Five days is the point at which Grenada opens up. With three, a visitor sees the south-west and the rainforest; with five, the whole island becomes reachable without rushing: the fishing towns of the west coast, the cocoa and rum estates of the north, the wild Atlantic shore and the market town of Grenville, and the mountains in between. The island is only around 34 kilometres from north to south, but the roads are slow and winding, and splitting it into stages is what makes it enjoyable.
This itinerary keeps one base on the south-west coast and uses day trips in different directions, so you unpack once. It works best with a hire car or a driver for the two long days. Each day is designed to finish back at the beach by late afternoon, which is when Grenada is at its best.
How the loop is designed
The island divides naturally into four zones for a visitor. The south-west, around Grand Anse and St George's, has the beaches, the capital and most places to stay. The west coast runs north from St George's through Grand Roy, Gouyave and Victoria, with the Caribbean on one side and steep hills on the other. The north, around Sauteurs and the parish of St Patrick, is the island's cocoa and rum country. The east, from Grenville to the Atlantic beaches, is wilder and windier, and the interior, centred on Grand Etang, is mountainous rainforest.
Two long days cover the west-north and the east-interior; three shorter days are spent closer to base. The long days are placed second and fourth so you are never driving long distances two days in a row. If the weather is poor on a long day, swap it with a short day, since rain in the interior makes the mountain road slower and less scenic.
Drive times quoted below are rough and depend heavily on traffic, road works and how often you stop. Allow more time than a map suggests; 30 kilometres can easily take an hour on Grenada's roads.
Day 1: settle in, St George's and the south coast
Morning in town. Spend the morning in St George's: the Carenage, Fort George, the market area and the steep streets of the old town, where Georgian brick and stone buildings sit beside brightly painted wooden houses. Arrive early to beat the heat and any cruise passengers, and wear shoes with grip, since the hills are steeper than they look.
Afternoon on the beach. Return to the south-west for the afternoon at Grand Anse or Morne Rouge. This is a good moment to pick up groceries, cash and a local SIM card if you need one, so that the long days that follow run smoothly.
Evening. Drive or take a taxi to Fort Frederick on Richmond Hill before sunset for a view across the town and the south coast, then dinner near your base. This day doubles as a gentle start after the flight and helps you get used to the roads before the long drives.
Day 2: the west coast and the north (long day)
Leave early. Head north on the west coast road through Grand Mal, Happy Hill and Grand Roy. Stop at Concord Falls if you want a short walk to the first fall.
Gouyave. In Gouyave, visit the nutmeg processing station if it is open to visitors and Dougaldston Estate nearby, if it is open. Both give a sense of the island's spice economy.
Sauteurs. Continue to Sauteurs, about an hour and a half from the south-west in total, and see Leapers' Hill, where Kalinago people are said to have leapt to their deaths rather than surrender to French forces in the 1650s.
Belmont and River Antoine. Have lunch at Belmont Estate, a working cocoa estate with tours and a restaurant. Then visit River Antoine Rum Distillery, where rum is still made using a water wheel, and Lake Antoine, a crater lake nearby.
Return. Drive back via the east coast and Grenville or retrace the west coast, depending on time. Expect to arrive back in the early evening.
Day 3: a boat day close to base
Morning. After the long drive, spend the day on the water. Book a snorkelling trip to the Underwater Sculpture Park in Moliniere Bay or a half-day catamaran trip along the west coast, which often includes a swim stop in a quiet bay reachable only by boat. Certified divers can swap this for two dives on the reefs or wrecks off the south-west.
Afternoon. Alternatively, take a boat to Hog Island off the south coast, a popular weekend spot for Grenadians and visiting sailors, or rest at Lance aux Epines. If boats are cancelled because of wind or swell, use the day for Annandale Falls and a chocolate or rum tasting instead and move the boat trip to day five.
Evening. If it is a Friday, Gouyave's fish night is an option, but after the long drive the previous day, many people prefer a quiet dinner in the south-west and an early night before the second long day.
Day 4: the rainforest and the Atlantic east (long day)
Grand Etang. Drive up the mountain road to the Grand Etang Forest Reserve, ideally arriving before 9am when the forest is cool and the light is soft. Walk to the crater lake and, with a guide if you want a proper hike, continue to Seven Sisters Falls, a couple of hours return with a swim at the end. Wear shoes you do not mind getting muddy.
Grenville and the east. Descend to Grenville, the island's second town and the main centre of St Andrew's, for lunch and a look at the market and waterfront. Stop at Mount Carmel Falls nearby if you did not hike to Seven Sisters; the path down from the road is short but can be slippery.
Atlantic coast. Drive south along the east coast through St Andrew's and St David's, with glimpses of the Atlantic between the hills, and stop at La Sagesse, a sheltered bay with a nature reserve behind it, for a late swim before returning to base along the south coast road. The east coast is windier and the sea rougher than in the south-west, so swim only where it is clearly calm.
Day 5: slow day and departure
Morning. Keep the final day light. A morning swim, a visit to the spice vendors in St George's or a craft shop for souvenirs, or a short trip to Annandale Falls if you have not been there. Nutmeg, mace, cocoa balls for cocoa tea and local hot sauces travel well; check your home country's rules on bringing in plant products.
Afternoon. Allow time to return any hire car and reach the airport, which is close to the south-west hotels. Many hotels will store luggage after check-out and some offer a day room for a fee, which is worth asking about if your flight leaves in the evening.
If your flight is late. Spend the afternoon at Morne Rouge or Magazine Beach, both a short drive from the airport, and shower before you leave. Fill in any arrival or customs forms required by your home country before reaching the terminal.
Mistakes on a five-day loop
The island is small, but it is easy to overestimate how much fits into a day. Common errors:
- Trying to do the north and the east in one day. It is possible, but you will spend most of the day in the car. Splitting them, as here, is much more enjoyable.
- Underestimating the roads. Steep, narrow and winding, with buses that stop suddenly. Drive defensively and do not drive after dark on unfamiliar roads if you can avoid it.
- Forgetting the driving permit. A local driving permit is required to drive a hire car in Grenada. Rental companies usually arrange it.
- Not checking opening times. Estates, distilleries and processing stations do not all open every day; check before you set off.
- Skipping lunch planning in the north and east. Restaurants are fewer outside the south-west, so plan where you will eat.
Frequently asked questions
Is five days enough for Grenada?
Five days is enough to see the main island well, including St George's, the west coast, the north, the east and the rainforest, with time for beaches and a boat trip. It does not include Carriacou; add two or three days for the sister island.
Can you drive around Grenada in one day?
A full loop is possible in a day, but it involves many hours of driving on winding roads with little time at each stop. Splitting the island into two day trips, north via the west coast and east via the interior, is far more enjoyable.
How long does it take to drive from Grand Anse to Sauteurs?
Allow about an hour and a half via the west coast road, more with stops or heavy traffic. The road is scenic but winding, passing through Gouyave and Victoria. Driving back via the east coast takes a similar time.
Do you need a guide for Seven Sisters Falls?
A guide is strongly recommended. The trail crosses private land with an entrance fee, can be muddy and slippery, and involves river crossings. Local guides know the route and conditions and can be arranged at the trailhead or through tour operators.
Is it better to stay in one place or move around Grenada?
For a stay of up to a week on the main island, one base on the south-west coast is usually best, since day trips cover the whole island. Move only if you are adding Carriacou or want a quieter final few nights elsewhere.
