Grenada Vs. St Lucia: Which Island Escape Should You Book in 2024?
Two dazzling destinations, there’s no doubt. But, when it comes down to it, should you be jetting off to Grenada or St Lucia? We have years of experience travelling both islands, so we’re in a good position to unpuzzle this tricky holiday quandary for you.
Trying to decide between Grenada or St Lucia for your next escape can seem like a trivial choice. But, when you’re paying for an incredible Caribbean holiday, you want to know that you’ve got the ideal location for you, right?
Allow us to help untangle this mess for you. On the face of it, both incredible islands seem similar in their offerings, but there are nuances if you know where to look – which we do.
There’s much to unpack on this subject. So, in this blog, we’ll strip out the two dazzling destinations and explore the best things to get up to, so you can make a more informed decision on where to go.
Grenada or St Lucia: Which Island Should You Choose?
Grenada and St Lucia both have a lot to offer. These two Caribbean islands are steeped in cultural traditions with beautiful beaches, lush inland rainforests, hiking trails and mountains. As well as impressive waterfalls and lots of great food options in the local villages and towns. But, if you’re struggling to separate them, this should help:
If you like floating back and forth between a peaceful paradise and entertaining nightlife, St. Lucia is for you. The island delivers more of a touristy vibe for visitors to indulge in, with centres like romantic Castries providing a change from the beaches, mountains and rainforests.
However, if picturesque shores and quaint local towns are more your thing, Grenada is the island for you. Of course, both islands offer those incredible white-sand shorelines. But Grenada’s stretches of sand are nothing short of iconic. Grenada also offers more of that peaceful local charm.
There are more points to consider in this argument though, so let’s dive a little deeper into some of the attractive sights these destinations have to offer. This will give you a better sense of which is better suited to your interests.
What St. Lucia Has to Offer
St Lucia is considered to be the more touristy of the two islands. It also delivers more rugged geography, with charming villages and a lush inland landscape, perfect for adventurers. But what are the top attractions on the island?
- Sulphur Springs
- Snorkelling at Anse Chastanet
- The Pitons
- Exploring the waterfalls
Sulphur Springs
No trip to St Lucia would be complete without a visit to the picturesque and relaxing Sulphur Springs.
As the world’s only drive-through volcano, and one of the best natural attractions in Saint Lucia, this spot is a must-see. Visitors can take a dip in the bubbling mud and grab a unique selfie opportunity.
The mineral-rich mud is said to have restorative properties which draw out impurities and exfoliate to leave your skin feeling renewed. There’s also a selection of waterfalls close by for you to wash off the gloop in the most dramatic way possible.
The area formed from a collapsed volcanic crater, which now offers a unique spot for a dip in some of the best natural hot springs and mud baths.
Anse Chastanet Snorkelling
Though St. Lucia is more known for its majestic inland landscapes, if beaches are more your thing, there are plenty of great options too.
Reduit Beach is one of the longest strips of sand in all of St. Lucia. With golden sands set against a lush, hilly backdrop. But the true coastal gem in St. Lucia is the snorkelling on Anse Chastanet. This beach is one of the most spectacular, with superb coral reefs for snorkelling and an amazing sight of the mountains in the background.
The Pitons
One of the highlights of St Lucia’s lush inland landscape is its majestic volcanic mountain range. The mountains are considered a world heritage site with beautiful jungle trails and waterfalls galore. You can even climb the Pitons or ride in a cable car along the top of the canopy for a truly spectacular view.
Waterfalls For Days
As we already mentioned, the numerous waterfalls throughout St. Lucia should not be missed. Not only are these wonders a sight to see, but they offer a nice refreshing escape when the weather is steamy.
Some of our favourites are the Toraille Waterfall in the town of Soufriere and Piton Waterfall in the volcanic mountain range with a warm spring pool.
What to Do in Grenada
On the other side of the Grenada vs Saint Lucia battle, Grenada also has some amazing lush landscapes. But this island is more known for its beaches and cultural offerings
- The Carenage, St George
- Lounge on the beaches
- Explore the sweet-smelling hills
- Grand Etang National Park
The Carenage in St George
A must-see when visiting Grenada is the town of St. George. This is the capital of Grenada and THE spot to go for the island’s best restaurants and cultural attractions. The Carenage, in particular, is a beautiful waterfront promenade with quaint cafés, restaurants, and boutiques.
White Sand Beaches
If you prefer luxurious white sand beaches, then Grenada is definitely the place for you. This island is home to some of the most amazing powder sand beaches with crystal clear, blue waters.
The Grand Anse Beach is a particular favourite for visitors and locals alike, as it is one of the most incredible stretches of coastline in the country.
A Spice-Lover’s Paradise
For food lovers, especially those with a taste for spice, Grenada is the place to be. This island is famous for its spices, such as nutmeg and cocoa. They even have an annual spice festival called Spicemas every year in August to celebrate the island’s spice heritage.
If you’re up for some spice, try visiting the Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Station or the Spice Market in St. George.
