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Style: Hacienda style with funky Mexican décor, casual and comfortable for easy outdoor living
The Beach: Direct (if steep) access to Paradise Beach, one of Carriacou's finest white sand beaches, curving round a wide bay
The Rooms: Two bedrooms, each with a shower room en suite, plus a double bed in a gallery area above living room
Key features: A Carriacou villa rental with stunning views, good anchorage, friendly staff, complimentary meet and greet, complimentary two-door Suzuki Vitara ‘jeep’ or similar, satellite tv, microwave, toaster, blender.
Children: Welcome, but probably best if over 5 years old
Staff: Delightful couple, Godfrey and Leslie Ann, as 'butler'/cook and housekeeper |
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Description
Las Tortugas is a two-bedroom villa in Carriacou, Grenada’s sister island, with a superb setting and a very friendly feel. It sits on the hillside in l’Esterre above Paradise Beach, from where it has a cracking view over the sand, the surreal blue of the bay and north over the other islands of the Grenadines. The house has a mix of Caribbean and hacienda styles, with white stucco walls, terra cotta floors, funky murals and tiles in a hundred different shades of blue. Las Tortugas has a very informal feel about it, which is definitely in keeping with the island of Carriacou itself.
You approach the villa through the sparse village of L’Esterre in the west of Carriacou, around a hill on a very rough old drive. Then the view opens out to the north. First it carries over the islands of the Grenadines, some close at hand, others magnificent grey stains in the hazy distance, and then as you approach the house it opens onto the surreal blue water of Paradise Bay below you. Paradise Bay has a fantastic beach, one of the best on an island whose beaches are already superb. You draw up at the rear of the house, which is built into quite a steep slope. Its white façade stands stark against the blues of the sea and sky and gives an immediate impression of the haciendas of Latin America – in the adobe-style plasterwork and inset roofs with rounded terra cotta tiles. There is even a small belfry in an archway.
You enter the house from the rear, via a few steps down into a small courtyard. This is built with Carriacou stone, a light coloured limestone. There is a sculpture of a turtle – in reference to the name of the villa (tortuga is the Spanish for turtle) – as well as a wrought iron turtle which is set into the wooden front door. Las Tortugas is built over two storeys. You will walk into the upper floor, which contains the living room, which has a bedroom either side of it, and beyond it a balcony running along the whole front of the house. Beneath here is a games room on a lower floor.
Las Tortugas is very informal, which you will feel as soon as you enter. The hacienda style continues inside, in the bright white walls, dark beams and other wooden features and the floor laid with terra cotta tiles. Earthenware is key theme. It appears in ornaments including pots, sconces and even lampshades. But the room is also splashed everywhere with strong and bright colour. Haitian paintings and Mexican carpets hang on the walls and there are bright statuettes and murals of tropical sea life. The dining chairs and breakfast stools are painted with colourful fish and corals.
You walk into the main room, which contains the kitchen and dining area. To your left is a breakfast bar, with several stools, which curls around the kitchen. This is well equipped and has everything that you need for your holiday. To the right is a round dining table that can seat six. Next to it, in the right hand corner of the room, are steps leading down to the games room and opposite those are steps up to a mezzanine level where there is a double bed. Just inside the front door is a loo for daytime use.
On the front wall ahead of you as you enter, are three arched doors made of heavy dark wood. These open up onto the balcony, which is really the main living space on this floor. It is part shaded, by a sloping tile roof supported on dark beams and classical pillars. Here you will find a grill built into the wall, some loungers and another dining table for six. Beyond this is the balcony itself, which is bordered by a white bottle balustrade and is open to the sun. It is decorated with urns and tropical plants. Here you will find more loungers, a small table and garden chairs. The view of course is magnificent.
Around to the side of the house at this level is the pool, which is set on its own terrace. It has an infinity edge to get the best of the view, which of course is simply superb. The pool is not that large, but not many villas on Carriacou have pools at all. There is also a covered area here, so that you can sit out in the shade.
The two main bedrooms are set either side of the living room. They face forward (although the beds themselves are sideways on) and have doors onto the balcony at the front. The hacienda style has its place here too, in the dark beams, white walls and the built-in concrete bases of the beds. The beds themselves are covered with brightly coloured bedspreads and there are bright paintings on the walls and fairly simple wooden furniture. The rooms are fan ventilated and there are mosquito nets to cover you at night. A mirrored cupboard sits on the back wall of the room. Behind it are the bathrooms, which have a glassed-in shower. In addition to these two main bedrooms at Las Tortugas, there is also a third sleeping area, on the open mezzanine level above the kitchen in the main room.
There is another floor at Las Tortugas, beneath the main living room. Here you will find a recreation room. This also has white walls and bright fabrics on moulded concrete seats that have been built into the walls. There is a television with satellite channels. Outside here are the small grounds, from where a path leads down the (relatively steep) hillside to the beach.
Las Tortugas is quite a simple house – by comparison to what you might expect in, say, Barbados, or even Grenada - but it is in keeping with the simplicity of Carriacou itself (and, for instance, the complications of building in such a remote island). This said, it is a fun place to stay, and the island offers a lovely, low-key simple life. Another important factor to remember is that there are two dedicated staff, Godfrey and Leslie Ann, who will look after you extremely well. |
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Beach & Swimming
Las Tortugas sits right above L’Esterre Bay (also called Paradise Beach), which is one of the very best beaches in Carriacou. It is a mile and a half curve of superb sand that gives into shallow water in a surreal shade of blue. It is very good for children because of the shallow water and there is a beach bar, the Hardwood Bar and Snacket. Sandy Island is not far offshore here and trips can easily be arranged.
