I get this question constantly. Two volcanic Caribbean islands, both in the Windward chain, separated by about 200 km of ocean. Both have lush rainforests, waterfalls, rum distilleries, and beaches that look like screensavers. So why does St. Lucia get three times the tourist traffic?
I've spent significant time on both. Here's an honest, category-by-category breakdown.
St. Lucia: The Pitons. Twin volcanic spires rising 770 m above the sea. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visible from multiple points across the island. They're on every piece of marketing material, every postcard, every Instagram post. They're also genuinely awe-inspiring in person.
Grenada: The Underwater Sculpture Park in Moliniere Bay. The world's first underwater sculpture gallery, created by Jason deCaires Taylor. Over 75 concrete figures at 3-8 m depth, slowly being colonized by coral. You need snorkel or scuba gear to see them, which means they're less photogenic for the casual visitor but far more memorable if you get in the water.
Verdict: St. Lucia's Pitons win for visual impact from land. Grenada wins for underwater uniqueness.
St. Lucia: Sugar Beach (Jalousie Beach) between the Pitons is stunning but can feel commercialized — lounger rental runs US$25-40. Reduit Beach in Rodney Bay is the main tourist strip. Anse Chastanet has excellent reef snorkeling directly from shore.
Grenada: Grand Anse Beach is a 3 km crescent of white sand consistently ranked among the Caribbean's best. Free access, lounger rental ~US$10. Less developed than St. Lucia's tourist beaches. Magazine Beach and Morne Rouge are quieter alternatives with fewer visitors.
Verdict: Grenada's Grand Anse is the better everyday beach — longer, cheaper, less crowded. St. Lucia's Sugar Beach is the more dramatic setting.
This is where the gap becomes obvious.
| Category | St. Lucia | Grenada |
|---|---|---|
| Budget hotel/guesthouse | US$60-100/night | US$50-80/night |
| All-inclusive resort | US$300-900/night | US$200-500/night |
| Local meal | US$6-10 | US$4-7 |
| Restaurant main | US$15-30 | US$10-20 |
| Beer at a bar | US$4-6 | US$3-5 |
| Airport taxi to main area | US$80-100 (UVF to Rodney Bay) | US$15-20 (GND to Grand Anse) |
| Daily budget (backpacker) | US$80-120 | US$50-80 |
Grenada is roughly 30-40% cheaper across the board. The airport-to-hotel taxi alone tells the story — US$15 in Grenada vs US$80+ in St. Lucia.
Verdict: Grenada wins on value. Not even close.
St. Lucia: Creole cuisine with French and African influences. Green fig (banana) and saltfish is the national dish. The Friday night "jump up" in Gros Islet has excellent street food. Hotel Chocolat's Rabot Estate does cocoa-infused fine dining that's unique to the island. Roti and fried fish from street vendors cost US$3-6.
Grenada: Spice-driven cuisine — the island produces nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and cocoa. "Oil-down" (the national dish: breadfruit, callaloo, salted meat, coconut milk) is heavy and brilliant. The Friday night fish fry in Gouyave is legendary — grilled lobster and conch from EC$10-25 (~US$4-10). River Antoine Rum Distillery serves 150-proof rum that will rearrange your afternoon.
Verdict: Both excellent. Grenada's spice-driven flavors are more distinctive. St. Lucia's French-Creole influence gives it more range. Tie, with a slight edge to Grenada for affordability.
St. Lucia:
Grenada:
Verdict: St. Lucia has more organized, higher-end adventure tourism. Grenada's activities are rougher, cheaper, and more authentic. Your preference depends on whether you want polished or raw.
St. Lucia: Direct flights from Miami (3.5 hrs), New York (4.5 hrs), Toronto (5 hrs), and London (8.5 hrs). Two airports — UVF (south, international) and SLU (north, regional). The complication is that UVF is far from the north-coast hotels.
Grenada: Fewer direct flights, mostly from Miami (3.5 hrs), New York (4.5 hrs), and London (seasonal). One airport (GND) conveniently located 15 minutes from Grand Anse Beach.
Verdict: St. Lucia has more flight options. Grenada's single well-located airport is less hassle on arrival.
St. Lucia: More developed, more polished, more resort-oriented. Rodney Bay has a modern tourist-town feel with malls and chain restaurants alongside local spots. Soufriere retains more character. The island attracts a lot of honeymooners and luxury travelers.
Grenada: Less developed, more authentic, more Caribbean. No mega-resorts. No major chains. The tourism infrastructure is modest by design. You'll interact with locals more naturally. It attracts independent travelers, divers, and foodies.
Verdict: If you want a polished Caribbean vacation with luxury options, St. Lucia. If you want to feel like you've actually arrived somewhere different from home, Grenada.
Both islands are generally safe (Level 1 travel advisory). Standard Caribbean precautions apply:
Grenada edges slightly safer by reputation. St. Lucia's Castries area gets advisories for after-dark walking.
Also worth reading: When to Visit St. Lucia: A Season-by-Season Breakdown for a different perspective on this destination.
| Traveler Type | Go To |
|---|---|
| Honeymooners | St. Lucia (Pitons + luxury resorts) |
| Budget travelers | Grenada (40% cheaper overall) |
| Divers/snorkelers | Grenada (Sculpture Park + reefs) |
| Hikers | St. Lucia (Pitons + rainforest trails) |
| Foodies | Grenada (spice culture + rum) |
| Families | St. Lucia (more organized activities) |
| Adventure seekers | St. Lucia (zip-lines + volcano) |
| Culture seekers | Grenada (nutmeg farms + fishing villages) |
| First-time Caribbean visitors | St. Lucia (easier to navigate) |
| Repeat Caribbean visitors | Grenada (more authentic, less touristy) |
If you're exploring more of the Caribbean, Dominica offers a completely different experience worth considering.
If you're exploring more of the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago offers a completely different experience worth considering.
Yes, but not easily. There's no direct ferry. You'd need to fly through a connecting island (Barbados or Trinidad). It's doable as a two-island trip if you have 10+ days, but most travelers pick one.
My honest take: if you've never been to the Caribbean, St. Lucia is the safer first pick. It delivers the tropical experience you're imagining. But if you've done the resort thing and want something with more character and less markup, Grenada is the island you'll fall in love with.
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