The hilly island of Carriacou (pronounced
carry-uh-COO), northeast of Grenada, reminds us of the Caribbean of years ago: The countryside is still pristine and the beaches uncrowded. You could probably walk the entire island in about five hours—and that, in our opinion, is one of the best ways to see it.
On Carriacou, islanders go about their business—fishing, farming and building wooden boats—seemingly undisturbed by tourists.
Hillsborough, the main town on Carriacou, is about a mile/kilometer long and three streets wide. Sleepy, old-fashioned sundry stores and shingled houses with stone foundations line Main Street, where several former warehouses occupying prime beachfront real estate await renovation into tourist-oriented businesses. There are a few shops along Main Street to browse through. You can also stroll down to the pier to see container ships deliver produce, mail and household goods.
Location
Cruise ships usually drop anchor about a mile/kilometer or so offshore of Carriacou in the sweeping arc of Hillsborough Bay. From there, passengers go by smaller craft to the main pier in Hillsborough or to one of the nearby beaches. The Carriacou Tourist Office (phone 473-443-6014) is located on Patterson Street, just a block from the pier (closed Saturday and Sunday). The souvenir shops near the pier also have tourist information. From the pier the town stretches two blocks north and three blocks south.
Shore Excursions
Consider signing up for the excursions offered by your ship. These may not be the least expensive way to see the island, but you won't have to waste your limited time making arrangements yourself—and you won't have to worry about missing the ship. Shore excursions—and their prices—vary from cruise line to cruise line. Typical tours can take you to historic and scenic highlights of the island or on a cruise to White Island, off Carriacou's south coast. Check with your ship's shore-excursion staff or your travel agent for additional information.
For some small cruise ships that visit Carriacou, the shore excursions are limited. Typically, cruise ships anchor in Grenada, spending anywhere from six to eight hours in port, and offer shore excursions to Carriacou. Given the size of the island, that should be more than enough time to explore it.
