully opening up the cocoa pod shell, he offered us the pulpy kernel-like seeds to suck on – very fruity tasting with a bit of a sour tang.
When we returned to the main building, Kelly showed us where workers had picked ripe cocoa pods, removed the seeds and stacked them to ferment in wooden bins covered with banana leaves. He explained that the beans are regularly transferred by hand from bin to bin for a few days to help ensure an even fermentation. Wow – What a powerful smell! Kelly took us back outside to show us the large drying racks on rollers just above the ground where the beans dry for a few days more. Not sure if it’s really required or not, but he had the women take off their shoes and gently flip the beans over with their feet to speed the drying process – OK, that was interesting.
We also took a quick look into one of the more modern greenhouse-like drying buildings, although it was way too hot to stay in there for too long. From there we went back into the main building one last time for a sample of hot cocoa tea. Kelly made it very clear that it was not hot chocolate – It was a blend of dried roasted ground cocoa nibs mixed with cinnamon/nutmeg, bergamot (an orange-like fruit), and bay leaves. There must have been some sugar in there too – I have to tell you, even in the tropical heat, this hot beverage was absolutely delicious!
After looking at some samples of local fruit and spices on display, Kelly took us up to the nearby Chocolate Factory building where he showed us the grinding/mixing machines and the workers packaging the previously formed chocolate creations. After a brief explanation of the ‘tree to bar’ chocolate-making process, noting that the cocoa is organic and that pretty much every step along the way is still done by hand, with very few machines used. Kelly then took us next door to a showroom/gift shop where we sampled 100% cocoa nibs, 80% dark chocolate, 60% Dark Chocolate with ginger and cinnamon, and some real white chocolate. Personally, I thought the spiced chocolate was outstanding, so we purchased one of those along with some cocoa powder, cocoa tea balls, and another dark chocolate bar flavoured with salt. We really enjoyed our visit to Belmont Estate – A nice, small boutique Grenadian chocolatier making chocolates the old-fashioned way!
For other popular Tourist Attractions on the island, check out our Things to Do in Grenada page
For an overview of the “Caribbean Spice Island”, feel free to check out our Grenada Vacations page.
Our next stop was less than 10 minutes away… Where we took a rum tour the likes of which I’ve never experienced before…
Entering the grounds of the River Antoine Estate Rum Distillery, I have to say was not very glamorous. There’s no big gate or grand entrance, there’s not even a prominent sign announcing that the oldest rum distillery in Grenada is located here. Regardless, we drove right up and parked next to one of their main buildings. We wandered over to their storefront to request a tour, and a friendly staff member agreed to take us and another couple of tourists for an informative walk around the facilities, and as we were about to find out, a journey back in time! The first thing I noticed was a subtle campfire smell in the air as we walked past a massive mound of chopped sugar cane. The tour started by taking a look at the distillery’s feature attraction – A giant water wheel embedded into a cement wall. Apparently, this water mill wheel was installed in the early 19th century and powers much of the mechanical equipment at the distillery. Our guide explained that water is diverted from the nearby River Antoine and is channeled to the top of the giant wheel via a trough, providing natural ‘renewable’ power to a sugar cane conveyor belt and cane crushing machine we were about to see.
We visited River Antoine around noon so most of the guys were on lunch break, however, it’s not hard to imagine workers feeding sugar cane stalks onto a conveyor built that feeds the crusher, separating the valuable juice from the stalk. A staff member was kind enough to peel a piece of cane with his machete, then cut it into 3-inch lengths for us to sample – Always tasty as the sweet cane juice filled my mouth with the very first bite. Meanwhile, workers remove the spent stalks from the crusher and load them into what looked like an old miner’s cart that ran on a short set of railway tracks. Apparently, the crushed stalks, referred to as bagasse, are piled up and then laid out to dry in the sun before being burned as fuel for heating the evaporators. After the cane is crushed, the cane juice flows through a trough to the evaporator room next door.
The evaporator/boiler room can only be described as ‘rustic and traditional’. It actually reminded me of my grandparent’s smoking shed that doubled as a maple syrup boiling shed back in Canada. River Antoine’s evaporator, or boiler room housed a series of 5 old open-air steel pans/bowls, each one with a more intense fire under it than the previous one. A worker uses a long ladle to manually pass the hot liquid from one bowl to another until the cane juice is concentrated down to syrup. Again, not much has changed over the past 200 years or so. After several hours of evaporation, the cane syrup is fed next door to one of nine cement storage tanks for fermenting – a natural process where nothing, not even yeast, is added. After about a week or so, the fermentation process is complete and the liquid is piped to 2 large copper pot stills, referred to as kettles, for distillation.
