Carriacou lies about 60 kilometres north-east of Grenada's main island, and Petite Martinique a few kilometres beyond it. There are two ways to make the trip: by sea, on the fast Osprey ferry or one of the slower cargo-passenger boats, or by air, on a small plane that covers the distance in around twenty minutes. Each suits a different budget, schedule and stomach.
The details change more often than most guidebooks admit. Timetables shift with the season, public holidays and maintenance, and services were disrupted after Hurricane Beryl struck the sister islands in July 2024. This guide explains how each option works, what it typically costs, and the practical points that make the journey smoother.
One fact catches many first-timers out: the Grenada ferries now dock at Tyrrel Bay on Carriacou's south-west coast, not at the old jetty in Hillsborough. Plan onward transport from the bay rather than assuming you will step off in town.
The Osprey ferry: the main sea link
Route. Osprey Lines runs fast passenger ferries from the Carenage in St George's to Tyrrel Bay on Carriacou, and on to Petite Martinique. It is the most frequent and reliable sea option and the one most visitors use.
Schedule. In recent years the timetable has offered morning and late-afternoon sailings on weekdays, with reduced service on Saturdays and little or none on Sundays. Times change, so check the current schedule with Osprey Lines a day or two before travelling.
Journey time. Allow about 90 minutes to two hours from St George's to Carriacou in normal conditions, and longer when the sea is rough. The onward hop to Petite Martinique is roughly twenty to thirty minutes.
Fares. One-way fares between Grenada and Carriacou were around EC$80 (about US$30) in 2025, with return tickets available. Fares rise from time to time, so confirm the current price when booking.
Tickets. Tickets are sold at the Osprey office on the Carenage and at the dock before departure. Buying a day ahead is wise around holidays, Carnival and the Carriacou Regatta, when sailings fill up.
Cargo boats: slower and cheaper
Alongside Osprey, a small number of cargo-passenger vessels carry people and goods between St George's and Carriacou. The best known are the MV Dolly C and the Tyrrel Bay Express. In 2025 their one-way fares were reported at roughly EC$50 to EC$60, noticeably cheaper than the fast ferry, with crossings of around two and a half hours.
These boats are part of the islands' supply chain, so departure times depend partly on loading. Schedules have typically covered three or four days a week, often leaving Grenada in the late afternoon or early evening, but they have changed several times since Hurricane Beryl. Information is usually posted on the operators' social media pages; there is generally no formal online booking, and tickets are bought on the dock.
They suit budget travellers, people moving bulky items and anyone who enjoys a slower, more local crossing. They are less suitable if you are prone to seasickness, travelling with young children or working to a tight schedule. Ask about the expected arrival time at Tyrrel Bay so you can arrange a taxi or pickup.
Flying with SVG Air
The only scheduled air link is operated by SVG Air between Maurice Bishop International Airport and Lauriston Airport, a short airstrip on the south-western side of Carriacou close to Hillsborough. The flight takes about twenty minutes on a small twin-engine aircraft and gives spectacular views of the Grenadines on a clear day. Lauriston reopened to commercial flights in August 2024, after Hurricane Beryl damaged its terminal.
Fares are higher than the ferry and vary with demand; one-way tickets have commonly been quoted somewhere between about US$70 and US$140. Book directly with the airline and confirm the schedule, which can differ by day of the week and season. Flying is particularly useful for travellers connecting from an international flight at Maurice Bishop, since it avoids a transfer to the ferry terminal in St George's.
Small aircraft have strict baggage limits, often well below what international airlines allow. Pack light, ask about weight allowances for checked and hand luggage, and expect to be weighed or have your bags weighed at check-in. Excess baggage may be carried on a later flight.
How to plan the journey step by step
Whichever option you choose, these steps reduce the chance of a missed connection or a long wait on the dock.
- Decide on sea or air based on budget, luggage and how you handle rough water. Flying is fastest; Osprey balances speed and price; cargo boats are cheapest.
