Best Time to Visit Saint George's

Dry season: January to April

Saint George's is warm all year, so the real question is rain. From February to April you get the best of it. Days are sunny, the trade winds keep things comfortable, and showers are short. February is the driest month, with March and April close behind. January is still good, but it's wetter than the next three months.

This is high season, so expect more visitors, especially around Christmas and New Year and again in the Easter break. Cruise ships also call at the harbour, and the Carenage (the waterfront around the horseshoe-shaped inner harbour) fills up on those days. Want quiet? Head to Grand Anse beach or the Underwater Sculpture Park at Molinière Bay early or late, when the day-trippers have gone.

May to November: the wet months

May is a good in-between month. It rains on more days than in April, but you'll still get plenty of sun. After that, from June to October, rain falls on most days, and it often comes in heavy bursts. Afternoons turn sticky. Hiking to Grand Etang or Seven Sisters Falls gets muddy and slippery.

November is a little better in rating, but it's still the wettest month in the table. This is also hurricane season. Grenada sits south of the usual storm track, but it's smart to have flexible plans and travel insurance.

The upside is fewer people, quieter beaches and lower hotel rates. If you don't mind a shower, it can be a relaxed time to wander the market on Market Square, or tour a nutmeg station and a chocolate estate.

Events and who should go when

August is the big one. Spicemas, Grenada's carnival, takes over the island in the second week, with steel bands, costumes and the early-morning J'ouvert street party. It's a lot of fun, but you'll be there in the wet season, so bring a rain jacket and a sense of humour. Book rooms early.

In early February, Independence Day on the 7th brings parades and celebrations. Sailing fans should look at late January, when Grenada Sailing Week usually runs.

December is a sweet spot if you want green hills and some sun, though rain is still fairly common.

For beaches, diving and hiking, aim for February to April. For festivals, choose August. For budget trips and quiet days, try May or early December.