The kettles are built on top of cement fireboxes, where local hardwoods are burned to provide direct heat to the kettles – Not something you see today in modern distilleries. That explains the piles of chopped wood nearby, and the constant smoky smell. After distillation and filtering, the rum is sampled and adjusted for strength. River Antoine white rum comes in two varieties, a strong 69% (138 proof) version and the powerful 75% (150 proof) variant. I understand that their 75% rum has so much alcohol in it that it is considered a flammable substance and hence cannot be transported by airplane. River Antoine Estates also produces a wide variety of rum punches, depending on what fruit is ripe on the island at the time of making. The bottling and storage room is once again, plain and simple. Three staff members take rum from previously filled large water coolers and fill each bottle by hand, label them, and complete the process with the help of a small capping machine.
To complete our tour, we sampled the 69% and 75% white rums. While the smell, especially of the 69% rum was quite funky and inviting, they were a bit too strong, with a fiery after-burn, for my taste. I imagine serious rum enthusiasts would appreciate the ‘high-ester’ rums more than I do. That said, I did purchase a bottle of their Passionfruit flavoured rum which I drank with friends when I got home. I have to say it was very enjoyable, with a bit of a funky ‘sweet and sour’ vibe going on – yum.
Wow – What a unique experience! Their whole process is just incredible. I’ve been to many rum distilleries throughout the Caribbean over the years, yet, I have never seen an operation that pretty much hasn’t changed in over 200 years! I suspect it would be tough to find this type of facility anywhere else in the world. Starting in 1785, River Antoine Estate is still making small batch rums the old-fashioned way – A must-visit on your next trip to Grenada.
If you’re interested in reading more about the Caribbean’s golden elixir, then check out our Caribbean Rum page as well as our Grenada Rum page, which includes a list of Tour Operators who will help you sample what Grenanda has to offer!
From there, we traveled about 15 minutes further north, for the literal “high-light” of the trip!
With the help of some friendly locals pointing the way, we eventually found the road that would take us up to the Telecom tower area which we had heard offers spectacular views of Grenada. The final stretch of road to reach the peak was absolutely wild – It must have been on a 60° angle, so our little rental car was straining to make it up the hill. At the dead-end at the top of the road, we came to the realization that there is really only room for a single vehicle in the tiny parking area off to the side of the road – Regardless, that didn’t stop three of us from ‘finding a way’ to get our cars off the road. Anyways… We were about to discover that the Welcome Stone is well worth all the parking drama.
After parking the car, we followed a dirt trail that started alongside the fenced-in Telecom facility, to the other side of the mountain peak. The short hike started off on a bit of a steep boulder-strewn slope before transitioning to a nice leaf-covered trail through the forest. After a short 5-minute stroll we arrived at the scenic look-out area where there are a number of massive but climbable boulders to mount. From our rocky perches, we were treated to some truly sensational views of the northeast tip of Grenada and the Caribbean Sea, dotted with several islands protruding out of the endless blue. Directly below us, Levera Pond provided a nice dark watery contrast with the surrounding green/brown landscape. The offshore islands of Sugar Loaf, Green Island, and Sandy Island seemed so close, while Ronde Island and further in the distance, the outline of Grenada’s sister islands, Carriacou and Petite Martinique mysteriously were barely visible in the background. Enough said – I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves… After absorbing the incredible views for a while, we left the boulders to allow recently arrived folks to have an opportunity to enjoy the tranquil scenery.
Did I mention there was only enough parking at the top for a single vehicle? Well, when we got back to the top of the road, there were 3 other cars and a small van now bravely parked along the side of the road, all with large rocks under their tires to ensure they wouldn’t roll down the hill – Good idea! Another interesting Grenada attraction for sure!
For the more adventurous, this area is a good place to explore while hiking or snorkeling – For more info, including a list of local tour operators to get you on the trail or in the water, check out our Grenada Hiking or Grenada Snorkeling pages.
What a great day – and it wasn’t even over yet… We then drove down the west coast road, enjoying the amazing views of the Caribbean Sea with quick stops in Victoria, Gouyave, and St. George’s to pick up some spices for our trip home.