- Check the current timetable directly with the operator a day or two before travel, and again on the morning of departure if the weather is unsettled.
- Arrive at the Carenage terminal 30 to 45 minutes before an Osprey sailing to buy or collect tickets and tag luggage. Bring photo identification.
- Arrange transport from Tyrrel Bay or Lauriston in advance. Taxis meet most arrivals, but accommodation hosts can book one for you, which helps after dark.
- For Petite Martinique, stay on the Osprey after the Carriacou stop, or ask in Carriacou about local boats from Windward. Confirm the return trip before you go.
- Buy your return ticket early around Carnival, Regatta and public holidays. Departures back to Grenada on the last day of a festival are often oversubscribed.
Seasickness, weather and other things to know
The channel between Grenada and Carriacou is open water, and conditions vary considerably through the year.
- Rough crossings are common. Trade winds and swell can make the ferry lively, especially from December to April. Sit low and towards the back, look at the horizon and avoid a heavy meal before boarding.
- Take medication early. Seasickness tablets work best when taken well before departure, not once you feel unwell.
- Cancellations happen. Sailings and flights can be cancelled for weather, mechanical issues or tropical storm warnings. Build in a buffer day before an international flight home.
- Luggage on the ferry. Bags are usually stowed on deck or in a hold area. Keep valuables, medication and documents with you, and use a waterproof cover for electronics.
- Union Island is another country. Carriacou is close to Union Island in St Vincent and the Grenadines, but crossing between them means clearing immigration and customs on both sides.
Connecting from an international flight
Many visitors want to go straight from an international arrival at Maurice Bishop International Airport to Carriacou. By sea, that means a taxi from the airport to the Carenage in St George's, usually a drive of 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic, and catching a ferry whose timetable is not designed around flight arrivals. If your flight lands in the afternoon, you may miss the last sailing of the day, and a delayed flight makes the connection even less reliable.
For that reason, many travellers either spend their first night near St George's or Grand Anse and take the morning ferry, or book an SVG Air flight that departs from the same airport. The flight avoids the transfer across the island and the uncertainty of the sea crossing, but it should still be booked with a generous margin after your international arrival, as small regional flights do not wait for delayed connections.
On the way home, the same logic applies in reverse. Plan to be back on the main island the day before an international departure, particularly in the windier months or during hurricane season, when ferries and small aircraft are more likely to be delayed or cancelled.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the ferry from Grenada arrive in Carriacou?
The Osprey ferry and the cargo boats from St George's currently arrive at Tyrrel Bay, on Carriacou's south-west coast, rather than the old jetty in Hillsborough. Taxis usually meet arrivals, and the drive into Hillsborough takes about ten to fifteen minutes.
How long is the ferry from Grenada to Carriacou?
The fast Osprey ferry normally takes about 90 minutes to two hours, depending on sea conditions. Cargo-passenger boats such as the Dolly C and Tyrrel Bay Express take around two and a half hours or more, as they are slower and carry freight.
Is it better to fly or take the ferry to Carriacou?
Flying takes about twenty minutes and suits travellers connecting from international flights or who suffer badly from seasickness, but it costs more and has strict baggage limits. The ferry is cheaper, carries more luggage and leaves from central St George's.
Do you need to book the Osprey ferry in advance?
Usually you can buy tickets at the office or the dock on the day. Around public holidays, Carnival, the Carriacou Regatta and other busy periods, buying a day or more ahead is strongly advised because sailings can sell out.
How do you get to Petite Martinique?
Osprey sailings continue from Carriacou to Petite Martinique, a crossing of about twenty to thirty minutes. Local boats also run from Windward on Carriacou. There is no airport on Petite Martinique, so the last leg is always by sea.
Can you take a car on the ferry to Carriacou?
No. The Osprey is a passenger-only ferry, and the cargo boats are not set up for visitors' cars. Hire a car, use taxis or take the local minibuses after you arrive on Carriacou.
