Carriacou (pronounced “Carry a koo”) comes from the Amerindian word Kayryouacou which literally means “land surrounded by reefs”. That’s why you’ll hear Carriacou referred to as the Land of Reefs.
Carriacou has a population of about 9,600 people. Even though it is only 13 square miles (33.6 square kilometers), the island of Carriacou is the largest among the Grenadine island chain located between mainland Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Carriacou is part of the three-island state of Grenada, even though it is physically closer to St Vincent and the Grenadines. The other parts are mainland Grenada itself (120 square miles & 100,000 people) and Petite Martinique (¾ square miles & 900 people).
Isn’t Carriacou just a smaller version of Grenada’s main island? Definitely not! Check out our post, Why Carriacou is the Best Part of Grenada.
Carriacou is one of the last places, if not the last place, in the Caribbean that has retained the charm of yesteryear. It is often deemed the Caribbean’s last uncut diamond. Even mainland Grenada has lost some of its charms, especially the capital, which is now choking with cars and heaving with entitled tourists.
Plus, Carriacou is as safe, friendly and laid-back as it is beautiful. There are no large hotels or fast food chains, and that’s just the way we like it.
Map of Carriacou
The best hard map of Carriacou is the free PDF "sailor's map" produced by Doyle Guides (direct link). A free printed version of the map is also available from many leading Carriacou businesses.
Next best is the hard copy touristic map from Pure Grenada (aka the Grenada Tourism Authority) available at the main tourist office in the capital of Hillsborough and at many other places.
We also have a collection of interesting Carriacou maps, including some historical ones.
Carriacou’s main neighborhoods are as follows (in clockwise order):
- Hillsborough – the capital where most government services and many local shops are located
- Craigston – a community located North of Hillsborough which also contains Craigston Estates, a mostly expat enclave
- Bogles – an area located just North of Craigston
- Windward – the northern and northeastern tip of the island famous for its boat building traditions
- Belair – the hilly centre of the island most known for its hospital
- Mt. Pleasant - the largest village on the central eastern side of Carriacou
- Top Hill - has the Top Hill Senior Citizen Home
- Dumfries – most known for the being the island’s landfill site
- Belmont - home to a new hotel development Cassada Bay
- Hermitage – a settlement on the peninsula towards the island’s southwestern tip
- Harvey Vale – a thriving local community in the southwest of the island
- Tyrell Bay – actually part of Harvey Vale, this bay has many of the island’s most upscale shops and restaurants thanks to the nearby marinas which attract sailboats and yachts
- L’Esterre – the island’s central peninsula pointing west
- Lauriston – nestled between L’Esterre and Hillsborough, this neighborhood is most known for its Paradise beach and the airport
- Offshore islands – these include the iconic Sandy Island, but also (in clockwise order therefrom) Jack a Dan, Saline, White, Mushroom, Sister Rocks and Mabouya island(s)
Carriacou’s Climate
Carriacou enjoys a wonderful climate, being warm all-year round with an average temperature of around 82°F / 28°C.
Carriacou lies under the main "hurricane belt" in the tropical southern Caribbean. While it generally experiences a tropical climate with a distinct dry and rainy season, it is occasionally affected by tropical storms and hurricanes. Notably, on July 01, 2024, Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record, made landfall on Carriacou, causing significant damage to the island's infrastructure and environment. Before Beryl, Carriacou had been hit by 2 hurricanes in modern memory, Ivan on September 7, 2004 and Emily on July 13, 2005.
If you are familiar with mainland Grenada, you will note that Carriacou is drier than Grenada. It is somewhat less lush in the rainy season and browner in the dry season than Grenada.
Weather Forecasts
Your best sources for (semi-)accurate weather forecasts for Carriacou are Windy.com and Windfinder.
Or, you can forecast the weather the same way the locals do: look East to see what’s behind Highpoint. That’s the weather heading Carriacou’s way.
Carriacou Webcams
You check also out the current weather “live” no matter where you are via these webcams:
Best Time of Year to Visit Carriacou?
You can visit year-round. The high season is from Christmas to March. September is probably the quietest month for tourism. In fact, many businesses close for September. But that means it’s a good time to score a deal on accommodation - be prepared for mosquitos though!
