L'Esterre on Carriacou

• L'Esterre is a village that mainly consists of one road with construction on both sides. It is constructed along L'Esterre beach, better known as Paradise Beach.
• The people of L'Esterre are , like most Kayaks, mostly from African origin. A few people have Indian ancestors, while there has been a slight influence from European (read scottish) countries.
• The language that is spoken in L'Esterre is English like on the rest of the island, but here you will find more presence of Patois then in the other villages. This patois is a mix that has developed over the centuries, and has quite a bit of french influences which can be clearly noticed when you hear it spoken.
• L'Esterre lies conveniently between Tyrell Bay and Hillsborough, and is the most visited beach on Carriacou. Most visited meaning , that probably there will be more then 2 people on the beach during the day, but rarely more then ten along the entire stretch of beach, approximately 4 kilometres long. Crossroads is a small group of houses and shops between L'Esterre and Tyrell bay. Illustrative for the shops on Carriacou is the tyre shop , which sells tyres and icecreams. The most curious of combinations but very convenient.
• There is a primary school on the road in L'Esterre and a few shops and bars. Transport to the other villages is easy... just stand aling the road and wait for a mini bus to pass by. Wave your hand and get a ride to town for a few EC Dollars.
• Between the main road and the beach there's a strech of about two hundred metres with fields and the occasional houses. That keeps the view of the shoreline almost completely free of construction. Farm animals walk free around here.
• It is not an uncommon sight to see someone walking on the beach with his pig on a line to give it a bath in the sea. The way of life here is as it used to be in many other places some 75 years ago. People still respect each other,  a common thing to hear when you walk around  is someone asking you: allright? Just to say hello and be friendly. Something that we are not used to anymore in the bizy life in big cities.

Shops in L'Esterre

• Mr Alexis Grocery store and Dyan's groceries are on top of the road from Paradise Inn (2 min. walk) Basic groceries on sale.

• Barbas shop (3-4 min walk) sells a lot of nice and affordable clothes, beachwear, wraps, beach towels, kitchen utensils, bags, underwear etc. at affordable prices.  

• In Crossroads (5 min. walk) the Tyreshop repairs tyres, offers rum and beers, and lovely ice creams…. A little further you can find the local bakery, the tailor shop - also offering pop-corn, and a few grocery stores. In Crossroads you also find Uncle Tom's, a place everyone passes during the day to hear the latest happenings, and to have a chat with fellow villagers.

Shops Paradise Beach

• Hard Wood Bar and Snacket:Joy and Boe invites you to reasonable lunch or dinner on the beach. Here you can enjoy a drink in beautiful surroundings, approximately 5 minutes walk up the beach from Paradise Inn.

• Campesh International Putty is a bus-driver, DJ and he also runs a bar/snacket on Paradise Beach. Here you can come dancing every Friday night until early morning. On Sunday he plays music on the beach all afternoon and early evening. Situated next to Hard Wood Bar, 5 minutes walk up the beach.

• Fidel Production Sandra has made a 20" container into a colourful boutique selling t-shirts, jewellery, beach-wear, knitted garments, postcards and other souvenirs. Well worth a visit. Also about 5 minutes walk from the hotel.

Shops on de Road

• Septimus Hardware store, a few essential groceries, rum-shop and barbecue chicken. In the week-ends he also arrange dances and domino-matches in Lime-light disco in the same building.

•  Hopes Inn Guesthouse on the beach

•  Nourin's shop Small snack-shop where you can come and have a roti (Indian bread with different kinds of  filling), fish & chips, chicken and chips, a beer, a rum, watch TV, and have a chat with everyone passing on the road. 2 minutes from the hotel - just up the road

Carriacou Information

• Carriacou is the most southerly of the Grenadines, situated 20 miles north of Grenada, latitude 12,5 degrees. It has an area of 13 square miles and is the largest of the chain of islands between Grenada and St. Vincent.

• Don't forget to visit the renowned Sandy Island just east of Carriacou (right in front of our hotel). This tiny island serves as the symbol of the ideal tourism destination - pure white sand embraced by turquoise blue waters (the Caribbean dream).

• While in Carriacou whether your choose to explore, snorkel, swim, dive or simply stroll, you will experience the special lure of this gem and its islets. Come enjoy, retuning again and again to bask in what one might refer to as the 'paradise for water lovers', and escape from the routine of daily living, and when you leave take only good memories, leave nothing but footprints.

• Boat building and launching is  a major tradition.

• Pre-Lenten Carnival, August Regatta and the Yuletide Parang Festival have also contributed to its fertile heritage.

• In April the last 3 years Carriacou has also hosted a Maroon Festival, a great success, featuring local and international artist performing in music, dance, drumming, etc. Local cooking is also a major part of the festival, and one day of the festival you can get everything for free, just like in the traditional maroons where one village invites the other villages to enjoy the crop-over and the harvest of the year.

Transportation

• Daily flights on the islander and Twin Otter Aircrafts of SVG Air  travel north bound form Grenada's Point Salines International Airport and south bound from Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Lauriston Airport, Carriacou.

• Ferry services are also available between Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

• The ferry departs Carriacou to Grenada Monday - Saturday 6 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. Sunday 3.30 p.m. only.

• From Grenada to Carriacou, Monday - Friday 9 a.m. and 5.30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.only, Sundays 8 a.m. and 5.30 p.

Transportation on the island.

• Taxis, mini buses and twin cab vans provide regular and efficient service. Jeep rentals are also available.