Backpacking in Grenada: Top 8 Sights in Grand Anse

“Alone on the beach, on my own out of reach and you just passed me by”- Noel Gallagher.

When backpacking in Grenada, I stayed at the Sea Breeze Hotel in Grand Anse, on the west coast of the island. This was a superb base from which to backpack the sights, enjoy some spice and nightlife and ensure that I had the correct documents for my onward travels to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 🇻🇨. During these unpredictable COVID times, the term “PCR Test Loyal” became a daily phenomenon. I was in Grenada in December 2021.

As I was based in Grand Anse, I toured the sights of my local area, as well as backpacking the sights of Town of Saint George, the capital city which is only about 20 minutes drive north anyway. I buspacked my way there.

Base yourself at the Sea Breeze Hotel and work your way through these sights in Grand Anse. This country is a sparkler.

1.Grand Anse Beach

Of course the golden sandy beaches have to feature here. I slept in room 6 at the Sea Breeze Hotel and had a viewpoint from my balcony over the beach and sea. It’s a five minute dander. It’s a class spot to watch the hot sphere fall. There are plenty of bars serving ice cold beer and rum punch.

Plus you can get a massage on the beach. It was my first time to have a massage on the beach.

2.Grand Anse Spice Market

A real treat is the spice market. It’s an enclosed quirkaday zone full of textbook old school vendors. From souvenirs to spices tlo local food and drink, there is a huge variety here in this centre point for Grand Anse. I drank in two quirky bars here – Janice As You Wake and Esther’s Bar.

This market was very welcoming and friendly and I loved it.

You can top up on spices and natural products from Grenada such as sugar cane, cinnamon, cloves, rum and nutmeg.

3.Grand Anse Football Stadium

De De du de, de du de de du. I was surprised to find a football stadium here in Grand Anse, but of course football is everywhere. In the capital, Town of Saint George, I saw the national football and cricket stadium – they sit beside each other. Grand Anse has a smaller venue of course. Grenada has a ten team Premier League, and although this settlement has no club in it, they at least have a pitch and matches are hosted here.

4.Fit For Life

I was backpacking in Grenada in 2021 during the global pandemic and therefore I had to get PCR tests almost daily as I wasn’t just island hopping, but country hopping. This meant that I’d need to go through passport checks, customs and security every few days. The PCR tests usually have a maximum validity of 48 hours.

Luckily through Lotten at the Sea Breeze Hotel, I was able to get a morning PCR test on my second day here at Fit For Life. As expected, it was negative.

5.Movie Palace and Excel Plaza

Opposite the Fit For Life centre, is a car park and shopping zone. This had the areas only cinema, called Movie Palace which was closed on my visit due to COVID. Just down from this is a tattoo and piercing where I picked up a nice green stud ear-ring, having lost two ear-rings and had one deliberately stolen in outrageous circumstances.

6.Spiceland Mall: Bar and Food Hub

The main hub for food and bar joints is Spiceland Mall. There was also an ATM here. Be careful – the ATM refused to issue me money on my bank cards despite the correct PIN. As a result my bank blocked my card thinking it was suspicious. Aside from that, Spiceland is a cool place to hang out. There are bars, clubs, restaurants and even some food trucks and shacks. Cold beer and spicy food aplenty!

I visited a few bars in Grand Anse, including the Black Mermaid Bar and Grillmaster. I flirted in Grillmaster with two girls – Christelle and Tonia.

7.Umbrellas

Another bar visit camre recommended in Grand Anse, thanks to Lotten’s recommendation at the Sea Breeze Hotel! Just off the beach, in the south of Grand Anse sits Umbrellas Beach Bar. This was the cosmopolitan hang out. I had a delicious spicy chicken wrap here, washed down with an ice cold Carib. There was live music and friendly staff.

Umbrellas also sits right on the beach, views from the upper balcony are excellent. Rest away your worries.

8.Quarantine Point

Ironically last but not least for a backpacking sight in Grand Anse is Quarantine Point. It has nothing to do with the pandemic of 2019. The name precedes that, dating back to the 1800s. Walking around the coast south west of the beach, you see this point on the end of the peninsula. Several buildings were constructed here in 1892, built to quarantine and isolate the victims of smallpox, yellow fever, malaria, and other communicable diseases common in the region at the time. Now, just admire the views…

Those are just a quick eight in Grand Anse – I loved my time there!

 

Here are some videos from my time backpacking in Grand Anse Grenada 🇬🇩 :