Grenada is one of the most beautiful Caribbean Islands, with a stunning capital in St George. However, if you want to experience a little more laidback style on an island where there are fewer people and where everything definitely operates on island time, then you’ll want to head to Carriacou. Carriacou is one of the three inhabited islands that make up the country of Grenada and it’s easy to visit. While it is possible (and quicker) to fly from Grenada to Carriacou most visitors take the ferry from Grenada to Carriacou and here’s all you need to know about the trip. We include how to buy tickets for the Grenada-Carriacou ferry, 2023 timetables, and where the Grenada to Carriacou ferry departs and arrives.
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Where to stay on Carriacou Island, Grenada
You’ll find places to stay all across the island, but it’s best to pick somewhere close to either Hillsborough, the main town, or where the ferries go from. The Green Roof Inn is a short walk from the center of Hillsborough and also does good evening meal options. They’re right on the beachfront, so it’s super for sunsets too! Check rates and availability here.
If you don’t mind staying a little further out, and away from the beach, then we recommend the Carriacou Grand View – stunning views, fabulous pool, and comfortable rooms too > check rates here
How to go from Grenada to Carriacou
There are 3 ways in which you can travel from Grenada to Carriacou. You can fly, you can take an inter-island ferry to Carriacou from Grenada or you can sail. The cheapest and most popular way to travel is to take the ferry.
Flying from Grenada to Carriacou
There are flights from Grenada Maurice Bishop International Airport to Lauriston Airport on Carriacou FOUR times a week (this is a change for 2023). This is the fastest way to travel to Carriacou from Grenada and the flight only takes 20 minutes.
You’ll find a varied timetable for flights to Carriacou from Grenada and returns – so if you’re traveling on business, or simply want a quick day trip to Carriacou from Grenada, then flying is your best option. This is the most expensive way to travel between the two islands. Flights between Grenada and Carriacou are operated by SVG Air and you can book online here.
Taking the Ferry from Grenada to Carriacou
The ferry to Carriacou from Grenada is the most popular way to travel. You can even send parcels and packages on the ferry to be collected at the other end! The journey takes between 90 minutes and 2 hours and 30 minutes. There is standard pricing for this ferry trip and there’s no discount for buying a return ticket, you just pay 2 x the fee.
In 2023 (the same as last year), the ferries from Grenada to Carriacou ONLY run on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, in both directions. So to confirm, that means that to take the ferry from Carriacou to Grenada they only run on Monday Wednesday, and Friday too.
The Full Details on Taking the Ferry from Grenada to Carriacou
The ferry from St George’s Grenada to Tyrell Bay, Carriacou is operated by Osprey Ferries. The ferries are modern, well maintained, and have both outside seating and inside air-conditioned seating.
Ferry operator from Grenada to Carriacou
Osprey Ferries operates the route to Carriacou from Grenada. The ferry route leaves St Georges, makes a stop in Carriacou and continues to Petit Martinique, and then returns on the same route.
Osprey Ferries has an office in the Geo F Huggins building on the Carenage in St Georges. If you want to buy tickets BEFORE your day of travel, this is where to go.
Grenada to Carriacou Ferry Timetable
The regular timetable for ferries to Carriacou from Grenada is as follows:
- Depart Grenada at 0900 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
- Depart Grenada at 1800 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Note that holidays and carnival times may have different timetables, please check their website for up-to-date information.
Carriacou to Grenada Ferry Timetable
The regular timetable for ferries to Grenada from Carriacou is as follows:
- Depart Carriacou at 0600 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
- Depart Carriacou at 1530 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
If you’re looking to go onwards from Carriacou to St Vincent – check our article here on how to go from Carriacou to Union Island and onwards.
Our guide to how to get from Union Island to St Vincent is here.
How far is it from Grenada to Carriacou on the Ferry?
The ferry takes a direct route from Grenada to Carriacou and the journey is around 50 kilometers (31 miles)
How long does the ferry from Grenada to Carriacou Take?
The journey between Grenada and Carriacou takes between 90 minutes (very, very hopeful) to 2.5 hours. The average time is 2 hours.
