Carriacou marks the southern tip of the Grenadines group, situated about 20 miles north of Granada, the biggest island in this part of the Caribbean. It covers 13 square miles and is the biggest island in an archipelago which stretches like a delicate chain of pearls between Granada and St Vincent. Choose a car hire comparison website to arrange a car for the freedom to explore the fabulous Grenadines and Carriacou, a paradise island if ever there was one.
Although Carriacou gets its name from the first Amerindian settlers, who called it the ‘Land of Reefs’, it was the French who were the first to settle there in any numbers, and they were later supplanted by the British in 1763.
Most of the inhabitants these days are of African descent but there are still a number of quaint cultural influences inherited from the days of British colonial occupation, such as driving on the left side of the road, although many of the signs are still in French, especially in the L’Esterre region of the island.
The roads in the Grenadines have improved enormously in the past decade and now excellent highways connect all the major towns. Driving is a great social occasion here, and you’ll soon realise that the amount of beeping that goes on reflects the friendly character of the people. You beep when you are about to overtake and then you beep again to say thanks.
The cultural history of Carriacou is particularly rich and varied because of its interesting history as a centre of the spice trade and a chess piece in the politics of Europe’s colonial powers for centuries. The deeply-embedded Quadrille dance is a case in point, deriving from pre-Napoleonic France, and the Big Drum ritual goes even farther back.
Christopher Columbus ‘discovered’ the island on his third voyage along with Granada and others in the group, and despite its somewhat turbulent history down the years since then the natives have managed to remain smiling and friendly, and seem to harbour few grudges against their erstwhile exploiters. Tourists are welcomed with open arms, and there are plenty of great attractions for them to enjoy here.
Carriacou is a laid-back island which attracts visitors renting homes there for a month or longer as well as day-trippers coming by plane or boat from the neighbouring islands of Granada and Petite Martinique.
The biggest attraction of the island is the amazing tradition of boat-building practised by the inhabitants. The construction of the traditional boats, which are used in racing contests as well as for fishing, revolves around an elaborate ritual lasting several days from the felling of the tree to the launching of the boat to thunderous partying.
The Carriacou Museum has exhibits on the region’s history and a large collection of the works of local artist Canute Caliste. This prolific painter is famed for knocking out up to 20 works in a single day, and when you consider that the likes of Rembrandt and Caravaggio typically took weeks or even months over just one production you appreciate what a local treasure Carriacou possesses in Mr Caliste.
Of course, snorkelling, windsurfing and scuba diving amongst the fabulous coral reefs around the island are also what draw visitors here in their droves, but Carriacou never jeopardises its laid-back style and there’s no danger of it ever losing its uniquely lazy atmosphere either.
You just need a 3-month temporary visitor’s license to drive around the island, and it can be used in Grenada as well.
David Elliott is a freelance writer who loves to travel, especially in Europe and Turkey. He’s spent most of his adult life in a state of restless excitement but recently decided to settle in North London. He gets away whenever he can to immerse himself in foreign cultures and lap up the history of great cities. This is a sponsored guest post.
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