Where to stay in Carriacou — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks
Carriacou is Grenada's quietest sister island, about 40km off the main coast. Just 13 square miles in size, it earns its nickname the "Isle of Reefs" thanks to crystal-clear water and over 30 dive sites. Come for empty beaches like Paradise Beach, the tiny offshore sandbar of Sandy Island, the centuries-old wooden boatbuilding tradition in Windward, and the living rhythms of Big Drum. This is authentic Caribbean island life that mass tourism hasn't reached.
Why stay in Carriacou
The Isle of Reefs
Crystal-clear water and 30+ dive sites — Sister Rocks was once shortlisted by National Geographic as a top dive site.
Empty, uncrowded beaches
Paradise Beach, Anse La Roche, and the offshore sandbar of Sandy Island inside a marine protected area.
UNESCO boatbuilding heritage
Windward still builds wooden sloops by hand, a Scottish-descended craft UNESCO recognizes as culturally significant.
Authentic island life
Big Drum rhythms, the Maroon Festival, and warm locals — a Caribbean that tourism hasn't swallowed up.
Pick an area first — where to stay in Carriacou
Location is the single most important thing about a hotel — choose the right area first, then pick the hotel
Tyrrel BayYachting anchorage · best restaurants · most buses
Coming soonL'Esterre / Paradise BeachIsland's best beach · close to Sandy Island · calm
Coming soonHillsboroughMain town · ferry port · banks and shops
Coming soonWindward / BoglesBoatbuilding village · secluded Sparrow Bay · north coast
Coming soonRanked reviews — find your ideal stay in Carriacou
Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then explore food and sights
We're rolling out Carriacou stay reviews — meanwhile search Carriacou hotels across all 3 sites now
Local dishes to try in Carriacou
- 1🥥
Oil Down
Grenada's national one-pot stew: breadfruit, meat, ground provisions, and callaloo simmered in coconut milk with spices until the oil renders out.
📍 National dish - 2🔥
Smoke Food
Food cooked outdoors over firewood, a Carriacou tradition — cou cou, rice, stew peas, and locally raised stewed chicken.
📍 Island specialty - 3🐚
Conch (Lambi)
Fresh conch from the surrounding reefs, served curried, stewed, or fried — sweet, firm meat that's a local staple.
📍 Seafood - 4🐟
Fresh Grilled Fish
Catch landed daily by local fishermen, grilled and served with rice, peas, and fried plantain at bayside spots.
📍 Off the boat - 5🌿
Callaloo
A Caribbean greens soup made from taro leaves or tropical spinach, sometimes with crab or meat, rich with spices.
📍 Local soup - 6🍹
Rum Punch
Local rum with fruit juice and grated nutmeg — Grenada is the Spice Isle — best sipped at sunset on the beach.
📍 Drink
- 1🏝️
Sandy Island
A tiny white-sand cay inside the Sandy Island Oyster Bay marine reserve, a short boat ride from Paradise Beach. Snorkel here for turtles, fish, and octopus.
📍 L'Esterre Bay - 2🤿
Sister Rocks
Volcanic outcrops with sheer walls plunging into the deep — a premier dive site for barracuda, schooling jacks, and reef sharks.
📍 West coast - 3🏖️
Paradise Beach
A long stretch of white sand with calm, shallow water suiting all ages — the island's most-loved beach, with Sandy Island in view.
📍 L'Esterre - 4🌿
Anse La Roche
A secluded northern beach reached on foot or by boat, with clear water and quiet, private snorkelling.
📍 North coast - 5⛰️
High North National Park
The island's highest peak at 955 feet, with hiking trails and views to Grenada and St. Vincent, plus iguanas, tortoises, and birds.
📍 North end - 6⛵
Windward Boatbuilding
A village that still builds wooden sloops by hand, descended from Scottish settlers — a craft UNESCO recognizes for its cultural significance.
📍 Windward - 7🏛️
Carriacou Museum
Housed in a 19th-century cotton ginnery on Paterson Street, with Amerindian artifacts and the island's history.
📍 Hillsborough - 8🥁
Maroon & Big Drum Festival
A celebration keeping the songs, dances, and drum rhythms of African ancestors alive, held the last weekend of April.
📍 Island-wide
Things to do in Carriacou
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Carriacou — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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3 Carriacou hotels our team picked for you
Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison
★ 8.6Value
★ 8.4Value
★ 8.3Valueโรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในCarriacou
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🚆 Getting around Carriacou
SVG Air flight
Fly from Maurice Bishop International (Grenada) to Lauriston Airport (CRU) in about 20 minutes, roughly EC$245 return.
Osprey ferry
The Osprey fast ferry leaves The Carenage in St. George's, reaching Tyrrel Bay/Hillsborough in about 2.5 hours, Mon–Sat.
Minibuses
Colorful minibuses run the main routes; flag one down anywhere along the way. Fares are about EC$3.50 (~USD 1.30), roughly 6am–6pm.
Taxis (H plates)
Licensed taxis carry an 'H' (for hire) plate and follow standard tourist-board rates — hire per trip or for the day; drivers are friendly.
Cash in XCD
The East Caribbean Dollar (XCD) is the currency; US dollars are widely accepted. Carry small notes for buses and small shops.
Where to go next near Carriacou
Saint GeorgesWhere to stay, what to see and what to eat in Saint George's, Grenada's photogenic capital, from harbour-side neighbourhoods and historic forts to white-sand beaches and bold island cooking.
See this city's guide →
Grand AnseWhere to stay around Grand Anse Beach, Grenada — beachfront resorts, top sights, snorkelling, and Spice Isle food, all on one page.
See this city's guide →Frequently asked — where to stay in Carriacou
How do I get to Carriacou from Grenada?+
Two main ways: a 20-minute SVG Air flight from Maurice Bishop International Airport, or the Osprey ferry from St. George's, which takes about 2.5 hours to Tyrrel Bay. The flight is far faster; the ferry is cheaper with sea views.
Where should I stay in Carriacou?+
For the best quiet beaches, choose L'Esterre / Paradise Beach near Sandy Island. For restaurants and a yachting vibe, choose Tyrrel Bay. To be near the ferry, banks, and shops, choose Hillsborough.
Who is Carriacou best for?+
It suits travelers wanting to escape the crowds — divers, quiet-beach lovers, and those after authentic island culture. It's not a mass-market destination: there are no big resorts, mostly guesthouses and small stays, ideal for couples, solo travelers, and nature lovers.
Ready to book your Carriacou stay?
Start with the 3 hotels our team picked, or search all 3 sites — always compare before booking