Cost of Ferry from Grenada to Carriacou
The cost of a single ticket on the ferry to Carriacou from Grenada is EC$80. A return ticket is EC$160. You can pay in Eastern Caribbean dollars or US dollars. The cost of a ticket on the ferry to Carriacou from Grenada in US dollars is US$31 for a single ticket. A return ticket costs US$62
Do I need to buy tickets for the Grenada to Carriacou Ferry?
While the Osprey ferry office suggests that you buy tickets ahead of time, it’s not necessary. You can buy tickets before your day of travel to Carriacouf from Grenada or buy them on the day of travel.
Where can I buy tickets for the Ferry from Grenada to Carriacou
If you want to buy your tickets for the trip from Grenada to Carriacou before you travel, then you can go into the Osprey Ferries office in St George. The Osprey Ferries office is located in the Huggins building on the Carenage in St George on the Carenage.
Boarding starts around 45 minutes to one hour prior to the departure time and a line will start to form at this time. You are VERY unlikely to not get a seat. Just arrive an hour beforehand and join the informal line, buy your ticket from the pop-up ticket desk right in the ferry departure area.
What to Expect on the Grenada to Carriacou Ferry
Ticket purchase and check-in open about 45-60 minutes before the departure time.
The ferry is air-conditioned and there are seats facing forwards and backward inside the A/C cabin. There are also seats under cover at the back of the boat. There are seats on the top deck, with no sunshade. There are also a small bar and café on the boat at the back. The food served is hot dogs. There are cold drinks available.
What’s the scenery like on Grenada to Carriacou ferry?
You are only likely to see anything if you sit on the top deck. The windows down below in the air-conditioned cabin have curtains against the sun, but there are also a lot of waves splashing onto them, so seeing out is somewhat blurry.
Will you get sick on the Grenada to Carriacou Ferry?
It depends on the weather. In the winter months (i.e. November – March) the seas are rougher, and once you leave the shelter of the island of Grenada, the seas are very rolly. The ferry pitches a LOT. The summer months are supposed to be much calmer, but you should bear in mind that once you leave the shelter at the top of the island of Grenada the last body of land that the seas were constrained by was Europe. So there’s likely to be a lot of swells.
We took the ferry from Grenada to Carriacou in mid-January and it was calm until we came out of the lee of the island. At this point 90% of the travelers on the ferry that we took from Grenada to Carriacou were sick. Sarah was and Nigel wasn’t. (Sarah isn’t usually seasick). The staff are well prepared and have stocks of plastic-lined sick bags and napkins. They wear plastic gloves and go around and check that people are ok. If you ever get queasy on a boat then you’re likely to feel sick on this top.
Where does the Grenada –Carriacou Ferry leave from?
The ferry to Carriacou from Grenada leaves from the main ferry dock in St George’s Grenada. This is near the Fire Station The ferry usually leaves from an area called the Queen’s Jetty. This may change if there is a smaller cruise ship moored here, but the ferry is easy to spot if this is the case and it will be very close by (it’s not going to be around the other side of the harbor!). View from the departure point in St Georges looking onto the Carenage.
Where to Stay in Grenada
There are a host of places to stay in Grenada – We’ve opted for places that at relatively close to where the ferry goes from Grenada to Carriacou and also where the airport is.
Mitchell’s Guesthouse is a great option if you’re looking for somewhere that’s walking distance to where the ferries go from St George’s to Carriacou. This means you’ll be in the best places for food and exploring the fort too. The rooms are clean and the host is friendly and hospitable. Rooms with private bathrooms are good value. Check rates and availability here.
For a beachfront place to stay, head to the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort – it is indeed beachfront and is in a great location for places to eat. Get a sea view room for picture-perfect mornings and fabulous sunsets. There’s a great ambiance here and the staff are fabulously helpful. Check rates and availability here.
Map for Grenada Carenage Ferry Departure Point
You can also see the map for the ferry from Grenada to Carriacou here.
Where does the Grenada to Carriacou ferry arrive
The ferry from Grenada to Carriacou arrives in Tyrell Bay. It USED to arrive in Hillsborough, the capital of Carriacou but moved in recent times to Tyrell Bay, where it is safer. The Hillsborough Postal Pier receives a lot of swells and isn’t as safe for docking or passengers as Tyrell Bay.
