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Tamarind Cottage Carriacou
Very private vacation house on undiscovered Caribbean island.
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More Info:
"Where is Carriacou?
This is the first question we get asked. Here's the stats (you can also click on the map): 650 miles north of the equator, 23 miles north of Grenada, and just 90 miles north of Venezuela (see "things to do").
Carriacou is also the southernmost of the Grenadines, a string of nearly 300 islands (some only tennis court size) between St. Vincent and Grenada. While some of Carriacou's sister islands (Bequia, Mustique, PSV, and Palm Island) earned tony reputations years ago as playgrounds for the yachting crowd, Carriacou's always been a quiet, less touristy place for those who truly want to get away from it all. (Although Mick Jagger was spotted here recently.)
How does one get around?
Carriacou is small. Most everything is in walking or hiking distance. Nonetheless, shopping in town or exploring the island are, obviously, easier with a car. If you choose, you can rent one from Barba (he has no other name) or Martin Bullen. Otherwise:
1) Walk to the nearest "bus" stop (actually minivans) and, for EC$2, ride into town. Prices are regulated and published.
2) The other option, going into town (or anywhere), is to call a taxi. For trips back to the cottage from town, any bus at the jetty will turn into a taxi at the drop of a hat.
Daily Living in the Tropics
WATER: Even though Carriacou is in the tropics, water is a precious commodity. All of our water is collected from rainwater and stored under the cottage in a cistern. Which means it can run out. In the house you'll find some water saving tips.
CLEANLINESS: Drop food in the tropics and, within minutes, you'll have armies of insects swarming all over it. Don’t believe it? Try it. Which means cleanliness is a must. (So it’s really a bad idea to eat in bed!)
HOUSE PETS: The cottage has several geckos. They eat bugs, so don't try to get them out of the house or spray them with any poisons. Favorite hang outs are near lights (where moths are) and behind picture frames.
POWER OUTAGES: It’s not unusual to lose electricity for no apparent reason or, on occasion, for it to be out for hours. The house has candles but it's a good idea to have a flashlight and batteries.
Where on Carriacou is it?
Living in New York City, we were desperate for privacy and quiet. So rather than build a big house on a tiny lot (like most people do), we decided on the opposite. As a result, in a world where land's sold by the square foot, Tamarind sits in the middle of 2.25 hillside acres (98,000 square feet) at the end of a half mile cactus-planted approach.
Why did you build in the hills?
Our requirements also included "million dollar" views and cooling breezes. A decade of research and renting taught us these could only be found higher up. It also taught us that beachfront property is hot, muggy and buggy; requiring screening to keep out mosquitoes, sandflies and gnats and continuous spraying of insect repellent. At 330 ft ASL, our views and breezes are both magnificent (see picture for the former, for the latter you’ll just have to trust us), and the nearest beach is just 5 minutes away.
"When's it best to go there?"
Anytime. While the temperatures are the same year round (nighttime lows of 75-78 and daytime highs of 88-90), there are two distinct seasons. A "dry season," generally from December 15 through April 15th and a "rainy season," from June 1st through November 30th. But these terms overstate the case. Even during the rainy season, the sun shines 80% of the time, enough to give you a good sunburn. Like a tropical car wash, the rains are heavy and short, sweeping over the island and gone after just 10 or 15 minutes.
"Who owns Carriacou?"
No, it's not part of the ABC's. (It's often confused with Curacao.) Carriacou is politically and economically part of the three island nation of Grenada, Carriacou & Petit Martinique. The size of Manhattan (where we live), just 5000 people live here.
"What about its history?"
Like most Caribbean islands, Grenada and its sister islands have been tossed back and forth between the Spanish (they named it after their Grenada), and, then, the French and the British. For web visitors with an anthropological or academic bent, Carriacou is famous for its Big Drum Dance which has been virtually unchanged from its original African form. To see it, you have to be lucky . . . or invited to some special local occasion.
Fast Facts:
Language: English. (With each other, a local Patois is used.)
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (or EC dollar) which is pegged at the rate of 2.67 to the US dollar.
Banks: Barclays and NCB in town.
Shots: None required.
Visa: Issued upon arrival.
Driving: On the left. Requires a temporary permit issued at local Police Station. Bring your driver's license to apply. Cost is EC$30 for 90 days
Nearby Attractions:
Carriacou has no casinos, no glitzy nightlife, no expensive boutiques. It's a place to get away from all that. A place to swim, hike, snorkel, dive, sail, read, relax, refresh. (A place where Grenadians go to get away from it all.)
