Pure Grenada, Spice of the Caribbean; Free To Wonder
Discover a destination so pure and picturesque where unspoilt natural beauty, authentic experiences and the smiles of friendly people will leave you simply wanting more. The destination offers the islands of Grenada (Gree-Nay- Dah) the largest along with Carriacou (Carry –a- Kou) and Petite Martinique (pitty mar-ti-NEEK) in the southern half of the archipelago known as the Grenadines; South West of Barbados.
Aptly named Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean, it is easy to see why when one visits. In Grenada, life is Peaceful, Unadulterated, Rejuvenating and Easy going. The destination is blessed with year round perfect tropical temperatures and its position below the hurricane belt means that storms rarely ever disturb the island paradise. And whatever your taste, Grenada offers a perfect mixture of luxury resorts as well as affordable chic hotels and guesthouses. Getting to Grenada is easy with direct flights from the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and the Caribbean.
The Isle of Spice
Spices are not just important to the people of Grenada; it is a way of life. The destination is enriched with a variety of spices including Cinnamon, Tumeric, Clove and most the prominent, nutmeg. Spices are used in almost every facet of life; in food, wellness experiences, chocolate making and natural products. They add a special dimension and flavour to life. When you book your next vacation to Grenada be sure to get your own spice necklace which can fill your home with wonderful and aromas and remedies.
Pure Experiences
On visiting Grenada, one is spoilt for choice with the plethora of experiences. Measuring 133sq miles, it means that getting around is easy and you can go from the beautiful coast into the islands’ interior in just minutes. Journalists have named the tri-island state the ‘Chocolate Capital of the Caribbean.’ That’s because there are five companies producing exquisite organic chocolate from the island’s organic cocoa. The companies offer tree to bar tours in which one learns about the ethical way the cocoa is grown, all the way to tasting the high quality finished products complete with the island’s signature spices.
Pure Grenada also offers culinary tours that are a delight to one’s taste buds, again featuring the island’s spices. Visit the capital to sip and savour the islands authentic dishes or visit the countryside to mix and mingle with the local people and eat like a local. Apart from culinary tours, one can enjoy tours of rum distilleries with the oldest being the River Antoine distillery which is still powered by a waterwheel hundreds of years later.
Grenada is the perfect destination for recharging and rejuvenating. Get away from the hustle and immerse yourself in a place that is off the beaten path. Relax on one of the island’s over 40 pristine white sand beaches kissed by turquoise waters or be inspired by the breath-taking beauty of one of the islands’ 15 waterfalls. The tri-island state offers hiking trails that cater to all levels of fitness and beauty abounds around every corner especially in the tropical rainforest in the Grand Etang Reserve. If you wish to stay indoors, then resorts offer a mixture of wellness activities including yoga, aromatherapy, massages and fully equipped professional spas. Some of these activities specially feature spices and organic chocolate ingredients.
For the adventurous spirit, drive around Grenada on a guided tour in a dune buggy, which allows you to experience parts of the island not usually seen with other modes of transportation. Or for a challenge that takes you off the ground, one can visit the Grenada Highwire Canopy Obstacle course. Set in the mystic rainforest, one can challenge him/herself to go from platform to platform to complete the course. Added bonuses include the view of the Seven Sisters Waterfall and the occasional playful Mona Monkey.
Nearby at Balthazar Estate, you can take a gentle tube ride down the Balthazar River, an attraction that immerses guests in the flora, fauna and history of the estate. On your tour around the island, stop by the captivating Belmont Estate located in the Parish of St. Patrick in the north (a 300 year old plantation) which produces organic cocoa, operates an organic goat dairy, and has its own museum, gardens and restaurant. Speaking of gardens, those in Grenada are unmatched in beauty with blooms that have earned the country 14 gold medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Underwater Experiences
Pure Grenada is home to the world’s first underwater sculpture Park. The work of UK based Sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, the park features 14 unique sculpture installations that perfectly encapsulate Pure Grenada’s colourful history, culture and folklore. The art installations include a mermaid, Christ of the Deep, the Nutmeg Princess and Vicissitudes more popularly called the ‘ring of children.’ Recently, a truly interactive installation was added called the selfie statue. One can sit beside her on a bench and take his/her own selfie. If you don’t want to get wet, booking a sailing trip aboard a glass bottom boat offers a great way to experience the artistry in the underwater park.
The destination is also known as the wreck diving capital of the Caribbean. Wreck dives range from the majestic Bianca C, a large Italian liner that sunk off the coast of St. George’s popularly called the Titanic of the Caribbean, to smaller wrecks such as the Persia II. Most wrecks are located just minutes from the coast. Additionally, the destination offers dives to healthy reefs that support bountiful marine life including angelfish, sea horses and stingrays.
Festivals
Grenada’s premiere musical festival features a perfect mix of world music and local island music. Celebrated genres include soul, reggae, jazz, rhythm and blues and soca. Set at the Port Louis grounds against the backdrop of the picturesque Carenage, the Pure Grenada Music Festival is spread over a few days with so much to enjoy. The beat never drops with a main and secondary stage, as well as a food village offering a diverse variety of options for local cuisine.
The destination’s largest festival is Spicemas in August, the last Summer festival in the Caribbean. It features culturally significant, wonderfully expressive street parties, rhythmic island music and celebration. Significant events include the early morning J’ouvert featuring oil covered ‘Jab Jab’ masqueraders, Monday Night Mas, a nighttime street parade with masqueraders waving glow sticks and the colourful explosion called Fancy Mas on Carnival Tuesday. Grenada’s sister isle Carriacou offers its own Carnival Festival commonly referred to as ‘Kayak Mas.’ The islanders add their own flavor to the festivities while exhibiting their unique traditions. One such tradition is Shakespeare Mas in which masqueraders dressed in colorful costumes, recite Shakespeare’s best lines in friendly duels.
