Las
Tortugas is a comfortable two bedroom seafront home perched on a small,
breezy hill overlooking the ocean, a network of coral reefs and the
islands of the southern Grenadines.
A warm welcome at the boat
dock where the house manager ‘Godfrey’ will meet you on arrival, He
knows the house very well. (He helped build it!).
.
The primary accommodation is in the twin master bedrooms, each with a
queen size bed, fans, mosquito net and ensuite bathroom. There are blow
dryers in the master bathrooms. Hot water is provided via a solar
heater, an unusual luxury for Carriacou! The large patio and bedroom
doors can be left open day and night, keeping the bedrooms and villa
well ventilated. The loft is equipped with a wardrobe and a double bed,
which is suitable for children.
In
the kitchen, there is a counter top stove, a gas oven and a microwave.
We also have an electric frying pan, electric kettle, food processor,
blender and coffee maker. For music, there’s a boombox with CD/Cassette
player and a selection of tape. A flashlight,is available for nocturnal
wanderings, and for those evenings when you stay late on the beach and
have to walk up the path in the dark.
There
is a gas barbecue on the patio equipped with utensils and a light in
the alcove above, for cooking at night. Please take advantage of the
beautiful evenings by sipping your cocktails and relaxing on the patio.
A
rental 2-door Suzuki jeep is included in the price of the villa. The
rental will be in your name, and you will be responsible for insurance.
The jeep can be collected from the rental shop a short walk from the
house. Arrangements will be made for you to be met on arrival and taken
into Hillsborough, the main town, to obtain a local Driver’s Permit
which costs EC$30.00. You must have your valid Driver’s license (the
one you use at home) with you for this purpose. All linen, bath and
beach towels are provided. Beach mats are also available if required.
Downstairs
is a family room with long comfy couches, satellite TV, a VCR, and a
bathroom with a shower. Various channels are available via the dish,
including programming for children. There is also a collection of
paperbacks, some toys and board games, a picnic table. The exterior
door of the family room takes you outside to the top of the stairway
down to the garden gate, from which you can follow the pavers down the
path to Paradise beach.
Interior
Bedrooms
The 2 large master bedrooms, opening onto the sundeck are complete with
ceiling fans, built-in closets and en suite bathrooms. There is also a
loft above the living room with a double bed.
Bathrooms
2
Living/Dining Room:
The open plan living area features a fully equipped kitchen,
wrap-around bar, dining area, loft, laundry and powder room. Downstairs
is a large recreation room with access to the beach via stairs and a
paved path down the hillside.
Kitchen/Bar:
The kitchen includes a gas stove, oven and microwave, and the usual
small appliances (toaster, blender etc.) Cutlery, crockery etc. are
provided for eight persons
Veranda/Sundeck:
Accessed via three large arched doorways from the living area, the
Verandah includes a gas barbeque, and offers alfresco dining with an
incredible view of the reef, Sandy Island and the Southern Grenadines.
Recreation Room
Downstairs, the airy Recreation Room and bath, offer satellite TV in a
relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.
Beach & Garden
Las Tortugas is located on a small hill between two beautiful beaches,
each a mile or more in length, accessible by a footpath from the steps
downstairs. Paradise beach on the east (airport side) is preferred for
swimming and snorkeling. The west side beach offers long tranquil walks
out to Point Cistern and Honeymoon Hole. The house is set on almost an
acre of hillside with very pretty tropical landscaping
Restaurants
There are a number of good restaurants on the island. Our personal
favourite is the “Callaloo” in Hillsborough on the beach, which offers
West Indian cuisine elegantly presented in a beautiful setting,
especially at sunset. Make sure to take some mosquito repellent! Good
local food can also be had at Scrapers and a couple of other small
restaurants along the waterfront in Harvey Vale, a picturesque little
village on the beach in nearby Tyrrel Bay.
Other
good, but more expensive, eating spots offering international dishes
include the Silver Beach Hotel in Hillsborough, the Green Roof Inn on
the road to Bogles. Please refer to the map, for other restaurant phone
numbers.)
morning to look after the beach and gardens for you.
Staff
Godfrey will be on the premises to look after your needs Monday to
Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., or to
suit your requirements within this time frame, and will make beds,
launder linen and towels, clean the bathrooms, mop the floors and wash
up dishes as necessary. In the evening, if you care to leave your
dishes in the sink, Godfrey will wash up the following morning and take
out any garbage. He can also arrange for fish and lobster (in season)
and will fillet the fish and boil the lobster for you, should you so
desire. If you need help finding where to buy supplies, take Godfrey
with you into Hillsborough and he will show you where things are
available, where to buy vegetables etc.
Godfrey’s
wife, Leslie Ann, will be happy to answer your queries regarding
shopping, excursions (diving, sailing, fishing, walks and travel
arrangements) if you call her at 443-6333, during the day or in the
evening. Upon your arrival, Leslie Ann will provide a delicious
‘pelau’, a local dish of chicken and rice.
In case of emergency,
Leslie Ann will know where we are, and will contact us if any decisions
have to be made.
