Are you stopping in Grenada while on a cruise?
Then one thing to include in your list of things to do is to visit one of Grenada’s beaches.
Grenada covers 344 square km (133 square miles) and is hilly and mountainous in appearance. The state of Grenada comprises of three islands.
The largest island being also called Grenada and two other smaller islands bearing the names Carriacou and Petite Martinique respectively.
Fondly known as the Isle of Spice, Grenada is the world’s second largest exporter of nutmeg, according to the World Bank (2003), holding 20% of the market.
In this post we will explore the top 5 beaches to visit if you are in Grenada on a cruise. These are near the cruise port terminal for ease of access on the island.
Read on for further details about Grenada’s beaches written by a Grenadian.
1. Grand Anse Beach
This is the closest beach to the cruise terminal in Grenada and also Grenada’s best beach. Grand Anse beach is well loved by locals and visitors alike.
There are several high end hotels on this beach such as Spice Island Beach Resort, Allamanda Beach Resort and Coyaba Beach Resort.
The beach has many almond trees and sea grapes.
The area of the beach near the Catholic Church tends to be the calmest while the area on the other extreme end tends to be much rougher.
This beach is a 2 mile stretch of white sand beach and there are life guards stationed there for your safety.
How far is Grand Anse beach from Cruise Terminal?
Grand Anse beach is approximately 15 minutes from the cruise terminal if you are taking a taxi which is about 8.5 km from the cruise ship terminal.
How To Get To Grand Anse Beach From The Cruise Terminal
There are three main ways that you can get from the cruise port terminal to Grand Anse Beach.
You can opt to take the bus as a local which is the most affordable, take a water taxi or take a taxi. Let us take a look at each method.
Taking The Bus
This option is most affordable and gives you a great opportunity to interact with and experience a taste of Grenada’s local culture. So here is a step by step guide to taking a bus.
- Once you exit the cruise ship you will enter the Bruce Street Cruise Terminal. Upon coming out you will notice a lot of jewelry shops such as Colombian Emeralds and a perfume store Duty Free Caribbean. Keep walking straight until you get to the entrance. At the entrance on your left hand side you will see a Subway Restaurant.
- Exit the entrance and once you look up you will see a Digicel store. This is a telecommunications retail outlet. Take a left and you will see a Republic Bank building. It is very tall. Do not cross the street.
- Keep walking straight and you will meet the NIS Building. Usually there are street vendors selling in this area. Continue walking and then you will arrive at the bus terminal.
- At the terminal ask anyone for a #1 bus. That is the zone number for buses that travel to Grand Anse.
- The bus fare is EC$2.50 which is approximately USD$1 at the time of writing.
Grand Anse is a second centre for commerce in Grenada and many businesses have another branch in this area.
If you are visiting the beach on a Friday and your ship is leaving that said day, do give yourself ample time to get back into St George’s.
On Friday afternoons especially, this road is usually busy.
I would advise to ensure that you get back in time for your ship that you leave Grand Anse around 2pm if your ship is departing around 6pm.
Grand Anse has beach bars, the mall and hot spots where locals frequent on a Friday evening as the locals say “after work lime”.
If it were a Thursday 3pm would be fine as traffic congestion tends to be less likely on that day. So do plan carefully for traffic on Fridays especially from Grand Anse into the city.
The below You Tube video of Jean going to Grand Anse Beach from a Cruise Ship to Grand Anse.
You get a glimpse of the bus terminal as well as the Spice Market near Grand Anse Beach.
Take A Water Taxi
Water taxis are available from St George’s to Grand Anse Beach which is quick and easy way to get from the Port.
At the time of writing the cost is USD $5 for each trip meaning to and from the beach.
Ensure and give yourself ample time to get back to the ship.
Sometimes, everyone tries to leave the beach at the same time and the taxis have a maximum capacity that they can take per trip.
You may also have a 7 minute walk back to the cruise terminal.
Please bear this in mind to avoid missing your departure times.
Take A Taxi
Another way to get to Grand Anse is by taxi. There are usually taxis located inside the cruise ship terminal during the tourist season.
The price for a trip with two persons at the time of writing is approximately USD$25 for each trip. Therefore, USD$25 to Grand Anse and another USD$25 back to the cruise terminal.