ACT Staff
For a more complete review of Grenada’s Attractions and things-to-do, along with a list of local Tour Operators who can help you get the most out of your day, check out our Top 6 Attractions in Grenada post
If you’re looking for something more active, check out our recommended Grenada Adventures blog
For an overview of the beautiful and diverse islands, click on our Grenada Vacations page
Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique are the most southern of the Caribbean’s Windward Islands – About 100 miles (165km) north of Trinidad & Tobago and the South American coast. The mountainous main island of Grenada is known as the “Spice Island” for its abundance of nutmeg and other seasonings, although it’s also becoming a mecca for chocolate lovers as well. Grenada may be one of the Caribbean’s ‘best-kept secrets’ offering unspoiled natural beauty and a wide variety of attractions to please travellers from all over. There are plenty of things to do in Grenada if you know where to look… Our personal favourites include:
The makers of fine chocolate in Grenada are proud of their organic locally grown cocoa as well as their ethical fair-trade production methods. Tourists will of course also appreciate the delicious chocolate products being made by the five chocolate companies on the island. We’re talking about organic pure dark chocolate bars, chocolate bars subtly flavoured with nutmeg, ginger or Caribbean sea-salt as well as cocoa butter, cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, chocolate butter spread and a variety of chocolate drinks. Yum!
While cocoa was introduced to Grenada centuries ago, the last couple of decades has seen the rise of a successful chocolate ‘tree-to-bar’ movement on the island. Grenada’s high-quality chocolate is recognized by the International Cocoa Organization, which has listed Grenada as one of only 10 countries in the world to produce ‘100% fine and flavour cocoa’.
If you are a chocoholic, then you will love a tour of a local farm and see for yourself how the island’s cocoa is cultivated, processed and transformed into edible delights. Most tours offer tasty samples and of course they all end with an opportunity to buy a variety of Grenada chocolate delicacies from their gift stores. Crayfish Bay Organic Cocoa Estate; The Diamond (Jouvay) Chocolate Factory; The Grenada Chocolate Company; Belmont Estate Plantation; and Tri-Island Chocolate are all doing it right.
For more information, along with tour operators to get you tasting some fine chocolate, check out our Things to Do in Grenada – Land Excursions page.
Known as the ‘spice island of the Caribbean’, it’s only natural for visitors to Grenada to want to know more about the island’s spice heritage and culture. It is fascinating to watch a local guide open the fruit of the nutmeg tree to reveal the mace-wrapped seed, which most of us will only recognize once its ground into powder. The Douglaston Spice Estate demonstrates the old-fashioned way of processing spices (and cocoa), however unfortunately there was a fire on the estate in 2020 and the current operational status of the estate is unknown. That said, the Gouyave Nutmeg Station is a popular tourist attraction to see how the island’s vast quantities of nutmeg are sorted and packaged for export. You can also learn more about Grenada’s spice trade on a tour of the West India Spices facility. Of course, delicious nutmeg and other spices and related products can be purchased at these locations as well as the De La Grenade Nutmeg Garden. De La Grenade features a 2-acre spice, flowering plant and fruit tree garden located next to their industrious Processing Facility where you can purchase a wide range of local Grenadian fruit and spice products.
For more information, along with tour operators to get you ‘spicy’, click on the following link to go to our Things to Do in Grenada – Land Excursions page.
Clarke’s Court Rum Distillery (AKA Grenada Distiller Ltd) is the self-proclaimed ‘largest and best-known distillery in Grenada’. The distillery has been in operation for over 80 years and offers guided tours of their historical site. Hear about the history of the distillery as well as the rum-making process, then the short tour ends in the Hospitality Center where a range of Clarke’s Court rums can be sampled and purchased.
The Westerhall Estate has also been blending and bottling quality rums for decades. Westerhall Estate offers tours of the estate grounds and a small museum where you can learn about the history and future of the estate and distillery. Complete the tour with rum tasting and shopping for your favourite Westerhall rums.
Dating back to the 18th century, River Antoine Estate is the oldest distillery in Grenada and is proudly home to one of the Caribbean’s oldest functioning watermills. The small boutique distillery still makes rum with traditional methods – It’s something to see! The distillery offers short tours accompanied by stories of historical rum-making along with some rum tasting. Rum purchases are also available on-site.
For more information, along with tour operators to get you some rum, check out our Grenada Rum page.
