Grenada in 2027 Marks 150 Years of Spicemas as New Resort Opens

Grenada has two big reasons to draw visitors in 2027: Spicemas, the island's answer to Carnival, marks its 150th anniversary, and a 500-room resort is due to open near Levera National Park. The Caribbean island nation offers close to four dozen beaches, as well as mangroves, rainforests and spice-growing volcanic soil that gives it the nickname the Spice Isle.

Key facts

• 2027: Spicemas celebrates its 150th anniversary with islandwide parties and a live calypso concert.
• 2027: the 500-room Grenada National Resort opens near Levera National Park.
• March to July: leatherback turtles nest in the mangrove lagoons close to the new resort.
• January to May: the dry season; June to December is likely to bring brief, tropical showers.
• May and June: prices tend to fall and crowds are thinnest.
• Maurice Bishop International Airport: direct flights operate from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

What is changing in 2027?

Spicemas turns 150 in 2027, with islandwide parties and a live calypso concert planned for the anniversary year. The guide says the heart of the festival remains the sacred Jab Jab ritual, in which participants cover themselves in black oil as a reminder of the cruelty of slavery and the resilience of their ancestors.

The same year, the 500-room Grenada National Resort is scheduled to open near Levera National Park. Its location offers visitors access to mangrove lagoons where leatherback turtles nest from March to July.

When is the best time to go?

Grenada has beach-worthy weather year-round. The dry season runs from January through May, while June through December is likely to bring brief, tropical showers. Prices tend to fall in May and June, when the crowds are thinnest.

May also brings the Grenada Chocolate Festival, held each May at True Blue Bay Boutique Resort, with farm visits covering the tree-to-bar process, meetings with local chocolatiers and cocoa-infused spa treatments. Spicemas and the Carriacou Regatta are described as the country's two biggest cultural highlights. No exact 2027 dates are given for either event.

What can travellers do?

• Visit Carriacou: a 20-minute flight or two-hour ferry from the main island, with colourful fishing villages, locally owned guesthouses, small beach bars, sailing trips to Sandy Island and White Island, coral reef snorkelling, and freshly caught lobster and rum punch at Tim's, a beachfront restaurant accessible only by boat.
• Soak in hot springs: River Sallee Boiling Springs, a geothermal basin on the northern end of the island, has warm soaking pools and mineral-rich volcanic mud.
• Swim between sculptures: the Underwater Sculpture Park, created by artist Jason de Caires Taylor in 2006, features submerged concrete and rebar statues that double as artificial reefs supporting marine life and coral recovery; the site suits divers and snorkelers.
• Explore the capital: St. George's is best seen on foot, with spice markets and harbour views from Fort George, a French-built fortification from the early 18th century, plus Market Square stalls selling nutmeg, cinnamon and cocoa.
• Hike the mountains: Grand Étang National Park has crater lakes, rainforest trails and wildlife including mona monkeys, tropical birds and endangered frogs.
• Tour a rum distillery: River Antoine Rum Distillery, established in 1785, uses the Caribbean's only working waterwheel to crush sugarcane; guided tours include a tasting of its overproof product, which is at least 75% APV.

How do I get there and around?

Direct flights are available from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom to Maurice Bishop International Airport. Carriacou is reachable by a 20-minute flight or a two-hour ferry from the main island.

What this means for travellers

Travellers hoping to see leatherback turtles nesting in the mangrove lagoons should plan for March to July, while those watching costs may find the lowest prices and thinnest crowds in May and June. Anyone aiming for the 2027 Spicemas anniversary should check the exact festival dates, which this guide does not yet give.

No further details on the 2027 Spicemas programme or the resort's opening date have been announced here.