How to get from Tyrell Bay to Hillsborough, Carriacou.
Tyrell Bay is 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Hillsborough. Taxi drivers are allowed onto the port side and you’ll get a few half-hearted asks if you want a taxi. A taxi from Tyrell Bay to Hillsborough will cost around EC$25.
You can walk directly outside the port area onto the road and you’ll either find a bus waiting, or you can wait there and flag down a bus – they pass regularly. The buses on Carriacou are the same as Grenada, small 12-14 person minivans. The route from Tyrell Bay to Hillsborough costs EC$3.50 per person or EC$4.00 on holidays and Sundays. If you’re staying somewhere slightly out of town, just ask the bus driver to drop you there. For instance, for an extra EC$1 per person you can get dropped off at the Carriacou Grand View Hotel, saving you a 20-minute walk uphill) from the bus station. The bus station is in central Carriacou and easy to find.
We recommend the Carriacou Grand View – stunning views, a fabulous pool, and comfortable rooms too > check rates here
Map of Tyrell Bay, Hillsborough, and the Hillsborough Bus Station Carriacou
You can also see this map, live here.
Travel Tips for Exploring Grenada
- Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
- Download and install a VPN BEFORE you travel to Grenada > discount coupon here
- Save money in Grenada with a Wise debit card
- Book the best tours and attractions in Grenada with GetYourGuide
- Rent a car in Grenada with Discover Cars
- Book accommodation in Grenada with Booking
Final Words on the Ferry to Carriacou from Grenada
This trip was easy to arrange, we bought our tickets a few days before, as we were in St George’s anyway. Any taxi driver or bus driver in Grenada knows where the “ferry to Carriacou’ goes from and it is easy to spot when you’re in St Georges. The ferry is comfortable (apart from the obvious sea sickness issues), took 2 hours on the day we took it, and taking the bus from Tyrell Bay to Hillsborough was both easy, cheap, and friendly.
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2 thoughts on “How to Take the Ferry from Grenada to Carriacou 2023”
As a merchant marine engineer.I visited Grenada in 1955 or ’56. One of my colleagues and I were invited by the pilot to see the island. In his Anglia car we traveled all the way around te island. A gorgeous island ! Somewhere on a small tropical road a man appeared leading a donkey loade up with copra!
He didn’t really walk, but he danced and sang at the top of his voice ! I had never een a scene like that…
Women doing their laundry in a little stream….
At sunset we sat at a place called Santa Mar.a. The “I” was missing yet, because they had just shot a movie there: “Island in the Sun”! We watched the tropical sunset, sipping a rum-punch…
Many years later I remembered that island and went there to vacation ! There was a charter outfit where you could charter a big sailing yacht ! “Grenada Yacht Services”.
We sailed the Grenadines several times since ! A great adventure…. From Grenada to Bequia… and back… Anchoring at a different place each night !
Today Grenada is much more developed, more and bigger hotels, Santa Maria is gone… The old layed back island style is gone…, Too bad,but that is progress for you !
I was lucky to be invited by the old pilot !
Thank you so much for all the facts about Grenada, I am still considering it despite the weather in Dec/January and the need to use public transportation (I cannot drive on the left). One word of caution, while you do let people know they will get seasick on the journey between the islands, it can actually be far worst than you could ever imagine. The degree of illness can require medical attention and ruin a vacation no matter what time of year you travel thru these channels on a small boat (motor or sail). I became so ill I had to be flown back to St. Vincent and required medical treatment. Luckily my honeymoon was two weeks long so a few days ill wasn’t great, but I recovered and enjoyed the rest of our trip. Of course, back then you could fly from island to island for a mere $50. Prior to this journey, I had not gotten seasick, but my boat excursions were mostly snorkel trips versus open ocean. After the ordeal, locals informed us that even the most seasoned sailors fall ill. So, those who don’t get seasick, may just get a mild case but if you are not sure, think twice before embarking on this journey – it could be a disaster.