Fort George, Fort Frederick, and Fort Matthew are excellent examples of strategically positioned 18th-century bastion-style forts. Besides the historical majesty of Grenada’s oldest structures, the locations of these forts provide spectacular views of the town, harbour, and the Caribbean Sea as well as inland to the island itself.
The 340 foot (100m) long Sendall Tunnel, connecting Fort George with the rest of the city, is another attractive and impressive historical site. For more history of Grenada, check out the National Museum’s display of local pictures and other artifacts.
For the shop-o-holic in your group, take a walk around St. George’s Market Square to get your fill of spices, crafts, and souvenirs. The hustle and bustle of this local fruit & vegetable market is a popular attraction for new visitors to Grenada.
There are also a number of churches to view in St. George’s. They include the iconic 19th-century Roman Catholic Cathedral, which features a large gothic tower, as well as the Methodist Church, which is the oldest surviving chapel on the island. Unfortunately, restorations of the Anglican and Presbyterian 19th-century churches, from 2004’s hurricane Ivan, have yet to be completed as of 2020.
For more information, along with tour operators to get you walking St. George’s, visit our Things to Do in Grenada page.
There are over half a dozen gardens in Grenada where you can enjoy a nice leisurely stroll.
The Tower Estate Garden features a historical ‘Great House’ set among fruit, spice and wood trees alongside an amazing 2-acre floral garden. They offer house tours, garden tours, organic farm tours, afternoon tea, and Sunday brunch. Jessamine Eden Tropical Botanical Garden covers an amazing 60 acres that include rivers and trails to explore. The colonial Sunnyside Gardens is home to flowers, mahogany, palm and fruit trees as well as koi ponds, and some red-foot tortoises. Guided tours of Laura Herb & Spice Gardens ensure you get the most out of viewing their herbs, spices, fruit trees, other plants and vegetables. A gift shop and relaxing gazebo are also on-site.
Other Grenada gardens include: St. Rose Nursery & Garden features orchids, shrubs and herbs; Hyde Park Tropical Garden offers stunning views of the south end of the island; Smithy’s Garden includes an ‘old’ garden of fruit trees, and ornamental plants, as well as a ‘new’ garden that is home to a variety of rainforest plants; and Palm Tree Gardens’ two acres display a wide variety of palm trees, flowers and is also home to some red-footed tortoises.
For more information, along with tour operators to get you walking through the aromatic nurseries, check out our Things to Do in Grenada – Land Excursions page.
Embrace Natural Grenada
Grenada is blessed with diverse natural beauty and there is no better place to experience that than in one of the island’s parks or other natural settings.
Located in the mountainous central highlands of Grenada, Grand Etang Lake and National Park is the island’s famous tropical rain forest, best known for its iconic Crater Lake, and several nearby waterfalls. The island’s most popular nature destination contains a variety of ecological subsystems of flora and fauna including large trees, ferns, colourful flowers and birds, along with frogs, lizards and a few small mammals. If you are lucky, you might even see a Mona monkey living in the wild.
Located in the northeast corner of Grenada, Levera National Park covers 450 acres, including a mangrove wetland called Levera Pond. This Ramsar site features a Boardwalk with an observation tower, making it an ideal location for birding and just relaxing in nature. The Park also contains a long coastline with a great beach and nearby hills which offer spectacular views of a number of small offshore islands. Overlooking Levera Pond with spectacular views of Ronde Island, Carriacou and perhaps even the Grenadines on a clear day, is the hilltop known as the Welcome Stone – Somewhat tricky to get there, but the views provide ample reward.
Located nearby, is the River Sallee Sulphur Springs, which is home to 6 natural springs and warm mud baths. Tourists are welcome to relax in some of the inviting sulphur bath/mud holes. Situated just south of the centre of the island, the Clabony Sulphur Springs is a waist-deep natural spring-fed pond filled with clear warm water.
Situated near the south end of the island, the Morne Gazo Nature Reserve is an eco-tourism ‘birding’ site with rainforest walking trails and features a hilltop observation area with an amazing panoramic view of the east coast and the Atlantic Ocean. Also located in the southern end of Grenada is the Mount Hartman National Park / Dove Sanctuary which features a unique environment not found anywhere else on the island. The combination of dry forest woodlands and mangroves makes it an ideal location for ‘birding’ and is home to the last remaining endemic Grenada Doves.
The most popular natural area in Carriacou is the High North Nature Reserve / National Park. From the highest peak on the island, you can relish spectacular panoramic views of Carriacou, Grenada, and the nearby Grenadine Islands surrounded by the sparkling blue sea.
