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| Welcome to Grenada on the Paradise Islands website. Grenada is located in the southern Caribbean Windward island chain, just below St Vincent and to the north west of Trinidad and Tobago. The west indies island nation of Grenada includes several of the Grenadines islands including Carriacou (the largest), Ronde and Petit Martinique; along with a number of smaller islands which are mostly uninhabited. |
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The native Carib Indians called the island "Camerhogue" and it was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498 and named Conception Island, later changed to Grenada.
It was first settled by the French around 1650 who called the island La Grenade. The French established a colony on the island to export sugar and created the town of Fort Royal (later re-named St Georges).
The island was ceded to the British in 1763 under the Treaty of Paris and in 1877 Grenada became a British Crown Colony. Independence was granted in 1974.
In 1983 there was a communist led coup against the government which resulted the US invading the islands along with support from five other Caribbean nations. However, many heavy weight countries and the United Nations General Assembly condemned the illegal invasion by the US, stating it was a flagrant violation of international law.
Left: Map showing the Grenadine islands belonging to Grenada. See also our large Grenadines Map showing all the islands lying between St Vincent in the north and Grenada in the south.
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| Grenada is a volcanic island (see Montserrat Volcano) with a mountainous interior, the highest point being Mount St Catherine at 840 metres. Most of Grenada's 110,000 population live on the main island in the largest towns of St George's (the capital), Grenville and Gouyave. The largest settlement on the smaller islands is Hillsborough on the island of Carriacou. |
| Grenada is known as "The Spice Isle" and a major part of the economy and exports are spices including cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Tourism, in common with nearly all of the Caribbean islands, is the main economic activity which has accelerated in recent years with the construction of a new cruise ship pier and esplanade in St Georges. Tourism is concentrated around the St Georges area in the south west of the island and includes one of the finest beaches in the world, Grand Anse Beach. The tourist area incorporates Lance Aux Epines, Point Salines and Grand Anse. |
| Travel, holiday, vacation and cruise guide to Grenada and the Caribbean. All text and images are Copyright Paradise Islands org. All photographs on this Caribbean travel guide website are obtained with the permission of the owners and come from various sources including the islands tourist boards. Some of our own maybe reproduced with permission - please see notes attached to each image to avoid any copyright penalty. |
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Quick Facts
Capital
St Georges
Main Airport
Maurice
Bishop
International
Main Port
St Georges
Language
English
Currency
Eastern
Caribbean
Dollar
Government
Independent
Island Size
133
Square Miles
Population
110,000
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Cruise Port Guide
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