Brief History of Carriacou
The island has a long and fascinating history that dates back to pre-Columbian times.
The first inhabitants of Carriacou were the Amerindians, who arrived on the island around 1000 BC. These early settlers were part of the Saladoid culture, which was known for its skilled pottery-making and agriculture. The Saladoid people lived on Carriacou for centuries, until they were eventually displaced by the Caribs in the 13th century.
The Caribs were a warlike people who resisted colonization by European powers. They successfully fought off attempts by the Spanish to take control of Carriacou, and the island remained independent for many years. However, the Caribs were eventually defeated by the British in the 18th century, and Carriacou became a British colony.
Under British rule, Carriacou underwent significant changes. The island's economy was transformed from one based on agriculture and trade to one based on slavery. Sugar cane plantations were established, and slaves were brought from Africa to work on them. This period of Carriacou's history was marked by great suffering and exploitation of the enslaved population.
In the 19th century, the British abolished slavery and Carriacou underwent another transformation. The island became a hub of the maritime trade, and many of its residents became skilled sailors and boat builders. Carriacou's shipyards became famous throughout the Caribbean, and the island's population grew as people from other parts of the region migrated there to work.
In the 20th century, Carriacou became part of the country of Grenada. The island has continued to thrive and has a strong sense of community and cultural identity. Today, Carriacou is known for its beautiful beaches, friendly people, and rich history.
The People
People of Carriacou are affectionately known as “kayaks”. Kayaks are very friendly, welcoming people who have African and Scottish ancestry.
Carriacou’s Unofficial Anthem?
Although it seems this song was originally composed to promote a local business, we really like this jingle and think it will stick in your head!
Telephone Area Code (473)
Carriacou uses the same telephone area code as the rest of Grenada, 473. Both share the same top level country code as North America: +001.
Taxes
In Carriacou, value-added tax (VAT) is added to most bills at the rate of 15%.
Tipping
Many tourist-based service businesses will automatically add a 10% service charge to your bill.
Any additional tipping is completely at your own discretion.
Currency & Exchange Rates
XCD / ECD / EC$
The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (shared among the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as well as two British Overseas Territories, Anguilla and Montserrat).
Its official abbreviation is XCD but you will often see ECD or EC$ used too.
The Eastern Caribbean Dollar is pegged at a fixed rate (it never changes) to the US dollar as follows.
- USD$1.00 = XCD$2.70
- XCD$1.00 = USD$0.37
Other Currencies
The US dollar (USD$) is widely accepted in cash, but folks will only accept bills that are in pristine condition.
The British pound (GBP£) and Euro (EUR€) are not generally accepted in Carriacou.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are not widely accepted except for businesses catering to tourists. Please note that many businesses will add a surcharge (typically 4%) for credit card payments.
Water
Officially, the tap water on Carriacou is safe to drink, but if you are not used to it, your digestive system will play up. That said, it’s fine to use boiled tap water for coffee, tea and cooking, but just make sure to boil it thoroughly.
If you can afford bottled water, we recommend you drink that.
Electricity
Like the rest of Grenada, Carriacou runs on 220V/50Hz electricity and uses UK-type plug ins (the bulky two- of three-prong ones).
The electricity plugs used in Carriacou are mostly of the British-variety.
This voltage and current are the same as the UK (and EU), but different from the standard of 110V/60Hz found in the US (and Canada).
Dual voltage is supported by lots of equipment, such as laptops, so in most cases you may only need an adapter if your equipment has North American or Continental European plugs.
However, some equipment from North America, like televisions, which are not dual voltage and rely only on 110V/60Hz electricity will need a voltage converter to operate properly.
Check the labels on your equipment if you have any doubt.
Official Tourist Information Office, Hillsborough
Since the ferry terminal was relocated to Tyrell Bay, the location of this office is not as convenient as it once was.
But the office carries plenty of brochures, good maps and posts the standardized taxi rates. A helpful, knowledgeable staff person is usually on hand to provide any assistance you may need.
Driving
Here are a few notes about driving in Carriacou:
- Drive on the left (British style)
- Seatbelts are mandatory
- Roads are narrow but can accommodate 2 vehicles in most places
- Be aware that mini-buses tend to speed and may be impatient and try to pass you under sometimes unsafe conditions
If you are looking to rent a car, please see Renting a Car in Carriacou.