For more information, along with tour operators to get you in nature, check out our Things to Do in Grenada – Land Excursions page. For the more adventurous, you may also be interested in our Grenada Hiking pages.
Situated at the north tip of Grenada is the historical site of Carib’s Leap (AKA Leapers Hill), where the last of the island’s indigenous people jumped to their death to avoid being captured by French soldiers. The spot is also a great location for sensational views of the sea and nearby offshore islands. Then there is the town of Gouyave which hosts a weekly fish fry. Street vendors offer all sorts of fish meals, accompanied by music and entertainment. Meanwhile, over on Carriacou, an important and popular attraction is the Windward Boatyard located on the northeast coast of the island. Here you can immerse into the culture and soul of Carriacou by visiting the location where traditional boat making has been carried on for generations.
ACT Staff
For a more complete review of Grenada Attractions and things-to-do, along with a list of local Tour Operators who can help you get the most out of your day, check out our Things To Do in Grenada page.
If you’re looking for something more active that will raise your pulse rate a bit higher, check out our recommended Grenada Adventures blog
For an overview of the beautiful and diverse islands, click on our Grenada Vacations page
As cold weather drags on in many parts of the world, a Caribbean vacation might be just what the doctor ordered for curing the winter blues. Just imagine the sand beneath your feet and a cold rum beverage in your hand. Better yet, how about slipping into the warm clear Caribbean Sea for some snorkelling or perhaps getting on the trail in a lush green rainforest. Of course, a game of golf or a day fishing would also be great right about now! If you’re looking to enjoy a warm-weather vacation in the near future, here are our thoughts on the best Caribbean destinations to visit in the next couple of months.
The good news is that it finally appears that Covid-19 is on the decline (I hope I didn’t just jinx it). Regardless, based on readily available data, it might be safer to spend time on certain Caribbean islands than it is to ‘go out’ in most American, Canadian, UK or European towns or cities. For this article, we looked at the Caribbean Islands that appear to have the fewest number of covid cases (per capita) combined with above-average vaccination rates. We also considered each island’s current covid related entry requirements to ensure a good balance of safety and convenience.
Our top three destinations listed below are really too close to rank/order, and similarly comparing the last two on our list resulted in a tie. You’ll find some of our top picks, Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis and Grenada only allow fully vaccinated tourists to visit, while other islands we’re recommending, Jamaica and Saint Lucia are allowing unvaccinated tourists to now visit without quarantine requirements. The British Virgin Islands also made our list with a slightly more complicated set of rules and requirements than the others. All of our recommended destinations still require a negative covid test result prior to travelling to the island.
We hope you enjoy our assessments below, which also include a few ideas for fun and exciting things to do on each island. We’re hoping that will help you decide which Caribbean Island destination works best for you.
With one of the lowest covid case counts and highest vaccination rates in the Caribbean, the beautiful islands of Antigua & Barbuda are one of our highest recommended destinations.
Adults 18 and over must be fully vaccinated to visit Antigua & Barbuda. A negative RT PCR test result must be obtained within four days of travelling to the islands. Rapid Antigen tests will also be accepted, however these visitors may be required to take an RT PCR test upon arrival (at their own expense). Upon arrival, travellers will need to complete a health declaration form and undergo a brief health screening. If everything checks out ok, you’re good to go!
Once on the islands, you must stay in an official Antigua & Barbuda BioSafe/Certified accommodation, and you’ll need to wear a mask in public places while adhering to social distance protocols. For more details and specifics of covid related entry requirements and restrictions, please visit the official Antigua & Barbuda’s Travel Advisory webpage.
Now comes the fun part – What to do once you’re there… The islands are famous for their excellent cuisine and amazing white (along with a few pink) sandy beaches – Apparently, there’s a different beach for each day of the year in Antigua & Barbuda. For spectacular views, Shirley Heights is a must-see, as is Nelson’s Dockyard – A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unique adventurous activities can be found at Antigua’s Stingray City as well as in Barbuda’s caves. Antigua and Barbuda are home to wonderful mangroves and coral reefs, making the islands ideal for kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving. Of course, there are plenty of sailing and boating excursions available for a true Antigua & Barbuda experience. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised to know that Antigua offers some pretty amazing hiking trails and golf as well!
