Grenada: the Spice Island's forests, lakes and birds
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Quick answer: Grenada is a small, mountainous island in the southern Lesser Antilles, known for nutmeg and for the Grenada dove, one of the most endangered doves in the world. Most nature trips centre on Grand Etang, a rainforest reserve around a crater lake, with waterfalls, dry coastal woodland and reefs close by. The dry season runs from January to May.
Grand Etang National Park and the crater lake
Grand Etang National Park and Forest Reserve covers the mountains in the centre of the island, and the tourism authority calls it Grenada's most popular hiking area. At its heart lies Grand Etang Lake, about 36 acres (15 hectares) of water in the crater of an extinct volcano, some 530 metres above sea level.
BirdLife International describes rainforest, lower montane rainforest and elfin woodland on the steeper slopes, and lists the reserve as an Important Bird Area. Ospreys, herons and spotted sandpipers feed at the lake. The forest also holds mona monkeys, which the tourism authority says came originally from West Africa.
The Grenada dove and other birds
The Grenada dove (Leptotila wellsi) is the national bird and lives only on Grenada. BirdLife lists it as Critically Endangered, with an estimated 136 to 182 adults in 2013. Hurricanes, building and introduced predators such as mongooses, rats and cats all threaten it.
It lives in dry coastal scrub and woodland below 150 metres, not in the rainforest. BirdLife names two strongholds: Mount Hartman National Park in the south-west and the Perseverance, Woodford and Beauséjour area on the west coast.
The government set up Mount Hartman National Park in 1996 to protect the dove, and the tourism authority says a guide can take you along its trails to look for it. The bird spends much of its time walking on the ground, so listen for its call: BirdLife describes a mournful, falling "hoooo", repeated every seven to eight seconds.
BirdLife's country list for Grenada holds 115 bird species. Grand Etang is an Important Bird Area for small-range birds such as the Grenada flycatcher and the Antillean crested hummingbird, and look out for the broad-winged hawk, known locally as the gree-gree. Our Caribbean birdwatching guide has tips for every island.
Waterfalls and hiking trails
Grand Etang's trails range from 15-minute strolls to hikes of several hours. The tourism authority lists a 2 km Shoreline loop around the lake, a 3 km trail (one way) up Mount Qua Qua into cloud forest, and the 5 km Seven Sisters trail.
The Seven Sisters are seven waterfalls in the rainforest not far from the lake. The first is about 40 minutes' walk away, the trails beyond it are rugged, and the tourism authority advises taking a guide.
Two other falls are easier to reach:
- Annandale Falls, about 20 minutes' drive from St George's, drops 30 feet into a pool surrounded by gardens.
- Concord Falls, in the parish of St John, is about 65 feet high, with two more falls further up through nutmeg, cocoa and banana farmland. Only confident swimmers should enter the pool.
Wear shoes with good grip and start early. For more walks, see our rainforest hiking guide.
Spice estates and gardens
Nutmeg sits on Grenada's national flag, where the government says it stands for the island's reputation as the Isle of Spice. The tourism authority calls Grenada "the spice of the Caribbean" and lists spice gardens and estates around the island.
The Grenada Co-operative Nutmeg Association has worked in the nutmeg industry since 1947. At its processing station in Gouyave, in the parish of St John, you can watch workers sort, grade and pack the nutmegs.
Reefs and the coast
The tourism authority counts more than 50 dive sites, with coral reefs and shipwrecks. One of its most popular snorkelling sites is the Underwater Sculpture Park in the Molinere Beauséjour Marine Protected Area, first installed in 2006, where the sculptures act as artificial reefs.
On the north coast, Levera National Park covers 450 acres, with a lagoon and mangrove swamp that the tourism authority counts among the island's most important wildlife habitats. It says hundreds of leatherback turtles nest on Levera Beach between March and July. Off Carriacou, guided boat trips visit the protected Oyster Bed mangrove, a nursery for fish.
Never touch or stand on coral, and follow the rules of each marine protected area.
Best time to visit Grenada
The tourism authority gives a dry season from January to May and a rainy season from June to December, with average temperatures of 24 to 30°C. For UK travellers, the dry months take in February half-term and the Easter holidays, and the turtle season also covers the May half-term.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, according to the US National Hurricane Center. BirdLife records damage from Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and the tourism authority says Carriacou and Petite Martinique are rebuilding after Hurricane Beryl. Check FCDO travel advice before you go.
Getting there from the UK and where to base yourself
International flights land at Maurice Bishop International Airport, and the tourism authority lists flights from London Gatwick and London Heathrow. It also lists daily regional flights to Trinidad and Barbados, handy if you want to add our Trinidad and Tobago guide to the trip. Check current schedules before you plan.
Grenada keeps Atlantic Standard Time, which the tourism authority puts four hours behind GMT, so it is five hours behind the UK during British Summer Time. Carriacou is a short inter-island flight or a ferry ride away.
Good bases, by area:
- St George's and the south-west for Mount Hartman and Annandale Falls.
- The central mountains for Grand Etang and the Seven Sisters.
- The north coast for Levera National Park.
- Carriacou for the Oyster Bed mangrove and its dive sites.
Watch wildlife responsibly
- Look for the Grenada dove quietly, with a guide, and stay on the trails.
- Never feed the mona monkeys or other wildlife, and limit recorded bird calls.
- On turtle beaches, go with a trained guide and use no bright lights or flash.
- Never touch or stand on coral.
Sources
All pages opened on 20 October 2026.
- Government of Grenada: National symbols
- Pure Grenada (Grenada Tourism Authority): Grand Etang; Mt. Hartman Dove Sanctuary; Seven Sisters; Concord Waterfalls; Annandale Waterfalls; Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Station; Nutmeg Association; Diving; Underwater Sculpture Park; Levera National Park; Oyster Bed Mangrove; About Grenada; FAQs; Getting to Grenada
- BirdLife International DataZone: Grenada country profile; Important Bird Areas Grand Etang and Mount Hartman; Grenada dove (data read through the DataZone API)
- US National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone climatology
- GOV.UK: Grenada travel advice; When do the clocks change?
Frequently asked questions
What is Grenada known for?
Spices, above all nutmeg, which appears on the national flag. Nature lovers also come for Grand Etang's rainforest and crater lake, its waterfalls and the Underwater Sculpture Park.
What is the national bird of Grenada?
The Grenada dove (Leptotila wellsi), which lives nowhere else. BirdLife International lists it as Critically Endangered, with an estimated 136 to 182 adults in 2013.
Where can you see the Grenada dove?
Mount Hartman National Park, near Woburn Bay in the south-west, was set up to protect it. Go early with a guide and listen for its slow, falling call.
When is the best time to visit Grenada from the UK?
The dry season, January to May, covers February half-term and the Easter holidays. The hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November.
Do I need a visa for Grenada from the UK?
We don't state entry rules ourselves, because they can change. Check the GOV.UK FCDO entry requirements page for Grenada before you book; the same advice covers safety and security.
