By bus
By far the cheapest way to get around is by bus. These privately owned but government-regulated minivans cram in as many people as possible, drive very fast and play loud reggae, ragga and soca. Don't be intimidated, however, as they're also great fun and safe.
Buses run 6am-8pm daily, with a less frequent service on Sundays and holidays, and routes run from the main terminal at the market in St George's to cover the entire island. Simply ask the driver which bus to get on. Bus stops punctuate all routes, you can also flag one down at any point along the way, and with their constant honking, you'll always know when they are around. To get off simply rap the side of the van and pay as you leave. From St George's, expect to pay EC$1.50 to Grand Anse, EC$3 to Grand Etang, EC$5 to Grenville, EC$5.50 to Sauteurs and EC$3.50 to Gouyave.
Although the airport is not on a main bus route, it is possible to take a bus there; stop any bus going to Grand Anse Beach and ask if it will take you to the airport, which is just a few miles further on. Expect to pay the off-route fare of EC$10 for this service. It's sometimes possible to pick up one of these off-route buses at the airport on its way back to the main route to St George's or Grand Anse.
By car
To rent a car you will need a valid driver's licence and a local permit, available from most car rental agencies and police stations for US$30. Dollar (tel 473/444-4786) and David's' Car Rental (tel 473/444-3399,cdavid@caribsurf.com ) have offices at the Point Salines International Airport, while Avis (tel 473/440-3936) operates out of St George's. Cars and jeeps cost US$50-70 per day. Driving is on the left-hand side.
By scooter and bike
To drive a scooter you will need a local licence available from police stations for around US$30. Scooters can be rented from Eze Rentals (tel 473/444-3263) and cost US$21 a day or US$120 per week. Bikes can be hired from Trailblazers (tel 473/444-5337, ), or Sunsation Tours (tel 473/444-1595); expect to pay US$15 per day or US$90 per week. Be warned - cycling can be tough going on Grenada as roads are mostly hilly and the smaller ones are not always well maintained.
By taxi
Taxis are plentiful and you will be constantly hassled by drivers seeking business. Fares from the airport to Grand Anse are around EC$25 and to St George's EC$30; expect to pay about EC$4 per mile for journeys from St George's to the rest of the island. A surcharge of EC$10 is added between 6pm and 6am. Taxi companies to try are Blue Moon Taxis (tel 473/444-6666) in Grand Anse and The Carenage Taxi Co-operative (tel 473/444-9223), which has a stand opposite the Nutmeg Restaurant on the Carenage.
By boat
The Osprey passenger ferry (tel 473/440-8126) is the most efficient and cheapest way to travel between Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. It departs from the Carenage in St George's (opposite the red fire station) for Carriacou Monday to Friday 9am and 5.30pm, Saturday 9am only and Sunday 8am and 5.30pm. It then departs Carriacou for Petite Martinique Monday to Friday 10.30am and 7pm and Sunday 9.30am and 7pm. The return trip leaves Petite Martinique for Carriacou Monday to Saturday 5.30am and 3pm and Sunday 3pm, and departs Carriacou to Grenada Monday to Saturday 6am and 3.30pm and Sunday 3.30pm only. The journey takes ninety minutes between Grenada and Carriacou and twenty minutes from Carriacou to Petite Martinique. The fare from Grenada to Carriacou and Petite Martinique is EC$40 one-way, EC$75 round-trip and from Carriacou to Petite Martinique EC$10 one-way, EC$20 round-trip.
By plane
St Vincent and the Grenadines Airways (tel 473/444-3549m, ) flies daily from Grenada, Barbados, and St Vincent and the Grenadine Islands to Lauriston Airport , one mile south of Hillsborough on Carriacou. There is no airport on Petite Martinique, and the only way to get there is by boat or ferry
Tours
Most of the island can easily be explored by bus, but, if you're short on time, organized tours are an excellent way to see the island in a day and learn about its history and culture along the way. Local tour guide Mandoo (tel 473/440-1428, ) has an encyclopedic knowledge of Grenada's history and politics and his selection of full- and half-day bus and trekking tours cost US$40-90 per person. His full-day bus tours covering Halifax Bay, Gouyave, Carib's Leap, Grenville and Grand Etang National Park cost US$55 (this includes entrance fees, lunch and even impromptu stops for fruit along the way); and half-day trekking tours at US$40 visit either Mt Qua Qua or Seven Sisters Falls.
Sunsation Tours (tel 473/444-1594, qkspice@caribsurf.com ) also runs full- and part-day tours. At US$50 the " Grenada in a nutshell " tour passes through the island's major sites, while more specialized tours, such as a visit to the outstanding private gardens on the island, can also be organized for US$35.
Another option is Adventure Jeep Tours (tel 473/444-5337, adventure@caribsurf.com ) whose all-terrain jeeps will take you deep into the rainforest, with some trips including a swim and snorkel. Full-day tours cost US$65.
If you fancy biking around the island, Trailblazers (tel 473/444-5337, ) runs full-day off-road cycling tours for US$60, which will take you into the rainforest and include lunch and time on the beach.