For more ideas and details for things to do in Antigua and Barbuda, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you make the most of your vacation, check out our Antigua & Barbuda Vacation Ideas webpage.
For our personal reviews of some fun and adventurous activities in Antigua & Barbuda, check out our Excursions/Blog Posts page.
Few covid cases are being reported right now in Jamaica and although the island’s overall vaccination rate appears low, people working in the tourism industry are mostly vaccinated and following strict protocols to keep everyone safe. For these and financial (great package deal) reasons, this is where we’re heading to this month!
Regardless of your vaccination status, Jamaica is welcoming all travellers, as long as you have a negative Antigen or PCR test result conducted within 3 days of travel (applies to everyone 12 and over). For faster processing on arrival, visitors are encouraged to submit their Immigration/Customs C5 card online prior to departing. If the card is not submitted online, travellers may complete the paper form while on the plane. Once on the islands, visitors must observe all applicable protocols, including the wearing of a mask and maintaining social distance in public spaces. For more details and specifics of covid related entry requirements and restrictions, please visit the official Jamaica Cares webpage.
As for what to do once you’re on the island, you’re in for a treat! Historically known as the “land of wood and water”, Jamaica is probably best known for its Reggae music & culture, white sand beaches, as well as its amazing rum and coffee. That said, a Jamaican vacation offers one of the best opportunities to enjoy waterfalls, river rafting and golf in a tropical setting. The island is rich with a beautiful and diverse landscape that includes the iconic Blue Mountain range, home to Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, great for hiking and coffee excursions. Jamaica offers good snorkelling and fishing too, while inland adventures include some serious MTB and caving excursions.
For more ideas and details for things to do in Jamaica, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you make the most of your stay, check out our Jamaica Vacation Ideas page.
For our personal reviews of some fun and adventurous activities in Jamaica, check out our Excursions/Blog Posts page (just scroll down to the Jamaica section).
With one of the lowest covid case counts and highest vaccination rates in the Caribbean, the “Sister Islands” of St. Kitts and Nevis (SKN) is also one of our top recommendations.
All visitors must be fully vaccinated (applies to everyone 18 and over) to visit St. Kitts and Nevis. Travelers must submit an RT-PCR or NAAT negative test result, taken within 3 days of your arrival, along with an Immigration/Customs form along with supporting documentation online, no later than 24 hours prior to travel.
Once on the islands, you must stay in an official SKN Certified accommodation and you’ll need to wear a mask, practice proper hand sanitizing, as well as physical distancing. For more details and specifics of covid related entry requirements and restrictions, please visit the official St. Kitts & Nevis St. Kitts & Nevis Travel Requirements page.
Having just returned from two weeks of bliss in St. Kitts & Nevis, I would suggest visiting the formidable Brimstone Fortress as well as nearby Romney Manor and the ruins of Wingfield Estate. While you’re in the area, a hike up Mount Liamuiga, one of the Caribbean’s tallest volcanos is a must-do for avid hikers. Nevis Peak also offers an incredibly unique hike, while other less strenuous hikes are also available on the islands. For some, the best way to explore St. Kitts is by taking their unique Scenic Railway tour around the island. You may also be pleasantly surprised at the snorkeling around St. Kitts as well as the rum on Nevis.
For a covid-oriented review of our recent trip to SKN, take a look at our It’s Safe to Travel to the Caribbean blog post.
For more ideas and details for things to do in the Sister Islands, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you make the most of your vacation, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Vacation Ideas page.
For our personal reviews of some fun and adventurous activities in St. Kitts & Nevis, check out our Excursions/Blog Posts page (just scroll down to the St. Kitts & Nevis section).
Although the island’s overall vaccination rate is fairly low, covid case counts are on the decline and nearing their all-time low in Saint Lucia, so it’s a good time to visit.
Prior to departing for Saint Lucia, all adult travelers will need to obtain Travel Authorization, providing proof of a negative PCR test taken within 5 days of travel (applies to everyone 5 and over). Once on the island, visitors must adhere to all covid protocols, including those related to wearing face masks in public, social distancing and observing high standards of hand hygiene. For more details and specifics of covid related entry requirements and restrictions, please visit the official Saint Lucia – Safe Harbour webpage.
As for what to do once you’re there, Saint Lucia offers vacationers a wide variety of relaxing and adventurous activities ranging from sampling, and making your own, chocolate to hiking one of the iconic Pitons, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lone distillery on the island may be a pleasant surprise to some, as it is home to some of the Caribbean’s best rums. Perhaps the mountainous green island is famous for its beautiful gardens, waterfalls and hot springs. That said, Saint Lucia is also a great adventure destination for snorkeling/diving, fishing, water sports and golf.
