For a great many cruise passengers, the perfect day in Grenada is simply a beach, a swim and a cold drink, then back on board with sand in the bag. The island makes that easy: the best-known beaches lie along the sheltered south-west coast, between ten and twenty-five minutes from the pier, and the water on the Caribbean side is usually calm enough for confident and nervous swimmers alike.
The decision is which beach. Grand Anse is the famous one and the most convenient, but on a day with several ships it can feel busy around the access points. Morne Rouge, just over the headland, is smaller and quieter. Magazine Beach, near the airport, is a longer ride for a more secluded feel. This guide compares them on the things that matter on a port day: travel time, how you get there, facilities, crowds and how easy it is to get back.
Grand Anse: the easy, sure choice
Grand Anse is a long arc of pale sand, roughly three kilometres from end to end, facing west across the bay towards St George's. Its size is its advantage. Even on a busy cruise day, people tend to cluster near the main public access points, the hotels and the beach bars, and a ten-minute walk along the sand usually finds space. The water shelves gently and is generally calm, which makes it the safest bet for children and casual swimmers.
Getting there is straightforward, with three options. Route buses run frequently from the Melville Street bus terminal along the Lagoon Road and are the cheapest. Taxis wait at the terminal and charge set fares. Water taxis leave from the Carenage and cross the bay directly, landing on the sand, which is the most scenic way to arrive in calm weather.
Facilities depend on where you stop. Hotels along the beach reserve their sun loungers for guests, but some beach bars and vendors rent chairs and umbrellas to visitors, especially on cruise days. Near the northern end, the craft and spice market sells souvenirs, snacks and cold drinks. Public toilets are limited, so a beach bar where you buy food or drinks is often the practical option.
Morne Rouge: smaller, calmer, a little further
Morne Rouge Bay, often called BBC Beach, lies in a small, sheltered cove just south of Grand Anse, over the low headland at Quarantine Point. It is around five minutes further by road. The bay is enclosed by headlands, so the water is often even calmer than Grand Anse, and the sand is fine and pale.
The appeal on a cruise day is that the cove sees fewer people than the main Grand Anse access points, even on busy mornings, and it has a relaxed, local feel. The downside is that it is small: if two minibuses of passengers arrive at once, it fills up quickly. Facilities are more limited, and the choice of food and drink is smaller.
Route buses on the Grand Anse line do not always go right down to the cove, so most cruise passengers take a taxi. Agree a pick-up time with the driver for the return, or ask the beach bar staff to help you call a taxi; there is no rank waiting at the bay as there is at the cruise terminal. Walking from the south end of Grand Anse over the road to Morne Rouge is possible, but it is hot, with traffic and little pavement.
Magazine Beach: secluded but further out
Magazine Beach sits on the south-west tip of the island near Point Salines, close to the end of the airport runway. It is a broad, open stretch with rocky outcrops at either end and fine sand, looking west across clear water. It feels further from town than it really is, and that is the attraction: on many days it is noticeably quieter than Grand Anse.
The sea here is more exposed to swell than at Grand Anse or Morne Rouge. On calm days it is lovely for swimming and snorkelling around the rocks; on days when a northerly swell is running, there can be surf and surge at the water's edge, so watch for a while before going in and keep children close. Facilities are fewer, mainly linked to the resort and restaurant nearby.
Allow twenty-five to thirty minutes by taxi from the pier, more in traffic. This is a beach for a long call and for people who prefer peace over convenience. Book a return pick-up with your driver and keep the number of the taxi company or driver before you leave the car; there are few taxis cruising past.
Snorkelling, water sports and shade from the beach
A beach day need not mean lying still. At Grand Anse, operators on the sand and at some of the hotels offer kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and short boat trips, and on calm days the water is clear enough to make a mask worthwhile even away from the reef. Morne Rouge has rocks at both ends of the cove where small reef fish gather, and Magazine has rocky outcrops that reward a careful snorkeller when the sea is flat. Bring your own mask and snorkel from home if you can; rental gear is not always available at the smaller beaches.
For a proper reef or the Underwater Sculpture Park, a boat trip is needed. Many operators can collect from Grand Anse, which lets you combine a morning snorkel with an afternoon on the sand.
Shade is the other thing to plan. Grand Anse has sea grape and almond trees along parts of the back of the beach, and these fill early on cruise days. Morne Rouge has some natural shade near the back of the sand. Magazine is more open. A rented umbrella, or a long-sleeved swim top, makes the difference between a pleasant day and a painful one, particularly for children.
How the three compare at a glance
Travel time from the pier. Grand Anse about ten to twenty minutes; Morne Rouge about fifteen to twenty-five; Magazine about twenty-five to thirty, longer in traffic.
Ways to get there. Grand Anse by bus, taxi or water taxi; Morne Rouge mainly by taxi; Magazine by taxi only.
Water. Grand Anse and Morne Rouge are usually calm and gently sloping; Magazine is beautiful but more exposed to swell.
Crowds on multi-ship days. Grand Anse busiest near access points but big enough to spread out; Morne Rouge quiet until it fills; Magazine usually the quietest.
Facilities. Grand Anse has the most choice in food, drink and chair rentals; Morne Rouge and Magazine are more limited.
Ease of getting back. Grand Anse is easiest, with buses and passing taxis; at the other two, book a return pick-up in advance.
Beach-day pitfalls to avoid
A beach day is the simplest shore day, which is why people get careless with the details. These are the usual slips.
- Leaving valuables unattended. Theft from beach bags is not common but it does happen on any busy beach. Bring only what you need and keep the ship card on you.
- Underestimating the sun. At twelve degrees north, the sun burns fast, even through cloud. Use reef-safe sunscreen, reapply after swimming, and sit in shade at midday.
- Assuming hotel loungers are public. Beaches in Grenada are public, but hotel furniture is for guests. Rent chairs from vendors or bars, or bring a towel.
- Swimming near jet-ski or boat lanes. At Grand Anse, keep inside the swimming areas and watch for water taxis landing on the sand.
- Agreeing a water-taxi fare one way only. Confirm the return time and price before you leave the Carenage.
- Cutting the return close. Rush-hour traffic on the Lagoon Road in late afternoon can be slow. Leave the beach in good time.
- Forgetting to cover up. Put a shirt or wrap on before going back into town or into a bus.
Frequently asked questions
Which beach is closest to the Grenada cruise port?
Grand Anse is the closest major beach, about four kilometres south of the cruise terminal. It can be reached by route bus, taxi or water taxi from the Carenage, usually in ten to twenty minutes depending on traffic and the option you choose.
Can cruise passengers rent beach chairs at Grand Anse?
Yes, in places. Hotel loungers are for guests, but beach bars and vendors rent chairs and umbrellas to visitors, especially on cruise days. Ask about the price and what is included, such as drinks, before you sit down.
Is Morne Rouge better than Grand Anse?
It depends what you want. Morne Rouge is smaller, often calmer and quieter, but it fills quickly and has fewer facilities. Grand Anse is larger, easier to reach and return from, and offers more choice of food, drink and chairs.
Is the sea calm at Grenada's beaches for children?
The south-west beaches facing the Caribbean, such as Grand Anse and Morne Rouge, are usually calm and gently sloping. Conditions change with swell, so always check before swimming and keep a close eye on children.
Are there toilets and changing rooms at Grand Anse?
Facilities are limited. Some beach bars and restaurants let customers use their toilets, and the craft and spice market area has some facilities. Wearing swimwear under your clothes from the ship saves time hunting for a changing room.