Las Tortugas has a swimming pool, which is a distinct advantage in Carriacou because most villas do not have them. It is 17ft by 9ft and has an infinity edge, which from this height gives a fantastic view of the Grenadine Island chain that runs into the distance. |
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Sports & Recreation
Watersports are limited on the island. The scuba diving, however, is very good. There are several companies. Try Silver Divers in Hillsborough. They will also rent you snorkelling gear.
There are several excellent day sails based in the island (people come from as far afield as Grenada for them), which visit the islands off Carriacou and also the Tobago Cays a few miles to the north. If you would prefer to travel independently, you can get one of the water-taxi men to run you out to Sandy Island off Paradise Beach. |
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Locality
Las Tortugas is in the west of Carriacou, close to the village of L’Esterre. Paradise Bay, the local beach, is something of a gathering point as it has a popular beach bar, but the main liveliest place nearby is Tyrell Bay, where there are several restaurants and bars to go with a fantastic view of the sunset through the yachts and local trading boats. Try Turtle Dove and Poivre et Sel, or the bar on the pontoon in the bay.
Headed in the other direction from Las Tortugas you eventually come to Hillsborough, the island’s only ‘town’ (still more of a village, really). Here you will find supermarkets, a couple of ‘sites’, including the small museum, and a number of restaurants, including Callaloo and the Garden Restaurant. It is also worth making the trip to the north of the town, to the Round House, a restaurant set in a private house.
Other beaches worth heading for are Anse la Roche and Petit Carenage, both in the north of the island. There are also a number of islands off Carriacou, most visible from Las Tortugas, which make for excellent day trips (people come from as far away as Barbados and St Lucia to visit them). The easiest to reach is Sandy Island, a ribbon of coral and sand just off Paradise Bay. You can arrange for a boatman to take you out there – and collect you again later in the day. |
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Useful Hints
Your housekeepers Godfrey and Leslie Ann will provide a complimentary meal on your first evening at the villa so that you do not have to think about it on your arrival. They can also buy in food and drink supplies in advance if you wish. As well as keeping house at the villa Godfrey is a great fixer and can organise activities on island for you.
Getting to your villa in Carriacou can be a little complicated. The easiest access is probably via Grenada, from where there are about three daily flights on SVG Air. However the latest flight is at about 4pm so (depending on your international connections) you may not be able to make the island on the same day. It is worth considering a 2-centre holiday, for instance, with 1—7 nights on Grenada. Another option is the fast ferry, the Osprey, which runs twice daily both ways between the islands. The last sailing to Carriacou is at about 5.30pm.
Barbados is better served with international flights than Grenada and so it may be easier to route your journey via there. Inter-island flights are not ideal, but you can take a shared charter flight to Union Island. From here there are two different options, a short hop by plane (be aware that the last flight usually leaves by about 4pm) or a water taxi ride from Union Island to Carriacou. Another option to consider from Barbados, the most direct of all, is to take a private charter in a small plane. This is obviously convenient and if there are enough of you flying the price will be comparable. Flying into Barbados and taking a private charter probably gives you the best chance of getting to Carriacou on the same day. Again contact SVG Air.
A couple of days a week there are also services from Carriacou via Canouan, which is not far away in the Grenadines. Canouan can be reached from San Juan in Puerto Rico. |
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Rates
| | 16 Jan-14 Dec 2007 | 15 Dec-15 Jan 2007-08 | 16 Jan-14 Dec 2008 | | Las Tortugas 1-2 guests 3-4 guests | 2,800 3,500 | 3,500 3,500 | 2,800 3,500 | Rates are quoted in US$ per week, exclusive of service charge, include a complimentary two door jeep, and are subject to change without notice. Nightly, pro rata rates for stays over 7 nights. Minimum rental 7 nights, except during period 15 Dec-15 Jan when minimum rental is 14 nights. A deposit of 25% of the total rental cost is required to confirm bookings and is non-refundable if cancelled within 16 weeks of arrival (unless a replacement booking is taken). Non refundable balance payable 35 days prior to arrival. |
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How To Book
If you wish to make further enquiries or a reservation, please use the WEB LINK or DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page to make contact with the owners' local agent direct, or if you wish to telephone them, their telephone number will be revealed if you click on the CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER link. If you wish to see more villas available for rent on Grenada or Carriacou through Spice Isle Villas (please click on the name). |
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Getting to Carriacou
The main entry ports in the Caribbean for Carriacou are Barbados and, more practically at the moment, Grenada. Please see here for details of Getting to Carriacou. |
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Airport Meet & Greet
Godfrey will meet you on arrival on Carriacou (either at the airport or at the ferry point in Hillsborough) and accompany you to Las Tortugas in a taxi via the police station (where you get your Grenada driving licence) and then the car hire company where you pick up your complimentary jeep. There is no charge for transfers and if needed Godfrey will be happy to return you to the airport or ferry terminal at the end of your stay. |
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Getting Around
A stay at Las Tortugas includes the use of a Suzuki Jeep, which you usually pick up en route to the villa on arrival. You will also need to stop at the police station in order to get a Grenadian driving licence (price EC$30 for each driver).
Even in a place as small as Carriacou a car is a useful addition to a stay. You can explore the island, visit the beaches for the day and eat out when you do not want to cater for yourself. You will also have to collect groceries, so we recommend a car with all villa-based holidays.
Buses do run around the island, along the main road from Hillsborough to Tyrell Bay, passing through the area of L’Esterre. Services are unpredictable. |
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