Where to Stay in Carriacou: Ade's Dream & Top Guesthouses
TL;DR: Carriacou is Grenada's largest sister isle, a 13-square-mile gem with white-sand beaches, world-class diving, and an unhurried pace that even Grand Anse Beach cannot match. The Spice Isle's sister is open and welcoming visitors again after Hurricane Beryl. Top places to stay include Ade's Dream (budget, central), Green Roof Inn (eco-boutique, oceanfront), and the Mermaid Beach Hotel (modern comfort). Book early for Carnival season.
Searching for the best places to stay in Carriacou? You are not alone. Ade's Dream Guest House pulls in consistent search traffic for a reason. This small, family-run guesthouse on Main Street in Hillsborough has been the go-to budget base for independent travellers visiting Grenada's sister isle for decades. But Ade's Dream is far from your only option. Carriacou has a surprisingly varied accommodation scene for an island of just 13 square miles, and it keeps getting better as recovery from Hurricane Beryl continues.
This guide covers every tier, from the charming eco-inn right on the water to self-catering apartments tucked into the hills. It also tells you how to get there, when to book, and what to expect from the Spice Isle's quieter, more authentic sibling.
Why Is Everyone Talking About Carriacou Right Now?
Carriacou is back. Hurricane Beryl made a direct hit on the island on 1 July 2024 as a Category 4 storm, and the damage was severe. Over 90 percent of structures across Carriacou and Petite Martinique were damaged or uninhabitable. It was devastating for the community. But Caribbean resilience is real, and by spring 2025, Carriacou was green again, with many businesses reopened and life returning to something close to normal. The Grenada Tourism Authority is running a dedicated "Plan Your Trip to Carriacou" campaign, and the island genuinely needs and wants your visit.
Lauriston Airport reopened in August 2024. The main ferry routes are running. Hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and dive shops are welcoming guests. There are still signs of rebuilding in places, but the beaches are as beautiful as ever, the reefs are recovering, and the people of Carriacou are, as always, among the warmest in the Caribbean.
Coming now means your tourism dollars land exactly where they are needed most.
How Do You Get to Carriacou from Grenada?
You have two main options: the Osprey Lines fast ferry from St. George's, or a 20-minute flight with SVG Air. The ferry departs from the Carenage in St. George's and costs EC$80 (around US$31) one-way. The journey takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours in calm conditions. Flights cost approximately US$69 to US$100 one-way. Both services are running in 2025, but schedules can shift, so always check ahead.
Osprey Lines operates a modern fast ferry from the Carenage in St. George's. It offers both an air-conditioned cabin and an open sun deck. Take sunscreen if you're heading topside. The ferry arrives at Tyrell Bay on Carriacou's southwest coast. A budget alternative is the Tyrell Bay Express at EC$60 one-way. Always check the latest timetables directly with the operators, as schedules change for weather and events.
If you prefer speed over scenery, SVG Air runs the 20-minute hop from Maurice Bishop International Airport to Lauriston Airport on Carriacou. Seats are limited on the small twin-prop, so book in advance. From either arrival point, taxis and minibuses serve Hillsborough and the rest of the island. A minibus ride runs around EC$3.50, and a full island taxi tour is roughly EC$200 for two to three hours.
Ade's Dream: The Budget Anchor of Hillsborough
Ade's Dream Guest House sits on Main Street in Hillsborough, two minutes on foot from the main ferry dock and five minutes by taxi from Lauriston Airport. It is owned and run by a Carriacou family committed to local hospitality. Studio rooms come with a kitchenette (fridge, microwave, toaster), private bathroom, air conditioning, cable TV, and a private patio or shared veranda. It is a no-frills, clean, well-located base.
This is the guesthouse that budget travellers and island-hoppers have relied on for years. The location is genuinely hard to beat. Restaurants, shops, and the bank are all within a five-minute walk. The communal balcony overlooking Main Street is a favourite spot for watching Carriacou life go by, and the beach is right across the road.
Reviews are mixed, which is worth knowing before you book. The property is honest about what it is: a guesthouse, not a hotel. Expect rooms that are functional rather than stylish. Hot water and Wi-Fi are available, though both can be inconsistent. The staff are noted for their friendliness, but the property can get lively at weekends when music from the street filters in. If you are a light sleeper, book a room on the upper floors or consider earplugs for Friday and Saturday nights.
What Ade's Dream does better than anywhere else on the island is location and price. It remains the most central budget option in Hillsborough, and for travellers who plan to spend their days diving, beach-hopping, or exploring the island, it does exactly what it promises.
