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All about Grenada's Grenadine isles of Carriacou & Petitie Martinique
Where to Stay in Carriacou & Petitie Martinique
Things to see and do in Carriaocu and Petite Martinique
Beneath the Sea in carriacou and Petite Martinique
Sail into Carriacou, the Gateway of the Grenadines
Travel to Carriacou by air or sea
Events & Festivals in Carriacou
Images of Carriaocu and Petitie Martinique
 
Carriacou & Petite Martinique
Located to the north-east of mainland Grenada, the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique offer visitors a glimpse of a more leisurely pace of life.

With a mix of Scottish and African ancestry, these grenadine islands boast a wealth of historical attractions and cultural festivals. Local traditions reflect the mixed ancestry of the peoples, with African Big Drum Nation Dance and the European Quadrille.

Carriacou
Known as the Land of Reefs, Carriacou is the largest of Grenada's sister islands. The town of Hillsborough is the bustling heart of Carriacou, with banks, Government offices and the main police station. Business hours are generally from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Although just 13 sq miles in size, Carriacou is packed with activities to fill your day. From world-class snorkeling and diving on some of the Caribbean's most pristine reefs to historical attractions and cultural landmarks, Carriacou offers something for everyone. And with a restaurant or bar around every bend, there is no shortage of good food, drink and entertainment.

Rich in tradition, Carriacou has many unique customs handed down from African and European ancestors. These include Traditional Weddings, Traditional Boat Launching, Tombstone Feast "Saraca" Libations, Big Drum Nation Dance, Village Maroons, Shakespeare Mas, All Saint Candle Lighting "Pass Play", Cemetery Cleaning and Fishermen Birthday Celebrations.

In the village of Windward, sailing boats are built using the traditional methods passed down by the Scottish settlers. Recent initiatives are encouraging younger persons to learn to art of boat building and to produce model boats. The annual Carriacou Regatta held in July/ August seeks to rekindle this art.

Petite Martinique
This dependency of Grenada has a very strong culture and one of the highest per capita incomes in the Eastern Caribbean. The island is really one large hill with fine beaches on the calmer western leeward side. About 900 people live on the island, which covers 486 acres (194 hectares) and is 3 miles (5km) east of the northern half of Carriacou.

Like Carriacou, Petite Martinique was first settled by the French and many islanders have names of French origin. Fishing and boat building are still the main occupations here. In fact the island is still only reachable by boat.

Visit Carriacou and Petite Martinique to experience life at a slower pace.

For more information about Carriacou contact -
The Carriacou Petite Martinique Tourism Association or 
The Grenada Board of Tourism's Carriacou Office.