Grand Étang National Park

Grand Étang National Park, spread across the misty volcanic mountains at the heart of Grenada, is the lush, green interior counterpoint to the island's beaches, a realm of dense rainforest, tumbling waterfalls and rich wildlife. At its centre lies the serene Grand Étang Lake, a crater lake filling the caldera of an ancient volcano, ringed by forest and often wreathed in cloud. Hiking trails of varying difficulty lead through the jungle to viewpoints and to the pretty tiered cascades of the Seven Sisters Falls, and visitors are often greeted by the park's cheeky, food-loving mona monkeys, introduced long ago from Africa.

What you actually see

• Grand Étang Lake - the serene crater lake in the caldera.
• The Seven Sisters Falls - the pretty tiered rainforest cascades.
• The mona monkeys - the cheeky monkeys of the park.
• Mount Qua Qua trail - the muddy ridge walk above the lake, and the other forest paths leading off it.

When to go

December to April, the drier season, for the best hiking conditions, though as a rainforest it can be misty and wet any time, part of its lush, cloud-forest character; the higher trails can be muddy and slippery after rain. Early morning is best for spotting the mona monkeys and enjoying the lake before cloud gathers.

Honest expectations

The park is genuine rainforest and cloud forest, so rain, mud and mist are common, and some trails, like those to the falls, involve slippery scrambles best done with a guide; the Qua Qua ridge in particular is genuinely muddy and slick, and hiking sandals ruin the day. Do not feed the monkeys, however practiced their begging - it changes them for the worse. Cruise days flood the visitor centre at midday. The crater lake, while serene, is a quiet scenic spot rather than a dramatic sight. As the lush, green, wildlife-rich heart of the Spice Isle, though, with its crater lake, waterfalls, jungle trails and playful monkeys, Grand Étang is a refreshing and worthwhile contrast to the coast.

Nearby

The spice estates, the Annandale Falls, Grenville and its market, and the capital St. George's are close.