Grand Etang National Park
For some of Grenada’s lusher inland vibes, check out the Grand Etang National Park. This incredible national park is a wonderful paradise full of hidden gems.
At the centre is a massive crater lake from an old, dormant volcano. The park as a whole is one giant tropical paradise with amazing rainforest canopies and numerous jungle trails to explore.
Top Tips for Enjoying Your Caribbean Escape
Both islands boast an abundance of beaches, rainforests, waterfalls, and villages to explore. Just don’t forget to come prepared.
Lots of visitors plan to enjoy a relaxing beach vacation only to find themselves drawn to the fantastic inland excursions. But some adventures can get quite rugged. So it’s important to stay hydrated and pack other essentials to keep safe. Nothing ruins a vacation more than a trip to the local ER.
When’s The Best Time to Go?
Grenada and St Lucia are two Caribbean islands which lie around 135 miles from each other. So, they do feature quite similar climates. This means that when it’s the best time to visit Saint Lucia it’s likely to be similarly clement in Grenada. But when is that time?
When you decide which island is more suited to your holiday tastes, then you will want to plan your trip between December and April.
During this time the weather is calmest on the islands and temperatures fall between 26° and 31°. The rainy season in this area of the Caribbean falls between November – June. So when the rains clear and the sun shines for longer, you’ll be treated to stunning nature including blooming tropical flowers in a million colours and, similarly kaleidoscopic sunsets.
However, there aren’t many bad times to visit the Caribbean (especially now that hurricanes are not as prevalent). So, if you don’t mind what time of year you travel and you’re not afraid to catch the odd shower, then you could stand to save more on your Caribbean holiday. Plus, if you head to Grenada in early August, you could have the unique experience of being in town for Spicemas – a huge spice harvest festival.
Grenada Vs. Saint Lucia: Where to Stay?
Now you know what Grenada and Saint Lucia offer in terms of things to do, how do you split the difference when it comes to resorts?
The truth is both islands rely heavily on tourism so, no matter which option you choose, you’ll be guaranteed a comfortable stay. But what are the top picks? We’ve distilled your best options down.
Best Hotels For Couples in St Lucia
If your Grenada Vs. Saint Lucia debate has seen you land on the side of St Lucia, then you will be sure of an incredible time at any of these stunning settings.
- Bay Gardens
- Soco House
- Mystique St Lucia by Royalton
Bay Gardens Resorts
Starting strong. Bay Gardens is, without doubt, one of the best resorts on the island. Because it’s made up of 4 hotels, you can book a stay in one and play at all four! Included in the range is:
Soco House
Those searching for a more luxurious escape could find themselves a gorgeous home at Soco House. This adults-only resort in St Lucia features ideal positioning for those who like to get out and explore more. Walking distance from the popular Rodney Bay area you’ll be one of just 76 rooms at this boutique locale and have the option to use the resort spa, as well as charming bar, restaurant and pool areas.
Mystique St Lucia By Royalton
If you’re a fan of spectacular views and love nothing more when on holiday than catching a magical sunset or two then Mystique St Lucia by Royalton is perfect. The perfect setting for a resort, the hotel has been through a couple of recent renovations to ensure the interior matches the special scenes outside.
Best Hotels For Couples in Grenada
On the other hand, if Grenada won your heart we have a hattrick of awesome resorts just waiting to meet your acquaintance too. It won’t surprise you to know that they’re all on a special beachfront.
- Royalton Grenada Resort & Spa
- Sandals Grenada Resort & Spa
- Coyaba Beach Resort
Royalton Grenada Resort & Spa
You might think that the smaller the island, the smaller the resorts must be. But that’s not the case here. At Royalton Grenada Resort & Spa you can enjoy access to two white sand beaches on gorgeous Tamarind Bay. Plus, you can also benefit from a range of five-star amenities including three pools, four restaurants and six bars, as well as a luxurious spa.
Sandals Grenada Resort & Spa
Ranked as the number 1 adults-only resort in Grenada on TripAdvisor – and for good reason. The stunning surroundings of Sandals Grenada Resort & Spa are designed with romantic couples escapes in mind. Five-star amenities include 10 restaurants six bars, five pools and a world of other inclusions.
Coyaba Beach Resort
Looking for something more boutique in Grenada? Coyaba Beach Resort ticks that box, with just 80 rooms in the whole complex. But the other super attractive factor of this resort is that it lies just steps from one of the best beaches in the Caribbean – Grand Anse Beach. Plus, if you want more exploration from your Grenada adventure, the hotel is just under 3 miles from St George’s.
Choose Not to Choose
Overall, you can’t really go wrong with either option. Which makes it silly to even have to choose a winner, right?
With that in mind, how about you ditch the decision-making altogether and opt for the best of all worlds? Many Caribbean cruise itineraries will allow you to take in the best things to do on the islands. Plus, when you’re not off exploring the next awesome location, you could be enjoying everything the ship has to offer.
Click the button below now to learn more about all the amazing activities included on a Caribbean cruise.
