Itinerary
7-Day Grenada to Tobago Cays Sailing Itinerary
A 7-day Grenada itinerary runs north to Carriacou, crosses into St Vincent & the Grenadines for the Tobago Cays and Union Island, then returns south to Grenada. It covers roughly 110 nautical miles round-trip, is the shortest trip that reaches the Cays, and includes a captain who handles both countries’ clearances.
Last updated 2026-10-19
What is the 7-day route?
| Day | Stop | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grenada south coast | Board, provision, short sail. Hog Island or Prickly Bay. |
| 2 | Carriacou — Tyrrel Bay | North up the lee of Grenada, clear of the Kick ’em Jenny exclusion zone. Clear out of Grenada. |
| 3 | Tobago Cays | Into the marine park via Union. Horseshoe Reef, turtles, park fee. |
| 4 | Tobago Cays | Second night. Sandbar lunch, Petit Rameau beach, no passage. |
| 5 | Union Island / PSV | Clifton for fuel and clearance, or Chatham Bay for a quiet anchorage. |
| 6 | Carriacou — Sandy Island | White-sand cay, reef snorkel, night at Tyrrel Bay. |
| 7 | Grenada | Southbound, clear in. Dragon Bay or St George’s. Off the next morning. |
How hard is the sailing on a 7-day trip?
Moderate but not demanding. The longest legs are Grenada–Carriacou and Carriacou–Grenada, each around 35 nautical miles with an early start. Everything else is a short hop. The Union–Carriacou channel can be lively when the trades funnel through, so the captain reefs early.
Questions about this itinerary
Can you really reach the Tobago Cays in 7 days from Grenada?
Yes, with two overnight stops at Carriacou bracketing it. Seven days is the realistic minimum for a Grenada round-trip including the Cays. Shorter trips stay in Grenada; longer trips add Mayreau, Petit St Vincent and spare weather days.
Why two nights in the Tobago Cays?
Because one night is a drive-by. The park is the best snorkelling on the route — turtles in the seagrass, Horseshoe Reef on the windward side — and a second night means you see it without a departure deadline.
Do we clear customs ourselves?
No. The captain clears out of Grenada at Carriacou and into St Vincent & the Grenadines at Union, then reverses it on the way back. You stay aboard in normal cases. Bring a valid passport.
What about Kick ’em Jenny?
It is an active submarine volcano between Grenada and Carriacou with a published exclusion zone. The captain plans the passage to stay well outside it. It does not change the route meaningfully.
Is this trip crowded?
The Tobago Cays are busy in high season. Carriacou’s Tyrrel Bay is a working sailors’ harbour with beach bars and good holding. Chatham Bay on Union stays quiet. We time arrivals to avoid the mid-afternoon rush at the Cays.
What if the weather turns?
The captain changes the plan. In a hard trades week we shorten the Union leg and keep the second Cays night rather than the reverse. Nothing here requires sailing in conditions the boat or crew won’t enjoy.
What happened with Hurricane Beryl?
Carriacou and Union Island took serious damage in 2024. The anchorages remain sound while rebuilding continues ashore. Expect warm welcomes, visible repair work, and fewer tourists than before.