Things To On And Near Grand Anse Beach In Grenada
Visit The Grenada Craft Centre- This centre is located near the Grand Anse beach close to the entrance near the Grand Anse Court and the Catholic Church.
There you can find lots of local made clothes, jewelry, spices, local chocolate and other souvenirs.
Visit Spice Land Mall– the largest mall in Grenada is located about 5 minutes walk from the beach. There is a Real Value IGA supermarket available at this mall with local and imported supplies.
There are also many shops some of which sells local souvenirs, bank, ATM machine, food court, pharmacy, personal care services, art gallery and book shop.
The pharmacy and the supermarket usually carry local Grenada chocolate.
There is also a local ice cream shop which is a favorite of Grenadians called Sugar & Spice.
They sell various flavors of local ice cream such as nutmeg and sour soup. There is also a shop located at the cruise terminal.
Have Lunch At A Beach Bar- Umbrellas Beach Bar and Esther’s Beach Bar are two main restaurants located on Grand Anse beach.
Umbrellas do have free Wifi. Feel free to check out Umbrellas Beach Bar’s Menu. All prices are quoted in EC dollars.
Go Diving- there are dive shops available on Grand Anse beach such as Eco Dive and Dive Grenada where you can book an excursion.
2. Morne Rouge Beach
This beach is known for being calm and its shallow waters.
Usually many individuals do not frequent this beach as Grand Anse so if you are seeking an option that is not crowded, this is an ideal fit.
It is also fondly known as BBC Beach to the locals. Its calm waters make this beach perfect for children.
BBC is the location for stand up paddle boarding in Grenada. Services are offered by SUP Grenada and they offer hourly rentals and lessons.
In addition, SUP Grenada offers tours to coral reefs where you can do some snorkeling.
Morne Rouge Beach is near Grand Anse Beach. It is approximately 15 minutes walking and bout 5 minutes driving. However, this beach is not on the bus route and if a bus brings you to this location you will have to pay an additional fee.
They may charge you around $10 as this is off route. Kindly note that if the bus drops you there, you will have to walk back out to get back to the bus route.
Booking a taxi with an agreed pick up time may be more suitable if this beach is your preferred choice.
At the time of writing, the taxi rate for 2 persons is the same price quoted for Grand Anse Beach above.
3. Pink Gin Beach
This beach is a bit difficult to get to so it is not usually crowded.
Sandals Resorts is located near to this beach. It is best to visit Pink Gin by taking a taxi as this beach is off the bus route.
The taxi price for 2 persons at the time of writing was approximately USD$30 per trip.
4. Magazine Beach
This beach is located near the Point Salines International Airport.
It is about 5 minutes walk from the airport. If you are visiting from the terminal, it is advisable to take a taxi and arrange a pick up time for ease of transportation.
This beach is unspoiled as there is no public transportation that takes you to this location which makes it less popular.
The Aquarium restaurant is located nearby. There is usually a barbecue that happens at this restaurant on Sunday if you are visiting on that day.
Alternatively, if you walk back to the airport there are places where you can buy a meal. Additionally, there is an ATM machine available at the airport if required.
At the time of writing the cost of the taxi was approximately USD$30 per trip for 2 persons.
5. La Sagesse Beach
This beach is located on Grenada’s East Coast in the parish of St David’s.
Its secluded location provides a great option for those looking for serenity and privacy.
There are many almond trees around this beach and a boutique hotel with a tropical garden.
You can access this beach via bus from St George’s. You can take a #2 bus and it will drop you next to La Sagesse Natural Works.
Cross the road and walk in about 7 minutes you will arrive at this beach.
For convenience and especially if you are on the island for only one day, I strongly recommend that you take a taxi to this location.
If you have some time, visit the Palm Tree Gardens which is located in Laura.
This beautiful two acre garden was created by the late Lawrence Lambert. There you will see some of the gorgeous varieties of palm trees, orchids and anthuriums that exist in Grenada.
At the time of writing, the cost of taxi is around USD$40 per trip for 2 persons.
Final Thoughts
Hope you found this post valuable on the beaches in Grenada that are near the cruise port.
Remember especially if you are traveling from Grand Anse via taxi or bus to give yourself ample time to get into St George’s especially on Fridays.
I know you will enjoy the island of spice and its amazing beaches.
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