Saint Patrick: Nature, Cocoa and History
Accommodation in Saint Patrick
In northeast Grenada, Saint Patrick brings together distinctive natural sites, a layered history and a vibrant cocoa culture. Levera National Park, a historic cliff, plantation and cocoa sites, and hot springs offer different reasons to explore the parish. When planning your trip, it is worth focusing on the experiences that matter most to you.
Lagoon, crater lake and views
At 450 acres, Levera National Park is an important biodiversity area in Saint Patrick. Its lagoon is a vital wildlife habitat and refuge for numerous bird species. Those interested in nature and birdlife will find a different focus here from the parish’s historic sites and cultural offerings. Visitors can also walk a circular trail around the 23-acre pond in the park. Levera Beach offers views of Sugar Loaf Island, Green Island and Sandy Island.
Lake Antoine is another striking natural site in the region. The lake formed when a dormant volcanic dome collapsed and is a crater lake. Its species-rich wetland ecosystem adds another type of landscape to the nature experiences at Levera National Park. If you would like to experience both a lagoon and bird habitat and a crater lake during your trip, you can include these two sites in your plans as distinct nature experiences.
History and cocoa culture
Leapers’ Hill is home to a monument. The cliff is associated with the French attack of 1650, when about 40 Island Caribs jumped from the cliff later known as le Morne des Sauteurs. The site thus links a specific historical memory with the landscape of Saint Patrick.
Belmont Estate offers a different way to learn about plantation and cocoa history. The property is a 300-year-old working plantation in the northern part of Saint Patrick. Its offerings include plantation and cocoa tours, as well as a museum. The cocoa fermentation facility showcases traditional and modern cocoa-processing methods. These include the so-called “Dancing of the Cocoa,” in which the beans are polished.
Another stop for cocoa enthusiasts is the Grenada Chocolate Company. It operates a “tree to bar” chocolate factory in Hermitage, Saint Patrick. Together with Belmont Estate, it shows the different ways cocoa culture can be experienced in the parish: here through chocolate-making, and there in the context of a working plantation, tours and a museum. There is also Amerindian petroglyphs, or rock art, in Mount Rich.
Hot springs and special reasons to visit
The River Sallee Boiling Springs combine a natural experience with a religious tradition. Visitors can bathe in the pools or ask local guides to rub the earth mixture, described as soothing, onto their skin. The hot springs also have traditional religious significance for Baptists, who perform rituals there. These different connections make River Sallee a place where visitors can learn about both the springs and their cultural significance.
The St Patrick’s Day Fiesta, held every March, is a recurring reason to visit. The programme includes arts and crafts, agricultural and cultural performances, sporting activities and entertainment. If you would like to experience the fiesta, March can help guide your choice of travel dates. SPECTO-guided tours must be booked two days in advance. Participants also need a permit to access the beach; beach access is not permitted without one.
Explore actively and discover more of the region
Myristic Mountain offers hiking trails and horseback riding excursions. To reach the farm, take a local bus to the village of Mt Rich and continue on foot; alternatively, you can arrange a taxi to the farm. These specific travel options may be useful when planning your day if you would like to visit Myristic Mountain.
For more regional information, see the pages on Sauteurs, Prospect and Mount Rose.
For the broader travel overview: Grenada.
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