Ever since my first family vacation to Hawaii when I was 12, I’ve loved beach holidays in the tropics. Really, what’s not to love about white sand beaches, palm trees blowing in a balmy breeze, and sparkling turquoise waters?
Something I discovered on a visit to the Caribbean island of Grenada that I didn’t realize when I was 12, however, is that the tropics also easily make for a great wellness vacation. Like most of the Caribbean islands, as a coveted land for sugar and spice plantations, this tiny (34 by 19 kilometres) mountainous island, located just 160 kilometres north of Venezuela, was colonized by the French and then the British, and only achieved its independent commonwealth status in 1974.
But unlike some of the other islands, Grenada has managed to remain mostly non-commercialized, and the slow pace makes it the perfect island retreat destination. Here’s how to indulge in some self-care and wellness, Grenada-style:
EAT NATURALLY
Without even thinking about it, it’s easy to eat a light, wholesome diet on the island. Lunches and dinners offer unlimited options for a healthy mix of fresh, local veggies and just-caught fish and seafood.
As the saying goes, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so each morning of my stay at Spice Island Beach Resort, I skip the à la carte menu with its heavier French toast and omelette offerings, and stick to the buffet filled with fresh island fruits – some familiar, like watermelon, guava, passion fruit and pineapple; but others not, like soursop. Each day, there are also two freshly squeezed juice options, and I discover a new favourite: the refreshing sweet-and-sour Caribbean golden apple, said to be an antioxidant and high in vitamins and minerals, exactly what I need for my day.
Good ambiance, of course, helps digestion, so you’ve got to check out Street Food Wednesday at the True Blue Bay Boutique Resort, a weekly festival where you can sample typical Grenada street foods. Be sure to try the national dish, oil down, a one-pot-stew made from salted meats and fish, dumplings, coconut milk, turmeric, veggies and breadfruit, and the stewed lambie (conch). For dessert, indulge in the nutmeg ice cream, because you can burn those calories dancing the night away to live entertainment – calypso music, steel-drum bands or Grenada’s distinctive jab jab soca.
For more island flavours, make your way to the bustling St. George’s street market, located in the heart of the island’s capital city amidst a jumble of brightly Caribbean-coloured, red-roofed buildings. First off, grab a fresh coconut water served in its green shell, then browse the rickety tables brimming with vibrant fruits, veggies and island crafts.
Grenada isn’t called the Spice Island for nothing, and my favourite souvenir is a spice necklace, a pretty string of spices like nutmeg, mace, cinnamon and turmeric. Grenadians hang these in their kitchens, not just for the scent or to pinch off pieces for cooking, but also to treat health ailments, like nutmeg for back pain and arthritis and turmeric to reduce inflammation.
The island is famous for its chocolate, as well (there’s even an annual chocolate festival), and as any chocolate lover knows, chocolate is filled with health benefits. On a tour at Belmont Estate, a cocoa plantation that dates back to the 17th century, you will see the chocolate factory where the magic happens, and finish with the best part – samples of their world-class chocolate.
MOVE NATURALLY
Of course, when you stay at a hotel like Spice Island Beach Resort, you don’t need to go far to get your daily exercise. Start your day with a yoga class in the beach-front open-air pavilion, then get your 10,000 steps walking the three-kilometre long Grand Anse Beach (recently voted one of the best beaches in the world by Condé Nast).
For ocean lovers like me, the resort offers snorkelling equipment, paddle boards and kayaks. But a must-do is a snorkelling tour to the nearby Underwater Sculpture Park, the world’s first (National Geographic calls it one of the top wonders of the world), a vibrant artificial reef composed of over 100 pieces of art draped with coral to support marine life, built to help the ocean ecosystem regenerate after being damaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
To get out into the rainforest, book a tour to visit one of the island’s 15 waterfalls, like Concord Falls, where a short hike will take you down to the shaded coolness. Chances are good you’ll see a cliff jumper climb up and make the jump into the pool below (have some cash handy, this is how they make their living). And keep your eyes peeled for the cute little mono monkeys that inhabit the island.
RELAX NATURALLY
For me, no wellness retreat is complete without a pampering spa treatment, so I head to Janissa’s, Spice Island Beach Resort’s onsite spa, where a practitioner uses local herbs, Grenadian chocolate and spices to help my body totally relax and restore.
Then, on my final day in Grenada, there’s a wellness tour with Funtastic Island Adventures/Hidden Treasures, where a breezy drive in an open-air vehicle along narrow backroads, through fishing villages and past mountain farms brings us to the River Sallee Sulphur Spring. While perched on a rock in the warm mineral pool that is said to have direct veins to a nearby active volcano, a massage therapist exfoliates my arms and back with a chocolate scrub mix (it smelled good enough to eat) followed by a back massage.
The locals say this sulphur spring is a fountain of youth and with the way I feel after, I believe it! But, really, with all its healthy food and lifestyle, and slowed-down vibe, the entire island of Grenada is a fountain of youth.
IF YOU GO:
For more info, go to Pure Grenada’s tourism website: www.puregrenada.com
During non-COVID times, Air Canada Rouge has a few direct flights a week from Toronto to and from Grenada. Check their site to see when flights will resume. www.flyrouge.com
To indulge in luxurious wellness vacation like I did, stay at the AAA 5-Diamond all-inclusive Spice Island Beach Resort, located directly on Grand Anse Beach. My room was a Luxury Almond Pool Suite, which has its own patio and pool – great for a private late-night dip or a refreshing way to start your day. www.spiceislandbeachresort.com
You can book a pick-up from your hotel (through the concierge) for the Underwater Sculpture Tour (remember not to wear sunscreen, which is toxic to the marine life). Read more about the sculpture’s impact on the environment here: www.underwatersculpture.com/environment/environment-threats/
To book a guided hike or wellness excursion to River Sallee Sulphur Spring, contact Funtastic Island Adventures and Hidden Treasures:
www.gofuntastictours.com
Cover photo: Grenada – view of Grand Anse Beach, credit to Grenada Tourism Authority
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