Rates
One week minimum rental
Rentals between December 15 and January 15 are two(2) weeks minimum
Family Rate ( max. 4 persons )
$430.00 per night
Additional guests US$25.00 per day per person
Honeymoon rate
US$ 360 per night
Arrival and Stay details
Carriacou operates on the E.C. dollar, although $US cash and major
credit cards are welcome at some restaurants, hotels etc. The rate of
exchange is $1.00US = $2.67EC, or for quick mental calculations,
approximately 3 to 1. The commercial banks, open 9am to 3pm, will
change US cash and traveler’s checks, or give you EC cash on your
credit card, but personal checks are not accepted. There is now an ATM
on the island, at the NCB bank in Hillsborough, which will accept Visa
Cards and give you EC cash..
Electricity
in Carriacou is 240V, 50Hz, but the outlets (plugs) in the villa are
wired for 120V, with standard American style fittings. North American
visitors will not need to bring any adapters, but our European guests
should take note.
Things to Do
Diving
Carriacou Silver Dive in Hillsborough has a fully equipped dive shop,
and also rents scuba and snorkeling gear, but you may wish to bring
your own snorkeling stuff for convenience. Arawak Divers in Harvey Vale
is also available, and is only a couple of minutes drive from the villa
. Either Silver Dive or Arawak will be happy to take you diving at some
truly spectacular sites or teach you to dive, should you so desire.
For those who prefer to snorkel closer to home, there are queen conchs,
white sea urchins (protected by law), rays, starfish etc. hidden in the
turtle grass off Paradise beach.
Boat Excursions
“Water taxis” are available for day trips to Sandy Island, Anse La
Roche etc. Trips can be arranged to visit Union Island, the Tobago
Keys, or to nearby Sandy Island, and we recommend White Island, just
south of Carriacou, as a wonderful place to spend a day. Make sure you
take the cooler with lots of ice, drinks, food, also sunblock and
snorkeling gear. White Island is uninhabited and there is little on the
island except sand and a lagoon. All that sun and sea tend to perk up
your appetite! Larger offshore vessels can also be chartered for
fishing or visiting adjacent Islands.
“Bho” at the Hardwood Bar, a short walk up Paradise beach has a small
fishing boat offering jaunts across the bay for the more adventurous.
The Hardwood is also a friendly and pleasant place to have a casual
lunch and drinks, being right on the beach, with good bathing and a
view of Sandy Island.
Fishing
The fishing around the island is generally excellent, this being one of
the primary pastimes of the local residents (“Kayaks”).
Kingfish, Tuna, Mackerel, Crevalle, Barracuda, etc. are commonly caught
trolling within easy reach of land, and bottom fishing yields an
amazing variety of reef fish, some with local names as colorful as the
fish themselves! There are “Soapfish”, “Boose”, “Caca-belly”, and
“Goggleyes” to name a few.
Those interested in sportfishing, as opposed to dinner entrees, can try
their hand inshore at fly fishing for Snapper, Snook, and Tarpon in the
Hurricane Hole, a mangrove-rimmed lagoon within walking distance of Las
Tortugas, and, for deep sea fishermen, the offshore waters hold large
Tuna, Wahoo, King, Barracuda, Dorado and Billfish. Enthusiasts should
bring their own gear, since the tackle available on-island, tends to be
focused more on putting food on the table than the finer points of
technique and sportsmanship. Rods should be collapsible for ease of
travel.
Cycling or walking
For those who enjoy cycling or hiking, Carriacou offers miles of
abandoned roadways, many of which offer superb views of outlying keys
and the myriad of reefs that rim the island. There are ruins of
plantation houses, windmills and fortifications, hidden among the
trees, some still with their cannon in place. Bicycles can be rented
from Cuthbert Snagg or in Harveyvale (Mountain Bikes).
The Museum
Though tiny, the Museum in Hillsborough is worth a visit, with its
exhibit of Arawak and Carib pottery and artifacts, and maps and
information on the unique history of Carriacou. The attendant,
Clemencia, is very friendly and informative, and happens to be your
neighbour at Las Tortugas.
Food Supplies & Shopping
Several small supermarkets located in Hillsborough offer a surprising
variety of foodstuffs, and the market opposite the wharf at the town
centre is usually a good source for fresh fruit and vegetables. Fish,
(catch of the day) can also be bought at the market, or through
Godfrey, who knows all the fishermen in L’Esterre. Good quality
pre-packaged meat is a little hard to come by in the groceries, so you
might want to bring down a couple of boxes of US prime frozen steaks in
a small cooler as hand baggage.
Main
street in Hillsborough houses a number of bars which never close. In
fact, drinks are always close at hand in Carriacou, which is famed for
having 100 Rum Shops for every Gas Station on the island. (There is
only one gas station.) General stores are also available, in which
hardware, items of clothing, dry goods etc. can be bought.
If you
are interested in purchasing any of the spices for which Grenada is
famous, Leslie Ann will be happy to arrange this for you.
Children
Children are welcome at Las Tortugas. Aside from the obvious attraction
of the beaches and bay, the hillside on which Las Tortugas is located
provides a wonderful setting for “adventures” such as climbing,
exploring, rescuing entangled goats, searching for hermit crabs,
grasshoppers, etc. Infants and very small children should, however, be
closely supervised (as always). The villa is built on three levels,
with interconnecting stairways. The verandah is enclosed with a
concrete balustrade, but projects over a steep drop.
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