tanda

late september 2004 10 day honeymoon

grenada v. curacao

looking for beaches, snorkeling, a little shopping, hiking, eating, good exploration and adventure-- money not really a factor.
which island?

caribqueen

Both islands have all of those things, but both islands are totally different.

Curacao is scrubby and desert-like...the hiking is thru desert, great beaches and snorkeling from shore. Willemstad is a great little cosmopolitan town with shopping and good restaurants. Citizens generally speak 2-4 languages and there is a large Dutch population. It all has lots of industry (read: refinery in town, it bothers some people, never bothered us).

Grenada is lush and mountainous with rain forests, so the hiking is thru forests and also an old volcano crater. Lots of waterfalls to visit and swim in. St. Georges is a beautiful town around the harbor, lots of culture and things to see and do. Fabulous restaurants! So-so shopping (of course, I'm always able to come home with lots of stuff!). Grand Anse beach is one of the most famous in the Caribbean for its beauty, snorkeling is only so-so though, unless you take a day trip.

While I really like Curacao, it was a completely different place and feeling than Grenada. Grenada is my favorite place, have been twice and am planning to go again in October, sooner if I can!

You can make day trips from either island, Curacao to Aruba or Bonaire, but it requires a flight...Grenada to Carriacou by ferry or to one of the Grenadines by flight.

I think for a honeymoon, I would pick Grenada over Curacao. Congrats and good luck!