Temporary Driving License / Permit
To drive a car in Carriacou, you will need a temporary driving license/permit.
But don’t worry as the process is easy: just go to the Charge Room at the Police Station in Hillsborough (behind the Official Tourist Information office). Show them a valid driving license, pay the fee of EC$60 (you must pay in cash in local EC dollars) and they will issue you a temporary license. Please try to have exact change.
The temporary permit will be valid for 3 months. Shorter periods for less cost are not available, so don’t bother asking.
Cell/Mobile Phone Plans in Carriacou
There are 2 main cell/mobile phone coverage providers in Carriacou, Flow and Digicel. Both offer very confusing plans, so be careful what you sign up for.
Food
Local food in Carriacou emphasizes meat and fish.
Roti is a local favorite. A roti is a wrap-like sandwich of curry stew wrapped tightly inside a soft flatbread. The stew always contains potatoes and carrots and, although vegetarian versions are common, a roti will usually contain meat (beef, chicken, conch, shrimp or goat).
If you are looking for restaurants on Carriacou, please see Best Restaurants in Carriacou or all of our Places to Eat listings.
Local Food Dishes to Try
Popular breakfast food among kayaks are bakes and doubles. Doubles are two small, deep-fried flatbreads with curried chickpeas in-between. Bakes are fluffy, fried disks of dough.
Oil down is the national dish for all of Grenada and they enjoy it on Carriacou too. It’s a slow cooked stew usually with breadfruit, coconut milk, saffron, dumplings, callaloo and a salted fish such as codfish or smoked herring, or salted beef.
Vegetarians/Vegans
It is possible to follow a vegetarian diet on Carriacou, but a vegan diet will be more difficult. Interestingly, vegetarian/vegan milks are readily available at Carriacou grocery stores owing to the prevalence of lactose intolerance among the local population.
Before heading out to a restaurant, it is always wise to call ahead and confirm that they can cater to your dietary requirements. Even if their publicized menu indicates vegetarian/vegan dishes are available, it is still best to call in advance as availability cannot be guaranteed.
Newspapers
There are two “competing” newspapers on Carriacou and they sell-out quickly!
In addition, the Grenada-based Informer, has a good Carriacou section.
For other online news, check out NOW Grenada’s Carriacou-tagged posts.
Radio Stations
Carriacou has no less than three radio stations:
- Vibes, 101.3 FM in Hillsborough - listen live at https://tunein.com/radio/Vibes-1013-s195981/
- Sister Isle Radio (92.9 FM) at the top of Fort Hill in Hillsborough – listen live at http://www.sisterisleradio929.com/
- KYAK106 FM (http://www.kyak106.com/) – listen live to this home-grown radio station at https://www.zenolive.com/kyak106
Air Quality
The World Health Organization (WHO) has not measured Carriacou’s air quality. The closest estimates of Carriacou's air quality are the readings for Grenada and St Vincent. And Grenada is 1 of only 7 countries worldwide with safe air quality (see NYT & Time articles).
That's according to the 2023 World Air Quality Report published by IQAir, a Swiss firm that monitors real-time air quality around the world and has published an annual assessment since 2018.
Why is Everything So Expensive?
Once you start looking into this, you’ll quickly find out why. The answer is simple: duties and taxes on imports.
The island of Carriacou produces very little of its own goods. Surprisingly, this even applies to fruit & vegetables! That means almost everything you buy has been imported.
And import duties and taxes are very high. This is in part due to Grenada’s recent financial reforms to meet demands by the World Bank after Grenada’s finances were “bailed out” a few years back.
Duty is charged on the base value of goods (“CIF”) at rates ranging anywhere from 0 to 35% or even higher. Then the further (GSC) tax of 25% is applied to that aggregate amount. Then add another 5% tax (“CSC”) on the original value of the goods.
Let’s take a specific example: if you import USD$100 worth of wine, the final cost after duties and taxes is USD$173.75. Ouch!
Notice how the GSC tax of 25% is charged on the after-duty value of the goods. Double-ouch!
Did we miss any thing? Is there anything else you'd like to know? Reach out to us!