Laura Caplin, one of our travelbite correspondents, writes the following about her recent visit to Grenada.

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Lying at the south end of the Windward Islands, Grenada in the West Indies is renowned as one of the friendliest, safest and most laid-back isles of the Caribbean. Famously invaded by the Americans back in the ‘80s and badly hit by Hurricane  Ivan in 2004, the island has made an impressive recovery from both, and is one of the few places in the world that rightly earns its title as a tropical paradise.

If you like to be kept busy and entertained, there’s no better place to stay in Grenada than La Source. Activities are on offer from morning til night - starting with Tai Chi at 6.15 – and with expert tuition you can return home skilled up in everything from golf and archery to sailing and diving, as well the more dubiously titled ‘Bring Sexy Back’.

 (Courtesy: Grenada Board of Tourism)

Alternatively, you can do nothing at all and just kick back and relax round the pool or on the stunning Pink Gin Beach. It’s an all-inclusive resort, with none of the expected pitfalls – the food on-offer in the three restaurants is excellent, all guests receive a daily spa treatment, and the staff are friendly and fun.

 (Courtesy: Grenada Board of Tourism)

If you’re after something more secluded, few experiences could be more pleasurable than a trip to La Luna for one of their wellness retreats or yoga breaks. An exclusive hideaway of sixteen cottages, with a yoga pavilion right on the beach and an exquisite Balinese spa, it is impossible not to leave feeling rejuvenated.

To get the most from your trip though, you’ll need to leave the hotels behind. Grenada’s interior is a dramatic combination of volcanic mountain terrain, mysterious crater lakes and thick, lush rainforests that are perfect for trekking.

Whether you want to hike around the Grand Etang National Park, keeping your eye out for monkeys and (the notoriously shy) armadillos, swim in the Seven Sisters waterfall or clamber up the majestic Mount Catherine, there’s no better guide than Telfor Bedeau (contact him via the Tourist Board). Brimming with knowledge and enthusiasm about the natural world, Telfor may have recently turned 70, but he is as fit as they come, regularly hikes up and down the island’s hilly peaks, has twice rowed around the whole island and shows no signs of slowing down.

 (Courtesy: Grenada Board of Tourism)

The tropical climate which allows the rainforests to flourish is also responsible for some fantastic private gardens on the island. Grenada regularly takes home the top prizes at the Chelsea Flower Show, and you can easily arrange a visit if you’re after some gardening inspiration. The lovely Laurence Jeanvoine, manager of the highly recommended Mount Cinnamon Hotel regularly organises tours for her guests to visit these gardens and meet their owners.

As well as stunning natural scenery, Grenada has had a colourful history that is well worth exploring. It is famously said that the island was named by the Spanish, ruled by the French and colonised by the English. These different cultures, along with strong Carib and African influences, all infuse Grenadian culture today - food, place names, music and local dialect all draw from this rich heritage.

If you have a chance, try the tasty Creole dishes at Coconut Beach which combine French and Carib Indian flavours, get an education in calypso, soca and reggae at the Fantazia nightclub in Morne Rouge, and pay a visit to the Belmont Estate to get a glimpse into life on the island’s plantations.

Just south of Gouyave, the Dougaldston Spice Boucan, another former plantation, gives visitors the chance to see how many of our familiar spices – nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and turmeric are grown and processed, and shows why Grenada is rightly known as the “Spice Isle” of the Caribbean.

From spices to rum! The River Antoine Rum Distillery on the east coast also provides a great insight into the island’s past and present. As soon as you get out the car you’ll be hit by the pungent smell of distilling alcohol, but don’t let this put you off. Powered entirely by an old watermill, you can follow the sugar cane on its journey through the distillation process and then taste the famous ‘Rivers’ rum at the end.

This is not one for the faint-hearted though – unless the rum is at least 75 per cent proof it is sent through the distillation process a second time. Declared too flammable to take on an aeroplane, the eight hundred or so bottles produced by the factory each day are just for the local Grenadians, who have been drinking the stuff since 1785.

While you’re in the northern end of the island, pop into the recently-opened Petite Anse for a drink on the terrace with its stunning views of the wild beach below and across to Carriacou and the Grenadines beyond. Carriacou is the ‘sister’ island to Grenada, and at thirteen square miles, it is the largest of the islands lying between Grenada and St Vincent. You can easily get there on the Osprey Express passenger ferry which runs twice a day and takes about 90 minutes. Be warned though, it can be a choppy ride thanks to ‘Kick ‘Em Jenny’, a growing underwater volcano now less than 200 metres under the water’s surface. On the plus side, you should get the chance to see the extraordinary flying fish on the way.

Carriacou itself is a great spot for snorkelling and diving– its name is derived from the Arawak phrase for ‘island of reefs’ – particularly off ‘Sandy Island’ which is home to some beautiful coral, many tropical fish and herds of seahorses.

 (Courtesy: Grenada Board of Tourism)

Back on Grenada, take some time to chat with the locals – Fish Friday is a great place to meet people. Taking place in the northern fishing town of Gouyave, tourists and Grenadians mingle among the stalls serving delicious, freshly caught mahi-mahi, fried breadfruit, cornbreads and plantain.

Then, hit the clubs, catch a steel band or just ‘lime’ with the locals and talk cricket with a glass of rum and Ting. Whatever you’re looking for, if you do venture beyond the sun-lounger you can be sure there’ll be plenty to keep you busy.

More information on holidays in Grenada:

Golden Caribbean offers seven nights all-inclusive in a luxury room at LaSource from £1,459 per person including return flights on Monarch Airlines from Gatwick, taxes, transfers and a daily 50-minute spa treatment at the resort. Based on two adults sharing. Upgrade to Premium Economy from £210 per person.

For more information on Grenada visit the tourism website.