Grand Anse

Grand Anse is the tourist centre of Grenada, famous for its classic Caribbean vista of palm-lined beach and turquoise waters. The two-mile sweep of white sand backed by hotels appears in all the tourist brochures, though the beach is narrow and erosion has reduced its width. It serves as the base for the island's scuba diving industry, with historic shipwrecks and an underwater sculpture park accessible from the beach. For visitors arriving on package holidays, it's the default landing point; independent travelers can enjoy the same beaches with more flexible budgeting.

Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND) is at Point Salines on the peninsula two miles west of Grand Anse. The island's main airport handles flights from North America, the UK, and other Caribbean destinations. Grand Anse sits midway along the main road connecting the airport to St George's. Minibuses and taxis meet arriving flights at the airport and connect to the beach strip and town center. The journey from airport to Grand Anse takes approximately 10-15 minutes.

A continuous stream of taxis and minibuses ply between the airport, Grand Anse beach strip, and St George's. Taxi ranks are located at the airport and Spiceland Mall. Local operators include Sweet Grenada Tours (+1 473 533 5001), Ace Ventura (+1 473 459 4941), Grenada Taxi and Tours (+1 473 417 5854), and Fresh Rides (+1 473 418 6043). For more distant sights such as Grand Etang or the rum distilleries, hiring a taxi for the day is practical as drivers know the poorly signposted turn-offs and worst potholes. Rental cars are available through companies that pick up and drop off anywhere on the island; you're only likely to need one if you have out-of-the-way accommodation, heavy sports gear, or extended family.

Grand Anse Beach is the iconic two-mile white sand sweep featured in tourist brochures, backed by hotels but narrowed by erosion; high tide brings waves breaking across the narrowest sections. Quarantine Point at the breezy peninsula west end was a quarantine station from mid-19th to early 20th century with little remaining. Morne Rouge Beach (locally called BBC Beach) is smaller and usually quieter. Magazine Beach stretches further west with rocky outcrops; the east near LaLuna Hotel is known as Groom's Beach while the west near Sandals is called Pink Gin Beach due to iron oxide tinting the sand pink. The Memorial to the Cuban Internationalist Martyrs commemorates 24 Cuban workers killed during the 1983 US invasion while building the new airport.

Scuba diving is concentrated in Grand Anse with dive shacks along the beach including Native Spirit Scuba, Eco Dive, Aquanauts, and Dive Grenada. Molinere Reef has upper shoals rising to 6 meters, suitable for novice divers. The underwater sculpture park off Molinere Point features a ring of statues within snorkel depth, coral-encrusted faces creating surreal figures. The wreck of the Bianca C, a liner that sank in 1961 after an explosion and fire, sits on Whibbles Reef in 50 meters about a mile offshore; the superstructure is at 30 meters and only suitable for competent qualified divers. Surfing is best at Prickly Bay in L'Ance Aux Epines to the south. Movie Palace cinema is within Excel Plaza 200 yards south of Spiceland Mall. Grenada Golf Club is nine holes, half a mile inland from the beach on Golf Course Road.

The Grand Anse Craft and Spice Market near the beach 100 yards east of the Radisson is a good place for local food and drink; open Monday to Friday 9AM-5PM, Saturday and Sunday 9AM-9PM. IGA Supermarket attached to Spiceland Mall keeps longer hours: Monday to Thursday 8AM-9PM, Friday and Saturday 8AM-10PM, Sunday 8AM-7PM. Le Marquis Shopping Complex is a small mall just east across Morne Rouge Road from Spiceland, open Monday to Saturday 9AM-6PM. Excel Plaza 100 yards south of Le Marquis includes a cinema. The Grand Anse Shopping Centre has higher prices than elsewhere, open Monday to Thursday 8AM-7PM, Friday and Saturday 8AM-8PM.

The beach strip offers diverse dining options. Grenadian Grill and Asiatic are within Silver Sands Resort at the north end of the beach. Dexters a block inland is open Monday to Saturday 8AM-9PM, Sunday 4PM-9PM. Coconut Beach is open daily 12:30AM-10:30PM. 61° West next to Coconut Beach serves breakfast and dinner Tuesday to Sunday 7AM-10:30PM. Fish Pot in the craft market operates Tuesday to Saturday 10AM-9PM, Sunday noon-9PM. Rick's in the shopping centre opposite the Radisson serves pizza and similar fare Tuesday to Saturday 11AM-9:30PM, Sunday 4PM-9:30PM. GrillMaster cooks to order but slowly, open daily 7AM-9:30PM. Marquis Complex offers Nick's Donut World, Le Chateau, De Vino wine bar, Carib Sushi, and Le Boulangerie. Spiceland Mall has a local fruit market, soup joint, IGA Supermarket, Grill Master, Ritual's Coffee House, fruit smoothie shop, Chinese takeaway, and KFC.

Local rum distilleries offer tours: Clarke's Court Rum on Woodlands Main Road above the golf course, and Westerhall Distillery further east in St David parish. Blue Light Gin is a micro-distillery at Egmont on the south coast. West Indies Beer Company is a pub and micro-brewery in Lance Aux Epines with a good range beyond standard lagers; open Sunday to Wednesday 8:30AM-midnight, Thursday to Saturday 8:30AM-2AM. Carib beer is brewed along the airport highway but does not offer tours. Beach bars include Joan's and Esther's in the Craft & Spice Market, and Umbrella's Beach Bar below IGA with hours Sunday to Thursday 11AM-10PM, Friday 11AM-9PM, Saturday 11AM-11PM. Junction Bar is in Lance Aux Epines at the turn-off for Calabash.

Grand Anse is expensive, with most visitors on package holidays that bundle accommodation with flights. Independent travelers pay the same room rates but without the free long-distance return flight subsidy. Budget to mid-range options include Siesta on Morne Rouge Road (B&B double EC$300), Reef View Pavilions on Turtleback Drive in L'Anse aux Epines (B&B double EC$400), and True Blue Bay Resort on Old Mill Road near the University (B&B double EC$400). Mid-range options include Allamanda Beach Resort next to Coyaba on Grand Anse Beach (B&B double EC$500), Blue Horizons Garden Resort next to Siesta on Morne Rouge Road (B&B double EC$600), and Radisson Grenada Beach Resort on Grand Anse Beach (B&B double EC$600). Upscale choices include Coyaba Beach Resort (B&B double EC$1000), Royalton on Magazine Beach (all-inclusive double EC$800), and Mount Cinnamon on Morne Rouge Road (B&B double EC$1800). Luxury options include LaLuna Hotel on Portici Beach (B&B double EC$1800), Spice Island Beach Resort on The Lime (B&B double EC$2600), Calabash on Main Rd in L'Anse aux Epines (B&B double EC$3000), and Sandals Grenada on Pink Gin Beach (all-inclusive double EC$3000, couples only).

As of January 2023, Grand Anse has 4G coverage from both Flow and Digicel mobile networks. 5G has not yet rolled out in Grenada. Mobile data and voice services are reliable in the Grand Anse area, which is the main tourist zone. SIM cards are available from both providers for visitors planning extended stays.

St George's, the historic capital of Grenada, is a short ride away from Grand Anse. The city features Fort George, the Carenage harbor, and the colorful buildings of the waterfront. Maurice Bishop International Airport has flights to Carriacou and other neighboring islands, making island-hopping possible. The airport itself is only two miles west, making onward travel convenient.