Grenada – Gardens of the Spice Island

Enjoy your breakfast. As many places are closed on Sunday we will ease ourselves into the tour with a gentle day at the hotel, beginning with an introductory tour of the 6¼ acre manicured gardens, led by a member of the hotel staff who takes a keen interest in the gardens.

At lunchtime you may like to take a walk along the beach and check out some of the local dining options, such as the Coconut Beach Restaurant.

In the afternoon we explore the hotel policies once again, this time on the lookout for some of the 27 species of birds that frequent the gardens, led by another enthusiastic member of staff. Binoculars are provided by the hotel.

The evening is free with dinner (not included) in either of the hotel’s own restaurants, the Belle Creole or the Aqua Pool Bar & Grill, or in local restaurants.

After breakfast we begin our exploration of the island with a visit to the private garden of Gemrose Eden, where we are welcomed and shown tour by the owner, whose enthusiasm for her plants is infectious. This small garden is steep but well landscaped with reasonably good paths and steps.

We continue to the private garden of Hyde Park, again led round by the owner. The garden was laid out by the landscape designer Chris Baksh to optimize the wonderful views. After our tour we will enjoy a cooling drink on the veranda and take in those views.

In the afternoon we visit the historic Tower Garden. The Tower is 100 years old private home in well-established gardens nestled in the hills of St. Paul's in the south-east of the island. About two acres of landscaped grounds consist of beds of massed tropical flowers and foliage and examples of the main fruit and spices grown locally. Afternoon Tea is included here.

We return to our hotel where the evening is free.

Following breakfast a full day island tour awaits, beginning at Mount Edgecombe, where we will follow a botanically fascinating trail through the grounds.

A drive along roads that wind through the verdant hills of the interior takes us to Belmont Estate. Known as the Caribbean’s finest Agro-tourism experience, visitors are given the opportunity to participate in and observe the workings of a fully functional historic plantation. A delicious buffet lunch is served here.

In the afternoon we visit the River Antoine Rum Distillery for a tour that explains the process of turning raw cane sugar into the iconic Caribbean spirit, followed by a tasting of the finished product.

Driving back you may be forgiven for dozing off before enjoying another convivial evening at our hotel.

Returning to the garden trail this morning we begin with a relaxed and delicious Grenadian breakfast at Smithy’s Garden with the owner. We will then tour the gently sloping garden, which is noted for its wild and natural feel, and be entertained by the resident birds.

We continue via the Annandale Waterfall, where the rock walls are covered in soft ferns, and the Grand Etang Rainforest, where if we are lucky we may see the Mona Monkey which was brought to Grenada from Africa during the Slave Trade era.

We conclude today with a visit to the Balthazar Estate, where we will see giant heliconia, musa and ginger and many more tropical plants and learn about the introduction of nutmeg to the island in 1843, a key moment in Grenadian history.

Evening at leisure.

After breakfast we depart for Sunny Side Garden, a breathtakingly beautiful garden, five acres in size, with koi ponds, an orchard and an excellent variety of palms, orchids, hibiscus, and bromeliads, many of which feature in Grenada’s award-winning RHS Chelsea displays.

The afternoon finds us at Palm Tree Gardens, a botanical garden with two acres of stunning gardens with thousands of flowering trees and plants of many varieties, not to mention some resident tortoises and turtles.

Evening at leisure.

After a leisurely breakfast today is free to lounge by the pool, take a stroll along the beach or explore independently. Alternatively, join our optional excursion – a full-day cruise aboard a traditionally-built wooden sloop of the type that used to trade up and down the Caribbean chain. We leave St. George’s Harbour and set sail up the West Coast stopping to snorkel at the Mollinaire Underwater Sculpture Park. We then have lunch on the beach at Dragon Bay with table set out on the sand under the seagrape trees. This is a very rustic beach with fishermen mending their nets nearby and one of the more beautiful and authentic atmospheres on island, a true taste of the real Grenada. We then snorkel a second time at Flamingo Bay which also has a secluded white sand beach before sailing back to St George’s. Cruise includes freshly squeezed local juices, fruit, water, beers, rum punch, snacks and lunch.

In the evening we enjoy drinks and a farewell dinner at our hotel.

After a morning in the capital town of St George’s we transfer to the airport for our return flight to London.

We arrive in London.