Non touristy areas in Grenada
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Grenada is known for its beautiful beaches, mountain ridges, rum, spices, (fish) restaurants, National Parks and waterfalls. You can also do ideal diving and snorkelling around the islands and see coral reefs, colourful fish and shipwrecks. The nice thing about Grenada is that it is much less touristy than competing islands such as Barbados or Jamaica, without high-rise buildings and colossal resorts. Nevertheless, tourism is also managing to find its way here and it is no longer the undiscovered area it once was. In this article, we'll look at some of the non touristy areas of Grenada for a more local and authentic experience of these beautiful islands.
When we travel we want to experience the country in an authentic way. We like good local food and we enjoy home-cooked-style food. We don't need fancy accommodation, but choose places that are eco-friendly and most importantly have a nice vibe. Furthermore, we want to spend enough time on the beach but also be able to do some day hikes, see rainforests and enjoy some fascinating wildlife (hummingbirds!). With its mountainous and volcanic landscape, Grenada ticks all the boxes and it is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. An island where you can really explore.
When you arrive on Grenada you will arrive at Saint George's. This is the capital of Grenada and is located in the south-east of the island of Grenada. Located on a small bay, the city has 7500 inhabitants. The streetscape is dominated by buildings from the colonial era. A few minutes from the beautiful and elegant capital Saint George's you will find Grand Anse, one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Despite being beautiful, we wouldn't like to stay at this beach. For a more local experience, we needed to head to the north of the island.
The drive north is one of the most beautiful drives I have ever made. Everywhere, nature has exploded and the friendly faces of the locals are heart-warming. There is not as much accommodation in the north of the island so we recommend renting your own Airbnb apartment. Or what we did was stay at Almost Paradise cottage retreats. This is a true ecolodge with a tropical surf shack feel in a beautiful natural setting. A beautiful beach is just a 5 to 10 minute walk away from the cottages, often you are all alone here. The resort is also a perfect base for exploring the sights of the island.
Almost Paradise Cottage Retreats restaurant
When you've had it in the sun for a while, you could take one of the many nature
trails that run in the north of the island. You'll walk past a herb plantation or
two and see monkeys and rare birds.
In terms of food there is not as much choice in this part of the island compared to the other areas. But we do have a few good tips. We ate twice at almost paradise which was amazing, but one of the best meals we had was at Armadillo Guesthouse & Restaurant. Just a 10 minute walk away from the resort. This could be a Michelin worthy meal in a restaurant in Amsterdam or anywhere else in the world. Truly a gem. One of our local favourites was Helena's Ocean View Restaurant. This food is truly made with love and we were there three times.
Carriacou
Carriacou, also known as the Southern Grenadines, is located north of the island of Grenada. It is the largest island in the Grenadines, the island is 13 square miles (34 km 2 ) with a population of 9,595 (2019 census). We really like Carriacou. Life is even slower here and it is very easy to travel around. 
There are many wonderful local restaurants in the open. Most people come here because you can do great snorkelling and diving. We recommend going to Paradise Beach, rarely will there be more than a handful of people.
A wonderful place to stay is Haven, an exclusive beach front Eco studio. This has been one of our favourite stay experiences so far. Highlights include: kayaks, your own private beach, a spectacular coral reef just 60 yards from shore, insane views, and going to sleep every night to the sound of the pounding waves.
Susanne's eco-house is so thoughtfully designed and is truly a piece of heaven. We know we will be back one day.
The room at Haven, an exclusive beach front Eco studio. Picture by Booking.com
Although the location is a bit remote, it lends itself to a feeling of a private paradise. The studio apartment is well appointed and Susanne was a wonderful host. Communicative and full of suggestions for sights and island "musts".
Best Travel Time
January to April is the best time to visit Grenada. The sun shows itself a lot which means it is great weather for sunbathing and swimming. May can also be fine for a beach holiday, but keep in mind that is a bit wetter than from January to April. Because of the strong UV radiation, look up the shade as much as possible and use enough sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun. Click here for more climate information about Grenada.