Ade's Dream does not currently have a listing on GrenadaSearch. If you run a property on Carriacou and want to reach the thousands of travellers searching this site every month, add your listing here for free.
Green Roof Inn: Eco-Charm Right on the Water
Green Roof Inn is a small, sustainable inn located around 50 metres from the sea, just north of Hillsborough. It has five ocean-view rooms in the main building, two private garden cottages, and an upstairs restaurant with panoramic sea views and unforgettable sunsets. Rates start at US$125 per night, including breakfast. It is the closest thing to a boutique eco-retreat on the island.
Green Roof Inn has a philosophy that sets it apart: link business success to community wellbeing and environmental sustainability. The menu in the upstairs Ocean Terrace restaurant focuses on locally sourced produce and seafood. The garden leads all the way to the sea, with a private cove for swimming and snorkelling, a yoga pavilion, a jetty for water taxis to the offshore cays, and kayaks available on request.
Rooms are individually designed with verandah access, ensuite bathrooms, fans, mosquito nets, and free Wi-Fi. The cottages in the lush garden offer more privacy and a genuine sense of seclusion. Guests consistently praise the food at dinner, the freshness of the breakfasts (featuring fruit picked from the garden), and the personal welcome from the owners.
It is a 10 to 15-minute walk into Hillsborough, which suits guests who prefer a quieter, more private setting. The dive centre in Hillsborough is about 15 minutes on foot. For those who want to snorkel from the property, the small cove provides easy access to the reef. The inn is not for travellers seeking a buzzy hotel scene. It is for those who want to feel genuinely away from it all, with excellent food and a strong environmental conscience. That audience consistently gives it the highest ratings on the island.
The Mermaid Beach Hotel: Modern Comfort in the Heart of Town
The Mermaid Beach Hotel opened in 2015 on the beach in central Hillsborough. It has 22 rooms across three categories: standard rooms, king bed suites, and four beachfront ocean-view rooms. All rooms have air conditioning, ceiling fans, Wi-Fi, cable TV, and mini refrigerators. Rates typically start around US$125 per night. It is the most modern full-service hotel in Hillsborough.
As a beachfront property, guests at the Mermaid are literally steps from the water. The ocean-view rooms come with balconies looking directly onto the sea. This makes it the best choice for travellers who want proper hotel amenities combined with an easy walk to the beach, the ferry dock, and the town centre.
Post-Beryl, some onsite dining has been disrupted, so check current restaurant availability when you book. The Callaloo Restaurant and Bar is adjacent to the hotel. The beach itself is as beautiful as ever. Travellers doing dive trips with nearby operators like Deefer Diving particularly love the Mermaid for its location and the ease of getting to and from the water each day.
If you value a recognisably hotel-style experience over boutique charm, the Mermaid is the right call. It is fully accessible, centrally located, and consistently well-reviewed for cleanliness and staff friendliness.
More Places to Stay: Cottages, Apartments, and Guesthouses
Carriacou's accommodation scene goes well beyond those three properties. Here is a quick guide to the other options worth considering:
Bayaleau Point Cottages: These waterfront cottages on Carriacou's quieter northeast coast have been welcoming guests since 1992. The Bayaleau Point Cottages listing on GrenadaSearch shows a family-run operation offering modern amenities, boat tours, and genuine Caribbean character. Ideal for those who want to get away from Hillsborough completely.
Cherry Hill Apartment: Located in Bogles in Carriacou's north, Cherry Hill Apartment is a self-catering option for travellers who prefer to cook their own meals and explore at their own pace. Bogles puts you close to Anse La Roche, one of the island's most secluded beaches.
Rosa Guesthouse and Mom's Rotis: A great local pick right on Carriacou's Main Street in Hillsborough. The rotis alone are reason enough to stay here. It is the kind of guesthouse that gives you an immediate sense of the island's warmth and food culture.
Bogles Round House: One of the most talked-about stays on Carriacou. A collection of round stone cottages on the island's north coast, surrounded by gardens and close to the beach. Often fully booked, so reserve ahead.
Peace Haven Guest House: A small, budget-friendly option in Hillsborough within easy walking distance of the ferry dock and town amenities. A reliable fallback if Ade's Dream is full.
Browse the full list of vetted stays on the Carriacou & Petite Martinique parish page or explore all options in the accommodation category.
When Should You Book? Festivals, Carnival, and Peak Season
Book as early as possible for Carriacou Carnival (Kayak Mas), which runs in February in the pre-Lenten season. Accommodation sells out weeks in advance for this event. The Shakespeare Mas, which closes the festival on the final Tuesday, is one of the most extraordinary cultural performances in the entire Caribbean. Outside of Carnival, December through April is peak season, with dry weather and the highest demand.