For a more detailed view of things to do in Saint Lucia, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Saint Lucia Vacation Ideas page.
For our personal reviews of some fun and adventurous activities in Saint Lucia, check out our Excursions/Blog Posts page (just scroll down to the Saint Lucia section).
With one of the highest vaccination rates in the Caribbean combined with declining covid case counts, the BVIs deserve a spot on our “top 5 Caribbean Islands to visit” list. While it’s convenient that entry requirements are somewhat less demanding for fully vaccinated tourists, overall guidelines and requirements are a bit confusing, so I hope I get this right.
Fully vaccinated travellers must show proof of vaccination, a negative PCR or Rapid Antigen test result (taken within 5 days of travel), along with proof of covid related Travel Insurance upon arriving in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). That said, if (Antigen?) test results are older than 48 hours, visitors may be asked to retest (Rapid Antigen) upon entry. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated visitors need to obtain travel authorization online via the BVI Gateway Portal prior to departing for the BVIs. To be approved, visitors must provide proof of a certified RT-PCR negative test result (taken 3-5 days prior to arrival), along with evidence of Covid related Travel Insurance. Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers will need to quarantine for 4 and 7 days respectively upon arrival, and will be allowed to roam the islands after receiving a negative RT-PCR test result at the end of the quarantine period.
All visitors are to adhere to COVID-19 protocols while travelling around the British Virgin Islands. These include relevant physical distancing, wearing masks and sanitization measures.
For more details and specifics of Covid related entry requirements and restrictions, such as which port of entry you are allowed to use (dependent on vaccination status), please visit the official British Virgin Islands Entry Requirements webpage, as well as the British Virgin Islands Travel Protocols webpage.
Now for the fun part – For a taste of what you can enjoy once you get there, consider this… There are plenty of white sandy beaches offering a number of swimming and watersports options. Perhaps the best kayaking and SUP (paddleboarding) in the BVIs can be found at Tortola, while kiteboarding and windsurfing might be best experienced on Virgin Gorda. Boat operators can get you fishing around the islands, and spectacular views can be found while hiking the BVI’s National Parks. For a journey back in time, visit the islands’ museums and ruins of forts and sugar mills. Of course, there’s always plenty of sailing and rum to enjoy in the BVIs!
Covid case counts, which are much lower than other Caribbean Islands, are on the decline again in Grenada. Vaccination rates on the islands are on the rise, surpassing the levels of a couple of islands on this list above.
Adults 18 and over must be fully vaccinated to visit Grenada. A negative PCR test result must be obtained within 3 days of travelling to the islands. Alternatively, a negative Rapid Antigen test result must be obtained within 1 day of visiting Grenada. For faster processing on arrival, visitors are encouraged to submit their Travel Health Declaration form online prior to departing. If the form is not submitted online, you may complete the paper version while on the plane. Travellers will undergo health screening on arrival and once everything checks out ok, you’re good to go! Once you’re on the islands, visitors must wear a face mask (that covers his/her mouth, nose, and chin) in public places
As for what to do once you’re in Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique… The Spice Islands may be one of the Caribbean’s ‘best-kept secrets’, offering unspoiled natural beauty and a wide variety of attractions and activities sure to please everyone. The tropical paradise has dozens of uncrowded beaches and several accessible waterfalls and sulfur/hot springs. Grenada is home to Grand Etang National Park, a wilderness attraction complete with a crater lake. While equally a ‘hiker’s paradise’ and a ‘diver’s wonderland’, a vacation on the tri-island nation is a great destination for travelers seeking action on both land and sea. The islands also offer plenty of opportunities for snorkeling, water sports, and more.
For more detailed ideas for things to do in Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Grenada Vacation Ideas page.
Now, for our disclaimer… Please note that this article was written on March 3th, 2022. Covid-19 information can change pretty quickly, so we recommend you check covid case counts on your island of choice, right before booking your trip.
FYI (Full Disclosure): We are not being compensated in any way by the islands listed above. These islands were chosen as our top destinations based on the criteria outlined. Some information for this article was derived from the following sources: worldometers.com; and covidvax.live
We hope you liked our assessment and it has motivated you to enjoy some quality time in the Caribbean!
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ACT Staff
