Grand Anse and the Beaches

Grenada, the Spice Isle, is fringed with beautiful beaches, the finest being Grand Anse, a glorious two-mile crescent of soft golden sand and calm, clear turquoise water just south of the capital, regularly ranked among the best beaches in the Caribbean and the world. Backed by sea grape trees and a scattering of low-key resorts, it offers superb swimming, water sports and views back to the pretty harbour of St. George's. Beyond it, the island hides many quieter coves and beaches, from Morne Rouge to remote black-sand shores, all warm, welcoming and gloriously uncrowded compared with busier Caribbean isles.

What you actually see

• Grand Anse Beach - the glorious two-mile golden crescent.
• The swimming and water sports - the calm, clear turquoise water.
• The quieter coves - the hidden beaches around the island.
• The views to St. George's - the vistas back to the harbour town.

When to go

December to April, the dry season, for the sunniest weather and calmest seas, ideal for swimming and water sports; the summer is hotter and wetter, though Grenada lies at the southern edge of the hurricane belt, so storm risk is lower than much of the Caribbean. Grand Anse is beautiful year-round and rarely crowded.

Honest expectations

Grenada is less developed and more laid-back than many Caribbean islands, which is much of its charm, so even its famous Grand Anse remains relatively uncrowded and low-key rather than lined with high-rise resorts; some quieter beaches take effort to reach. For a gorgeous, world-class beach and a warm, unspoilt, authentically Caribbean island atmosphere away from the crowds, though, Grenada and Grand Anse are idyllic.

Nearby

The capital St. George's, the underwater sculpture park and the spice estates are close.