Logistics · Country Guide
Warm-water wrecks, shallow sculpture reefs, and Grenadine calm in one compact tri-island trip
Use this travel brief to set arrival flow, local transit, and gear movement before you lock your itinerary.
Most international travelers arrive through Maurice Bishop International Airport on Grenada's southwest coast, then stay near Grand Anse or St. George's for the easiest access to dive boats and day charters. Carriacou is the classic second step, reached either by a short SVG Air hop to Lauriston Airport or by ferry from St. George's.
For country-scale itineraries, the cleanest sequence is usually main island first, Carriacou second. That keeps your first nights close to the international gateway and leaves the more weather-sensitive transfer for the middle of the trip rather than the start or end.
Maurice Bishop International Airport
GND • TGPY
6 km • About 15 to 20 minutes by road to Grand Anse
Main international gateway for Grenada (St. George's and Grand Anse), and the simplest starting point for almost any country-wide itinerary.
Transport: Airport taxis, Pre-booked hotel transfers, Car rentals
Lauriston Airport
CRU • TGPZ
5 km • About 10 to 15 minutes by road to Hillsborough or Tyrrel Bay
Small island gateway for Carriacou (Tyrrel Bay), useful when you want to avoid a same-day ferry with dive luggage.
Transport: Pre-booked transfers, Local taxis, Guesthouse pickup when arranged
Grenada's southwest is easy by taxi, rental car, or pre-arranged transfer. Official public buses run Monday to Saturday, roughly 6:00 am to 9:00 pm, with fares generally about EC$2.50 to EC$6.50 depending on route. If you rent a car, visitors need a local driving permit, and some rental firms arrange it for you while others send you to the police station. Carriacou is simpler and smaller, so many travelers rely on taxis, guesthouse pickups, and short local drives rather than full-time car hire.
Grenada requires a valid passport and proof of return or onward travel. Official travel guidance says passports should have at least six months of validity. Many travelers from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, much of Europe, Japan, South Korea, and the Caribbean do not need a visa for short visits, but the official visa list should always be checked before booking.
Arriving travelers must complete Grenada's online Immigration and Customs form, available within 72 hours of arrival, and save or print the receipt.
The main island is the easiest place to start if you need rental gear, forgotten basics, or a first-day checkout. Carriacou has fewer logistics layers, so reserve specialty sizes and non-standard items before you arrive. Compact packing helps when you are ferrying or taking small inter-island flights. Bring a save-a-dive kit, a dry bag, and a clear plan for how you will separate wet gear from flight luggage.
Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Cards are easy in major hotels, established restaurants, and many tourism businesses around St. George's and Grand Anse. Cash becomes more useful for buses, some taxis, beach bars, small shops, and day-to-day spending once you are outside the main southwest hub or on Carriacou.
The easiest ATM access is around Maurice Bishop International Airport, St. George's, Grand Anse, and central Hillsborough in Carriacou. Carry a cash backup before heading to smaller communities or onward to Petite Martinique.
230V • 50Hz • G
Grenada commonly uses UK-style type G plugs. Bring an adapter if you do not already use that format, and pack a compact charger setup if you are moving between guesthouses, boats, and inter-island flights.
Communications
Grenada's area code is 473. Official tourism guidance highlights FLOW and Digicel as the main mobile providers. Coverage is strongest around St. George's, Grand Anse, and Hillsborough, and less predictable on remote north-coast roads, offshore crossings, and some interior trail areas.
Language
English is the official language. You may also hear Grenadian Creole and French-African Patois in everyday conversation.
Insurance
Carry dive accident cover plus trip-interruption insurance. This matters more than usual if you are splitting time with Carriacou, because weather can delay ferries or small aircraft and complex dive incidents may involve transfer between islands or coordination with DAN.
Packing list
A 3mm suit or shorty covers most visitors well, with a rash vest useful for snorkeling and sunny boat rides. Add reef-safe sunscreen, a dry bag, a light rain shell for wet-season travel or mountain days, a type G plug adapter, and enough cash for smaller transactions. Photographers and specialty divers should bring their own spares because inter-island replacements are not something to count on.