Swimming
Just about the entire leeward side of Carriacou is a beach. Some are accessible only by hiking or water taxi. Others are right in the middle of town. All are turquoise and calm. The following is a short guide:
Anse La Roche: Named for a huge rock where pelicans gather, Anse La Roche is a little more difficult to get to but oh so worth it. If you’re looking for the quintessential deserted beach with clear waters shown in travel magazines, this is it. (Standing neck deep, you can see your toes.)
Hillsborough Beach: Running along the entire length of town, this is a great beach for a quick dip before shopping or lunch or even while waiting for the bus.
Paradise Beach: Past the airport, this is where Carriacouans go to swim. Probably the finest sand on the island.
Tom’s Bay: In lower Craigston, this is a pleasant private smaller cove -- and it's only a +/-10 minute walk there.
Sandy Island: This is the sandy, palm-treed crescent (shown in our picture gallery) you see from Tamarind’s patio. One of the most idyllic beaches and snorkeling spots in the Grenadines, Sandy Island is surrounded by a 5 square mile marine (underwater) national park. A favorite hang-out of the sailing crowd, it’s usually fringed with sailboats. (A water-taxi can take you there.)
Hiking and Nature Walks:
In addition to the walk DOWN to Anse La Roche, you can also hike UP to High North, the highest elevation (943 ft ASL) on the island.
Other scenic walks include:
- up to the hospital in Belair for a great view of the bay and town
- through the national park around the northern tip of the island, past Gun Point (which is technically part of another country)
- to Windward where you can take the boat to Petit Martinique
Scuba
Among the island’s diving highlights are Kick ‘em Jenny (an underwater volcano) and many acclaimed reefs. With the influx of divers from all over the world, Carriacou now has three diving facilities. Friends of ours who are avid divers (we’re not) like Silver Diving in Hillsborough. When you go there, ask for Max (his name is actually Werner) . . . in German or English, he’s fluent in both.
…and Snorkeling
White and Saline Islands: Great places to swim, these are THE best for snorkeling – actually “drift snorkeling.” You simply float along, face down, and let the water drift you over the reef. Put lots of sun lotion on your back and neck for this one.
Sailing Day Trips
Two trips we really recommend:
Tobago Cays. This is the aerial view in the picture gallery. Great swimming and snorkeling.
Mopian: A sand bar in the middle of aqua waters with a single thatched umbrella for shade.
Other Day Trips
If you’ve never been to Grenada, try a day trip. The Osprey leaves Hillsborough jetty at the crack of dawn on weekdays, delivers you in St. George’s in just 1 ¼ hours, and returns you to Carriacou by 7PM. St George's is one of the most beautiful towns in the Caribbean, but if you tire of it, you can go to Grand Anse, another great beach with 2.5 miles of fine sand and calm water.
Fly to Venezuela
Carriacou’s just 75 miles from Venezuela. So if you’re looking for some real bustle, Bullen’s Travel Agency (in town) can arrange a trip to Caracas. The charter flight takes you right past the famous Angel Falls.
Relax
Phew! Just writing all this has made me tired. Which brings me to biggest reasons to visit Carriacou: to relax and refresh. So in addition to packing swim suits, suntan lotion and hiking shoes, bring a stack of novels, CD's, and your favorite colada recipes.
Amenities:
Most Caribbean properties are referred to as “villas.” We’ve avoided that pompous terminology, opting instead for the more appropriate “cottage.” While just 480 square feet, Tamarind Cottage was carefully designed by us for our own comfort ... so it feels much larger than it is with a separate bedroom, separate living/kitchen area, bathroom and generous patios (where you’ll spend most of your time sipping rum, watching the ships and sunsets). An unexpected feature is the lattice-walled outdoor shower. At treetop level, it’s totally private yet totally al fresco.
Who ya gonna call?
We've provided the cottage with a detailed guide to the cottage and island with phone numbers, etc. We also know stuff happens. Should any happen while you're at the cottage, call our rental agent. Please keep in mind that you're in the Caribbean. Things move a bit more slowly there. So pour a rum and relax. Help will be on the way.
Fast Facts
- Five burner stove top
- Refrigerator
- Warm water!
- 220V Electric
- Telephone
Grenada Message Board Posts: View All Messages
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