Getting There

Air

• From Europe: Scheduled flights from London, Gatwick, via Tobago twice a week with British Airways. JMC also flies twice a week with its year round charter service. Condor flies from Munich once a week via Tobago.
• From North America: BWIA flies from Miami and New York via Port of Spain, Trinidad. American Airlines fly daily from Miami. Air Jamaica and Delta have a joint operation from New York and Montego Bay; Air Jamaica also flies from Baltimore.
• From the Caribbean: BWIA connects Grenada with Barbados and Trinidad. LIAT flies to Grenada from Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, St Maarten, Tortola, Trinidad, St Lucia, St Vincent, San Juan and Tobago. Helenair flies from St Vincent, St Lucia and Trinidad. Air Caribbean also flies from Trinidad. Airlines of Carriacou connect Grenada with Carriacou and Union Island, flying several times a day from 0715 to 1720. Several companies operate charters to Grenada from Europe, the Caribbean and North America.

The Point Salines airport is five miles from St George’s: taxis only, fixed rates as advertized to St George’s, EC$30 (US$14), 15 mins; EC$25 (US$10) to Grand Anse and Lance aux Épines. Journeys within a one-mile radius of the airport EC$7 (US$2.75). Add EC$10 (US$3.75) to fares between 1800 and 0600. However, if you start walking down the road towards St George’s, you will find that the taxi changes into a bus and will pick you up for much less (only feasible with light luggage). If you are energetic, it takes an hour to walk to Grand Anse, longer to St George’s. Carriacou: Carriacou’s airport is Lauriston, a EC$10 taxi ride from Hillsborough, EC$20 from Mount Pleasant. Disconcertingly, the main road goes straight across the runway. A fire engine drives out from Hillsborough to meet incoming flights, bringing the Immigration Officer, who clings to a platform at the back in Keystone Cops fashion. Every day LIAT and Airlines of Carriacou fly frequently between Grenada and Carriacou: US$50 return, half that one way (flying time is 12 mins).

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Airline Info: LIAT, The Carenage, St George’s, T4402796/7 (4444121/2 Point Salines, 4437362 Carriacou); British Airways, T4402796; BWIA, The Carenage, St George’s, T4403818/9 (T4444134 at airport); American Airlines, T4442222; Aereotuy, T4444732/6, F4444818; Airlines of Carriacou, T4443549, 4441475; Helen Air, T444-2266/4101, on Carriacou T4438260; Air Europe, T4445678; JMC, T4402796; Martin Air, T4444732.

Sea

Carriacou: Osprey Lines, T4408126, F4439041, Email: osp...@grenadines.net, operate a hovercraft service, the Osprey Express, from Grenada to Carriacou (and Petite Martinique), journey time 1½ hrs, twice a day except Wed, EC$40 one way, EC$75 return, bicycles EC$20, a day trip is possible if you take the 0900 crossing (0800 on Sun). A ferry (Alexia II, Alexia III, Adelaide B) also sails from the Carenage, St George’s to Hillsborough, Carriacou, Tue 0930, Wed 1000, Fri 1100, Sat 0800, Sun 0700, returning Mon 1000, Wed 0930, Thu 1000, Sat 0900, Sun 1700, EC$20 one way, EC$ 30 return, 3-4 hrs. Cargo boats leave from the other side of the Carenage for mthe Osprey Express, normally EC$20, bicycles EC$10 or free, usually daily but enquire locally for days and times. In heavy seas you may be better opting for a schooner, which despite being smaller, ride the waves better than the larger boats which may make you seasick, said to be worse going to Carriacou than coming back. Be prepared for incredibly loud reggae/rap music. Times are subject to change and you must check. There are also unscheduled services between these islands; by asking around you might be able to get a passage on one. Carriacou is 1 hr by boat from Union Island; fishing boats leave irregularly, enquire locally, fare about EC$15 between Hillsborough and Ashton. MV Jaspar (small private boat) twice a week, captain is required to take you through all immigration procedures.

Ports of Entry

(Own flag) Hillsborough on Carriacou, Grenada Yacht Services at St George’s, Spice Island Marina, Prickly Bay. No port fees for clearing in or out of Prickly Bay or St George’s during normal working hours, Monday-Thursday 0800-1145, 1300-1600, Friday until 1700, overtime charges will apply outside those hours. On Carriacou, anchor in Tyrrel Bay and take bus, EC$2, to Hillsborough, charges EC$20 port fees during most times. Four crew and/or passenger lists, ships stores and health declaration, port clearance from the last country and valid passports. Monday-Thursday 0800-1145, 1300-1600, Friday until 1700. To clear out of the country take the boat to Prickly Bay (where they can see the boat), and four copies of the crew list. Firearms must be declared. Seal in a proper locker on board or take to an official locker on shore to be returned on departure. Yachting fees on Grenada are: less than 50 feet US$10, 50-100 feet US$12.

Anchorages

Halifax Harbour (may have smoke from garbage burning), St George’s Lagoon (security problems noted), True Blue Bay, Prickly Bay, Mount Hartman Bay, Clark’s Court Bay, Port Egmont, Calivigny Harbour, Westerhall Bay. Hog Island can be used as a day anchorage; government and coast guard uncertain about overnight use; occasionally clear out all boats but then don’t come back for a while. Can dinghy to Lower Woburn from Mount Hartman or Hog Island to catch bus, EC$2, to St George’s, otherwise taxi from Secret Harbour. Prohibited anchorages : Grand Anse Bay, Prickly Bay, Pingouin (Pink Gin) Beach, Point Salines, Tyrrel Bay (Carriacou), Mangrove Lagoon, the entire inner Lagoon. The outer Lagoon is prohibited to yachts and other liveaboard vessels. The Mangrove Lagoon may only be entered to shelter from a hurricane. Marine weather for Grenada and the Windward Islands on VHF Ch 6 at 1000.

Marinas

Grenada Yacht Services in St George’s Lagoon (T4402508) is being redeveloped with a new hotel, villas et cetera, see below. Spice Island Marine Services in Prickly Bay (Lance aux Épines), T444-4257/4342, F4442816, has a small boatyard with bar, restaurant, ship’s store, laundry and mini-market, where boats can be stored or repaired on land as well as stern-to-dock, fuel and water. The Moorings Secret Harbour base in Mount Hartman has stern-to-docks, fuel and water, a mini-mart with basic food and drink, Rum Squall bar, will hold message/fax and mail for yachties, T4444548, F4444819. Day charter services, bareboat or with captain, from the marina. Carriacou Yacht Services in Tyrrel Bay provide mail, phone, fax and message service to yachts, as do The Studio, next to Alexis Supermarket. Plans are in hand for a marina at Clark’s Court as well as a controversial multi-million dollar resort with a championship golf course located on Hog Island. Controversy involves displacing local farmers and fishermen as well as losing a yacht anchorage and the environmental impact of constructing a causeway to connect Hog Island with the mainland.

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