About Carriacou
Geography
Carriacou lies 20 miles north of Grenada, and at 13 square miles, it is the largest island of the Grenadines archipelago. The Island is characterized by hilly terrain (the highest point being High North at 955 feet) sloping to white, sandy beaches and surrounded by reefs. In fact, the earliest settlers named the island Carriacou "Kay-ryou-acou", meaning "the land of reefs".
Carriacou has a typical Caribbean climate with a year round average temperature of 26 degrees Centigrade, with the dry season in the months of January to June.
History
The earliest evidence of civilization are pottery shards and ancient tools dating back to 1000 A.D. when the island was populated by Arawaks and later by Caribs. The modern history of Carriacou is of a land that changed hands as "The West" waged war and fought over the precious Caribbean lands that grew sugar, cocoa, lime and cotton.
Carriacou was initially colonized by the French, but then in 1756 the British Empire took hold. Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique were granted independence in 1974, but are still part of the Commonwealth.
The Carriacou Museum in Paterson Street, managed by the Carriacou Historical Society has Amerindian artefacts as well as exhibits tracing the early British and French occupation of the islands. It also has an African section. The museum is housed in a restored cotton gin mill.
Culture
The history of Carriacou is still evident today in place names like Anse La Roche, L'Esterre and Bay L'eau, as well as Scottish & French family names. The inhabitants of Carriacou (Kayaks) perform the "Big Drum" or "Nation" dance which celebrates their West African ancestors that were brought to the island as slaves. These Big Drum dances are usually performed at "Maroons" village festivals or fetes, where food and drink are prepared. The dances also take place at wakes and tombstone feasts in honor of dead relatives.
There are three main festivals during the year. Parang, around Christmas time, is a celebration of music and mayhem. The celebration includes mainly musical entertainment, with local bands performing throughout the weekend, as well as dance shows and other performances. Carriacou Carnival, held around February, is two days of street parades and various competitions among calypsonians and masquerade bands. And finally, Carriacou Regatta, held on the first weekend in August, is a racing event for locally built boats. In 2005, the Regatta celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Getting here
Grenada is the nearest international airport and is serviced by the major airlines —
As of November 2008, American Airlines have commenced a daily service to Grenada from Miami. Inter-connecting flights between the islands are by Liat
From Grenada, Carriacou is just a "quick hop" away either by air or by boat. There is a small airport (Lauriston) on the island serviced by local airline SVG Airline and a small ferry boat, The Osprey that runs between Carriacou, Grenada and Petite Martinique. The short distances between the Grenadines enables travel between them by small boats.
Getting around Carriacou
The best way to travel is by privately run 15 seater buses. However, if you rather see the island at your own pace then rental cars and taxis are also available.
What to do when you're here
Beaches
Carriacou has some of the finest beaches to be found in the Caribbean. Untouched by large resorts and mass tourism, the beaches provide a tranquil island paradise.
Diving
LUMBADIVE is the friendliest dive centre in the Caribbean. It is located in Tyrrell Bay, Carriacou, Grenada. Dive Master and owner, Jean Philippe Niedergang, has more than 15 years of diving experience and loves to share his knowledge about the behaviour of the aquatic life that you’ll see. Whether you are experienced or a complete novice, LUMBADIVE knows how to make diving enjoyable, safe and fun.
Sailing
Carriacou has a long history of boat building and sailing. Many people on the island make their living on the sea. It is not surprising then, that sailing is a popular past-time and there are no shortage of day trips and charters available.
Boat Building
A trip to Windward, located in the north of the island is well worth a visit. This sleepy village still continues the tradition of sloop boat building. A fascinating book was written about the traditions by Alexis Andrews. There is a video on youtube documenting the experience.
Useful Links
http://www.lumbadive.com - for diving
http://www.carsgrenada.com - for car hire
http://www.pattysdeli.com - deli
http://www.boglesroundhouse.com - for dining
http://www.lazy-turtle.com pizzeria
http://www.carriacoupetitemartinique.com - Carriacou Tourism Association
http://www.westernair.co.uk -flight deals