Top 5 things to do in Grenada – from dining under a waterfall to making your own chocolate

Expect to be met with colourful buildings and lush scenery when you arrive on the beautiful Caribbean island of Grenada. Around the same size as the Isle of Wight, it’s dubbed ‘the spice island’ thanks to its exports of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice and turmeric.

It’s also famed for its stunning white-sand beaches and a wonderfully laid-back way of life. We were soon on ‘island time’, enjoying a rum punch topped with cinnamon dust – with an emphasis on the punchy part!

On a high point of the island there’s a prison – and the locals joke that the inmates have the best views. But the truth is you’ll find stunning vistas and warm smiles at every turn.

Grenada’s stunning coastline
(Image: Mount Cinnamon)

Even if you visit in rainy season (typically June-December), you’ll find plenty to entertain you, such as the House Of Chocolate museum in the capital St George’s. Our resort also offered a choice of massages and other beauty treatments in its luxurious spa.

Where to stay in Grenada

Mount Cinnamon Hotel & Beach Club has a chic, boutique feel and with the accommodation set on a hillside, it offers breathtaking views. The suites offer privacy away from the main pool and have balconies overlooking the sea – ours had a living area too.

Every evening, freshly baked cookies were delivered to our door, which was a lovely touch. While the larger villas come with cooking facilities, making them ideal for families, we had a mini fridge and espresso machine with the option to order room service.

The pool area at Mount Cinnamon
(Image: Mount Cinnamon)

If you want to splash out, one of the villas right at the top of the resort has a private infinity pool.

For those with prams or pushchairs, or those needing disabled access, the resort is a little tricky to navigate but there’s a shuttle bus available on demand.

Where to eat in Grenada

At Mount Cinnamon you can take a ‘garden tour’ to learn about its farm-to-table approach. The open-plan resort restaurant, where breakfast is accompanied by bird song, has a fabulous walk-up buffet overflowing with muffins, freshly picked pineapples and more. For an additional cost choose the Caribbean dish of the day – from swordfish to salt fish and plantain.

At sundown, the fairy-lit beach cabana is the place to be. We had great fun at the barbecue bonfire nights, where we tucked into fresh shrimp and s’mores while enjoying a steel drum band.

The food at Mount Cinnamon is a real treat
(Image: Mount Cinnamon)

We absolutely recommend waterfall dining at the beautiful Concord Falls – a culinary add-on to your stay at Mount Cinnamon. We enjoyed a tantalising three-course meal with rum cocktails and champagne. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, you can also book a private beach dinner at the resort.

We also had a wonderful evening at Dodgy Dock, with its relaxed party vibe. Just 15 minutes away by taxi, you buy tokens on the night which pay for your food and drink. We enjoyed jerk chicken and cocktails.

What to do in Grenada

It’s one thing to admire the sea from a sunlounger, but you can fully explore the crystal clear waters and coral reefs on a snorkelling, diving or kayak adventure, which can be booked at Dive Grenada on the beach. We chose the snorkelling experience, which also involved a 10-minute speedboat ride to visit an underwater sculpture park. If you’d rather dive, then you’ll take a short course to gain a qualification. The best time to head out to sea is mid-morning, before the winds pick up later in the day.

Got a taste for the strong stuff? Visit one of the many rum distilleries on the island or book in for the rum-tasting experience at Mount Cinnamon to sample the tipple from several local distilleries.

Make time to relax with a spa treatment
(Image: Mount Cinnamon)

There are plenty of island tours to book. We opted for a driving tour that stopped off at the national reserve, where we hand-fed monkeys, and Belmont Estate, where we learnt about cocoa production. The 17th-century plantation offers an immersive experience taking in the organic farm, goat dairy, tree-to-bar chocolate making and fine food at the restaurant. It’s a marvellous mash-up of history, culture, cuisine and nature, which sums up our memorable stay in Grenada.

How to book

Mount Cinnamon has a range of ‘affordable luxury’ packages tailored to your needs, with Cinnamon Suites starting from £398 per night. For further information, see the Grenada tourist board.

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