Carriacou

Cruise ships cannot berth here, so passengers come ashore by tender.

Hillsborough is the principal tender port. It stands in the centre of Carriacou's capital on the island's western side.

Carriacou, known as the Land of Reefs, is the largest of Grenada's sister islands. Its busy heart is Hillsborough, home to banks, Government offices and the main police station. Normal business hours run from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm.

Carriacou covers only 13 sq miles, yet offers plenty to occupy a day: world-class snorkelling and diving on some of the Caribbean's most pristine reefs, alongside historic sights and cultural landmarks. Restaurants and bars appear around every bend, providing ample choice for food, drink and entertainment.

Carriacou's rich heritage includes distinctive customs passed down by African and European ancestors: Traditional Weddings, Traditional Boat Launching, Tombstone Feast "Saraca" Libations, Big Drum Nation Dance, Village Maroons, Shakespeare Mas, All Saint Candle Lighting "Pass Play", Cemetery Cleaning and Fishermen Birthday Celebrations.

Traditional techniques inherited from Scottish settlers are still used to build sailing boats in Windward village. New initiatives encourage younger people to learn the craft of boatbuilding and make model boats, while the annual Carriacou Regatta in July/ August aims to revive the tradition.

Local buses cost approximately EC $2.00 per mile, or generally EC $3.00 for a ride.

Water taxis can carry you to nearby Sandy Island, Petite Martinique or another destination you choose.

This Grenadian dependency has a particularly strong culture and one of the Eastern Caribbean's highest per-capita incomes. Essentially one large hill, the island has good beaches along its calmer, western leeward coast. It covers 486 acres (194 hectares), lies 3 miles (5km) east of Carriacou's northern half and is home to about 900 people.

Petite Martinique, like Carriacou, was initially settled by the French, and many residents have French-derived names. Fishing and boatbuilding remain the principal occupations, and the island can still be reached only by boat.

Most hotels, car-hire companies and shops take major credit cards, while travellers' cheques are accepted everywhere. The local Eastern Caribbean Dollar is linked to the US Dollar. Banks exchange US$1.00 cash for EC$2.67, or US$1.00 in travellers' cheques for EC$2.68; using a bank is advisable because rates elsewhere may be less favourable.

Although English is the official language, hearing a French-African patois is common.

General shop hours are 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Supermarkets and shopping centres normally open from 9:00 am. – 7 pm., with one or two also trading on Sundays.

Craft and souvenir outlets often open on a Sunday or Bank Holiday, particularly when a cruise ship is in port.