It’s fair to say that getting to Carriacou is not quite as straightforward as hopping on a flight to NewYork or Miami, and you have to be a little bit creative. But this is all par for the course in the Caribbean, where things tend to be a bit laid back and flexible, and where it’s not a hanging offence to be late for an appointment.
Having said that, the easiest route is to get to Grenada first and then take the Britten Norman Islanders 9-seater SVG Air flight that is the only service of its kind operating between Grenada and Carriacou, taking about 20 minutes to get to Carriacou airport. One-way flights and children under 12 come at half price. The single flight leaves Grenada at different times each day of the week, and these are always subject to change so it’s best to book a reservation through the SVG Air website before heading out.
Getting to Grenada itself may present a problem, because there aren’t many direct services, but again a flexible approach helps and you’ll find plenty of opportunities for transiting from neighbouring islands in the region. Island hopping in the Grenadines is part of the fun of having a holiday here.
An alternative that will appeal to travellers looking for a bit of excitement and really getting in to the spirit of life in these islands is to emulate the famed Carriacou sloops and take the fast Osprey catamaran from Grenada to Carriacou. The trip takes about 90 minutes, and you can pick up a ticket at the dock. It works out a lot cheaper than flying, but be prepared for a possibly bumpy ride especially on the journey out from Grenada, and a couple of sea sickness pills before boarding might be a good idea.
The catamaran pushes off from the Carenage in St George’s, Grenada at 9:00 am each day, 8:00 am on Sundays, and arrives at Hillsborough Jetty in Carriacou, to make the return trip at 3:30 pm before another departure from Grenada at 5:30 pm.
If your stomach can handle it the Osprey alternative will certainly get your holiday off to a great start – you can’t beat racing through the clear blue Caribbean waters with the spray, wind and sun on your face and a lush, green sliver of paradise approaching on the horizon.
Another popular route to Carriacou is via Barbados to Grenada, and you get to choose between two airlines for the first leg of the trip, LIAT and Caribbean Star, then use the Osprey or SVG Air to Carriacou. SVG Air also does a private charter flight.
From the USA there are daily flights from JFK in New York to Air Jamaica’s Montego Bay hub, and American Airlines have flights from Miami to Grenada and route their Caribbean services through the hub in San Juan, Puerto Rica. For travellers from Europe BA, Monarch Airlines and Virgin Atlantic all run weekly flights to Grenada.
However you choose to get to Carriacou, you’ll find that the minor inconveniences are far outweighed by the warmth and hospitality of the islanders and the stunning natural beauty of the unspoilt island itself once you’ve arrived.