Grenada

Grenada is a three-island nation – Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique – at the southern end of the Windward Islands, between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic; English is spoken throughout. This is the Spice Isle: a nutmeg even appears on the national flag, and the islands grow cinnamon, cloves and cocoa. Spice gardens, small chocolate makers and rum tastings show these crafts today.

The capital, St George’s, wraps around the horseshoe harbour of the Carenage, pastel houses climbing green hills; Fort George has sweeping views. Grand Anse, on the south-west coast, is a long white-sand beach. Inland the island rises into volcanic, rainforest-clad mountains: Grand Etang lake and forest reserve, trails to Annandale and Seven Sisters falls, and Mount St Catherine, the highest peak. Offshore are reefs for snorkelling and diving and the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park, while the Grenadines stretch north – an easy sail to Carriacou.

The national dish is oil down, a one-pot stew of breadfruit, salted meat, dumplings and callaloo leaves cooked in coconut milk; add nutmeg ice cream and fresh fish. It is warm all year, cooled by trade winds. The drier season runs roughly January to May, the wetter one roughly June to December. Grenada suits couples and honeymooners, divers and sailors, food lovers and anyone after an unhurried, authentic Caribbean.