Carriacou Carnival, known locally as Kayak Mas, is a genuinely unmissable experience. The 2026 edition ran from 11 to 17 February, with Shakespeare Mas closing the festival on Tuesday 17 February. The Carnival blends African, French, and English heritage through J'ouvert, Jab Jab masquerade, soca competitions, and the iconic Shakespeare Mas, where costumed performers recite Shakespearean verses in competitive theatrical duels. No other carnival in the Caribbean has anything like it. The Shakespeare Mas tradition earned international recognition in 2024 for its historical and cultural significance.
Special ferry schedules operate during Carnival week, and both Osprey Lines and the Tyrell Bay Express run additional sailings. Reconfirm all travel times with the operators close to your travel date.
Outside of Carnival, aim for December through April for the best weather. July and August bring more rain and the Atlantic hurricane season. June through November is technically off-peak, but the island is beautiful year-round. The beaches, diving, and people never disappoint.
One practical tip: Carriacou is small, accommodation options are limited, and the best properties fill up fast at any time of year. Do not assume you can book a week before arrival. Give yourself a month of lead time in peak season and at least three months for Carnival.
Conclusion
Carriacou is the part of Grenada that people tend to fall in love with on first visit and return to again and again. It is quieter, smaller, and more authentically Caribbean than most of the Spice Isle's main-island resorts. The accommodation ranges from no-frills guesthouses like Ade's Dream for budget travellers, to the eco-conscious Green Roof Inn for those who want something with character and ocean views, to the modern Mermaid Beach Hotel for guests who want proper hotel comforts right on the beach.
The island is recovering well from Hurricane Beryl and needs visitor support more than ever. Booking a stay in Carriacou right now is both a great travel decision and a direct contribution to the community's rebuild.
Three things to remember: Book early, especially around Carnival. Check ferry and flight schedules on your travel day. And bring your snorkel mask. The reefs around Carriacou have been called some of the best in the southern Caribbean, and even post-Beryl, the diving here is extraordinary.
Browse all accommodation options across Grenada's sister isle on the Carriacou & Petite Martinique parish page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ade's Dream Guest House in Carriacou worth it? Ade's Dream is the best-located budget option in Hillsborough, sitting two minutes from the main ferry dock and five minutes from the airport by taxi. Rooms come with kitchenettes, air conditioning, and private bathrooms. It is a guesthouse, not a hotel, so set expectations accordingly. Guests who want a clean, affordable base for island exploration consistently give it positive reviews, while those expecting resort amenities sometimes leave disappointed.
How do you get from Grenada to Carriacou? The most popular option is the Osprey Lines fast ferry from the Carenage in St. George's. A one-way ticket costs EC$80 (around US$31) and the crossing takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. You can also fly with SVG Air from Maurice Bishop International Airport; the 20-minute flight costs roughly US$69 to US$100 one-way. Always confirm schedules directly with the operator before you travel, as timetables can change.
What is the Green Roof Inn in Carriacou like? Green Roof Inn is an intimate, eco-focused inn around 50 metres from the sea, just north of Hillsborough. It has five ocean-view rooms and two garden cottages. The upstairs restaurant is well-regarded for its locally sourced food and spectacular sunset views. Rates start at US$125 per night including breakfast. The inn is ideal for travellers who value sustainability, good food, and a genuinely private atmosphere over hotel-style convenience.
When is Carriacou Carnival and do I need to book ahead? Carriacou Carnival, known as Kayak Mas, is a pre-Lenten festival held in February. The 2026 edition ran from 11 to 17 February, closing with the Shakespeare Mas parade on the final Tuesday. It is one of the most culturally distinct carnivals in the Caribbean, featuring the unique Shakespeare Mas tradition where performers recite Shakespearean verses in theatrical street duels. Accommodation fills up weeks or even months in advance for Carnival. Book as early as possible.
Is Carriacou safe to visit after Hurricane Beryl? Yes. Carriacou has been welcoming visitors since mid-2024 and the recovery has progressed steadily. By spring 2025, most businesses had reopened and life on the island had largely returned to normal. The beaches remain beautiful, the reefs are recovering, and both ferry and air services are running. The Grenada Tourism Authority actively encourages visits as part of the recovery effort. There may still be visible signs of rebuilding in some areas, but this should not deter travel to what remains one of the most rewarding destinations in the Caribbean.