The love of the sea, boat building skills passed through generations and a natural inclination to compete have made the Carriacou Regatta one of the most exciting and diverse in the Caribbean. In fact it is the longest running regatta in the region. The event attracts competitors from around the world with workboats, racing boats, sailing boats and yachts. The four-day event takes place the first weekend in August.
Petite Martinique also has an equally exciting Whitsuntide Festival, which features competitive boat racing, fun shore side activities, food and music.
The island of Carriacou is perhaps one of the most traditionally authentic islands one will ever visit. This is manifested in the island’s signature Maroon and Stringband Music Festival. The festival features African Big Drum Nation dance, smoked food and community togetherness all aimed at giving thanks to the ancestors.
Pure Sailing
Sailing has long been an integral part of Grenada’s lifestyle, and it is a premier Caribbean yachting center. Visitors can hire charter companies to provide a flavor of life on the ocean wave with day excursions, or weekly charters with crew or bareboat. With countless sheltered harbours and inlets and ten professional marinas, Grenada is a preferred yachting destination and the gateway to the Grenadines.
Accolades
1) Boston Globe- Eight top travel destinations for 2018
2) Expedia Caribbean Destination of the Year 2017
3) Caribbean Journal Caribbean Destination of the Year 2017
4) Grand Anse Beach-Best Caribbean Beach-USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice Travel Awards
5) Mt. Cinnamon Grenada-Best Caribbean Resort- USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice Travel Awards
6) Bianca C-Best Caribbean Dive Site- USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice Travel Awards
7) Wall Street Journal- Pure Grenada recognized as one of the top ‘10 hot destinations to travel to in 2018’ in the world.
Regional:
LIAT provides flights into Grenada from most Caribbean islands along with connections to international flights from Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia and Trinidad.
Caribbean Airlines offers flights between Grenada and Trinidad.
SVG Air provides daily flights to and from Carriacou’s Lauriston Airport.
International:
JetBlue Airways operates a daily non-stop service from JFK, New York.
American Airlines operates a daily non-stop service from Miami.
Delta Air Lines operates a weekly non-stop service from Atlanta
Caribbean Airlines: Toronto connecting through Trinidad
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic offer twice weekly direct flights from London, Gatwick Airport.
Air Canada Vacations operates a twice-weekly non-stop service from Toronto to Grenada.
Condor operates a non-stop weekly flight from Frankfurt Germany to Grenada in the Winter season.
A modern purpose built terminal located close to the St. George’s Harbour caters for several cruise lines.
A valid passport and return or onward ticket is required for all visitors. However, proof of citizenship bearing a photograph is acceptable from British, Canadian and US citizens.
Please note however that as mandated by the United States Department of homeland Security, all US travelers must provide a passport to enter or re-enter the US.
A visa is not required from citizens of the US, Canada, UK, British Commonwealth, most Caribbean countries, most European countries, South Korea, and Japan.
Sun Hunters Dune Buggy. Savour the Spice Culinary Tour. Grenada Highwire Zipwire Challenge. Fort Frederick. Fort George. Fort Matthew. House of Chocolate. Old Georgian buildings on the Carenage. Yellow Poui Art Gallery. The colorful Market Square (Saturday a specialty). National Museum. Art Fabrik. Annandale Falls. Sulphur Springs. Levera National Park. Nutmeg Processing Station at Gouyave. Grand Etang National Park. Lake Antoine. Leapers Hill in Sauteurs. Laura’s Herb and Spice Garden. Concord Falls. Grenada Distillers Ltd, Westerhall Estate Rum Distillery and River Antoine Rum Distillery. The world’s first Underwater Sculpture Park. The Bianca C. River Antoine Rum Distillery, the oldest in the Western Hemisphere. Belmont Estate. River Tubing. Mountain Biking. Yachting/Sailing. Hashing. Forty (40) white sand beaches.
However, you define love and whatever your desires, Pure Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique make your wedding day an easy enjoyable experience with zero residency and 24 hour marriage licenses. Previously, processing time took two to three days but now you can marry your beloved within 24 hours of arriving within the Spice of the Caribbean. The destination offers a diverse mix of resorts and hotels, which provide enticing wedding and honeymoon packages catering to every taste. So whether you wish to have your wedding at one of our 40 pristine white sandy beaches, beneath our turquoise waters or at one of our signature gardens or historic estates, the choice is yours.
Couples must submit an application to the Registrar General then to the Cabinet Office in the Prime Minister’s Ministry (Ministerial Complex, Botanical Gardens, St. George’s) to receive their special license within 24 hours (once all documentation has been verified). The Office retains the right under the law to extend the processing time beyond 24 hours to make verification. A special license (24 hours) will incur a cost of 200 USD. The application shall be made in writing and signed by one of the parties to the intended marriage and shall state the full name and address, the age, occupation and status of both of the parties to the intended marriage.
The following documents must be presented when applying for a license:
• Valid passport
• Birth certificate
• Divorce papers for one or both parties if applicable
• Affidavit signed by a minister of religion, lawyer or justice of the peace verifying that there are no impediments to the wedding
• Death certificate if widowed
• Legal proof if name is changed by Deed Poll
• Affidavit providing parental consent if parties are under 18
All documents must be translated into English and certified if the original appears in a foreign language. All weddings on island must happen between 6am and 6pm. Of course there is also the option of obtaining a special marriage license through an agent through whom an application must be submitted 30 days prior to the wedding date on island. This option carries zero residency as well. A regular license can be obtained for a fee of 37 USD with the regular processing time of two to three working days.
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