Grenada has more marinas than its size suggests, a legacy of decades as a base for yachts sitting out hurricane season south of the main storm track. Most cluster along the indented south coast, with one large marina in St George's and a smaller scene in Carriacou. They range from a full superyacht facility to small docks attached to a bar and a handful of moorings.
Choosing between them is less about which is best than about what you need: walking access to town, a quiet bay, a boatyard next door, a lively cruiser scene or shelter in a blow. This page compares the main options by area and style. Berth rates, capacity and services change with ownership and season, so contact the marina directly for current terms.
One practical point first: a marina is not automatically a customs port of entry. Most visiting yachts clear in at Port Louis, Prickly Bay or, in Carriacou, Tyrrel Bay, and only then move to the berth they have booked. The marinas below are grouped by area, starting in the capital and working east along the south coast before crossing to Carriacou.
Getting to and from the marinas
None of Grenada's marinas is far from the airport or the capital, but how you get around shapes daily life. From Port Louis you walk into St George's, and the minibuses that serve the rest of the island leave from the bus terminal a short walk away. From the south-coast bays, taxis are easy to call through the marina office, and minibuses run along the main roads above the bays for a few EC dollars a ride.
Several local drivers run dedicated shopping and errand trips for yacht crews from the south-coast bays, collecting people at the dinghy docks and taking them to supermarkets, chandleries and the market on set days. These services are announced on the morning cruisers' radio net and through the marina offices, and they are the cheapest way to provision without a car.
If you plan to drive, a hire car needs a local driving permit, issued against your home licence at the car hire desk or the police traffic department for a fee. Traffic drives on the left, roads are narrow and steep, and parking near St George's is tight, so many crews rely on buses and taxis instead.
St George's: Port Louis and the lagoon
Port Louis Marina, developed by Camper and Nicholsons, sits in the lagoon at the edge of St George's and is the largest and most developed marina in the country, with berths for yachts from small cruisers up to superyachts. Its strengths are location and services: you can walk to the Carenage, the market and the supermarkets, customs and immigration are on hand, and it has fuel, water, electricity, laundry and an ATM on site.
Across the lagoon, the Grenada Yacht Club, founded in the 1950s, runs a smaller marina and is the home of much of Grenada's racing and youth sailing. It has a more local, club feel and is close to town as well.
The lagoon is well protected from the prevailing trade winds, but it is a working harbour area near the cruise terminal, so expect more bustle and less swimming water than in the south-coast bays. It suits crews who want shops, restaurants and the airport within easy reach, and owners leaving a boat in a secure, staffed marina while they fly home.
The south coast bays
Prickly Bay Marina (L'Anse aux Epines). A small marina with a busy anchorage outside it, a customs office, and the Spice Island Marine boatyard next door. Popular with cruisers for its social scene and convenient services, though the bay is open to the south and can roll when swell comes from that direction.
Secret Harbour Marina (Mount Hartman Bay). In a well-sheltered bay just east of Prickly Bay, with docks, moorings and a quieter setting. Mount Hartman Bay is one of the better-protected anchorages on the coast.
Clarkes Court Bay and Woburn Bay. Further east, these interconnected bays hold Clarkes Court Boatyard and Marina, with a large travel lift suited to wide catamarans, and Whisper Cove Marina, a smaller full-service marina with Mediterranean-style mooring. The bays are deep inside the coastline and among the most sheltered on the island.
Le Phare Bleu (Petite Calivigny Bay). A marina of around 60 berths with a converted lightship as its landmark, a resort atmosphere and a pool. It no longer handles customs clearance, so yachts clear in elsewhere first.
St David's Harbour. Home to Grenada Marine, primarily a boatyard with long-term storage, but also used by yachts as a quiet anchorage in a protected bay on the south-east coast.
Carriacou: Tyrrel Bay
Carriacou's yachting centre is Tyrrel Bay on the south-west coast, a wide, sheltered anchorage with a boatyard and fuel dock at Carriacou Marine, a second haul-out yard, customs and immigration, and small bars and shops along the bay road. Many boats anchor rather than berth; dock space is limited.
Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 hit Tyrrel Bay hard: boats on the hard were toppled, and many that sheltered in the mangroves at the north end were damaged or sunk. Services have been rebuilding since. Check with the yards about current facilities and capacity before relying on them, especially for a haul-out or work on the boat.
Hillsborough, the main town, has a jetty and an open anchorage that can be rolly in northerly swell. It is fine for a visit to town and for clearing, less so for an extended stay.
How to choose: matching marina to purpose
A few questions narrow the choice quickly.
- Leaving the boat while you fly home? Look for 24-hour security, staff who will check lines and bilges, and a manageable distance from Maurice Bishop International Airport. Port Louis and the south-coast marinas are all within roughly 15 to 30 minutes by road.
- Need work done? A marina next to a boatyard, such as Prickly Bay beside Spice Island Marine or the Clarkes Court yard in Woburn Bay, saves days of shuttling.
- Want town life? Only Port Louis and the Yacht Club put St George's on your doorstep.
- Want quiet water and swimming? Secret Harbour, Whisper Cove and the inner bays of Clarkes Court and Woburn.
- Large catamaran? Ask specifically about berth width and travel-lift capacity; some docks and lifts cannot take wide multihulls.
- Hurricane season? Ask what the marina's storm plan is, whether boats must leave or haul out when a storm threatens, and how this interacts with your insurance.
What to check before you commit
Electricity type. Grenada's mains supply is 220–240 volts at 50 hertz. American boats wired for 110 volts at 60 hertz need a transformer, and some marinas offer both; ask before plugging in.
Water quality and cost. Dockside water is normally metered and charged. Many boats filter it or run watermakers in the bays.
Rates and seasons. Most marinas charge by the foot per day, with weekly, monthly and longer-term discounts. Rates are usually higher in the winter high season. Ask whether quoted rates include VAT and electricity.
Insurance proof. Almost every marina and yard requires evidence of third-party liability cover.
Dinghy access and security. If you anchor outside, check where dinghies can land and whether the marina charges for dinghy dock use. Lock the dinghy and outboard at night.
Frequently asked questions
Which Grenada marina is closest to St George's?
Port Louis Marina and the Grenada Yacht Club are both in the St George's lagoon, within walking distance of the Carenage, the market and the main shopping streets. The south-coast marinas are around 15 to 25 minutes away by taxi or route bus.
Can superyachts berth in Grenada?
Yes. Port Louis Marina is set up for large yachts, with deep-water berths and the services superyachts expect, and has handled vessels well over 50 metres. Larger yachts may also anchor off Grand Anse or St George's by arrangement.
Is it cheaper to anchor than to use a marina?
Much cheaper. Anchoring in Grenada's bays carries no charge beyond the cruising permit, except in protected areas where moorings must be used. Many cruisers anchor most of the time and take a berth only for provisioning, work or when leaving the boat.
Which marinas have boatyards next to them?
Prickly Bay sits beside Spice Island Marine, Clarkes Court Boatyard and Marina combines both in Woburn Bay, Grenada Marine is in St David's Harbour, and in Carriacou Tyrrel Bay has Carriacou Marine and a second haul-out yard.
Do Grenada marinas take bookings for hurricane season?
Many do, and long-term summer berths fill early because Grenada is a popular place to sit out the season. Each marina has its own storm rules, and some require boats to haul out or move when a system threatens. Discuss this, and your insurer's requirements, before signing.
