Things to Do in St. George's in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in St. George's
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season pricing means accommodations run 25-40% cheaper than peak winter months - you'll find waterfront guesthouses in the EC$180-250 range instead of EC$350-plus, and tour operators are more willing to negotiate on multi-day packages
- The Carenage and Grand Anse Beach see roughly half the cruise ship crowds compared to December through March - you can actually walk the Saturday morning market without shoulder-to-shoulder jostling, and popular snorkeling spots like Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park have maybe 15-20 visitors instead of 50-plus
- Mango season peaks in May, which means roadside vendors sell Julie mangoes for EC$2-3 per bag, local restaurants feature mango chutney with grilled fish, and you'll catch the tail end of the Spice Basket Festival celebrations where vendors compete for best mango preserves
- The transitional weather creates ideal hiking conditions for rainforest trails - mornings stay cool enough (around 20-22°C or 68-72°F) for the 2-3 hour trek to Seven Sisters Falls or Concord Falls without the oppressive heat you'd get in February or March, though you'll want to finish by 1pm before afternoon clouds roll in
Considerations
- May sits in the pre-hurricane season transition period, which means weather patterns can shift quickly - you might wake up to brilliant sunshine and face a 30-45 minute downpour by 2pm, making it tricky to plan full-day sailing trips or beach days without flexibility built into your schedule
- Some tour operators run reduced schedules during shoulder season - certain catamaran companies only do 3-4 trips weekly instead of daily departures, and a few smaller dive shops close for annual maintenance, so you'll need to book water activities 10-14 days ahead rather than showing up spontaneously
- The humidity averages 70% but feels closer to 80% on still days, especially in Grand Etang rainforest areas - that sticky, clothes-clinging warmth that makes you want to shower twice daily and means your camera lens fogs up the moment you step from air conditioning into outdoor markets
Best Activities in May
Grand Etang Rainforest Hiking
May offers the sweet spot for rainforest trails before June rains make paths muddy and slippery. Morning temperatures around 20-22°C (68-72°F) mean you can tackle the moderately challenging Seven Sisters route or the easier Annandale Falls trail without overheating. The forest canopy stays lush from April showers, wildlife is active in cooler morning hours, and you'll spot mona monkeys near Grand Etang Lake without the tour bus crowds. The variable afternoon weather actually works in your favor - clouds roll in around 1-2pm, cooling things down for the descent. Water levels at the falls are still robust from earlier wet season but not dangerously high.
Underwater Sculpture Park Snorkeling
Water visibility in May typically reaches 18-24 m (60-80 ft) before summer plankton blooms reduce clarity, and sea temperatures hover around 27-28°C (81-82°F) - warm enough for 60-90 minutes in the water without a wetsuit feeling necessary. The Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park sees maybe a third of the snorkelers you'd encounter in February, meaning you can actually photograph the Vicissitudes circle and Christ of the Deep without fins kicking up sediment everywhere. Morning departures (8-9am) offer the calmest conditions before afternoon breezes pick up. The shoulder season also means marine life is more relaxed - you'll spot more hawksbill turtles and reef fish behaving naturally rather than spooked by constant human presence.
Spice Estate Tours
May coincides with nutmeg harvesting season, so you'll see actual processing at estates like Dougaldston or Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Station rather than just walking through empty facilities. Workers split the outer mace from nutmeg seeds, and the whole operation smells intensely of fresh spice - completely different from the sanitized tourist experience in off-season months. The cooler morning temperatures (before 11am) make walking through hillside plantations comfortable, and cocoa pods are also being harvested, so you can watch the full fermentation process. Local guides explain how Hurricane Ivan affected production and the slow recovery - the kind of context you won't get from generic tours.
Grand Anse Beach and Coastal Exploration
The 3 km (1.9 mile) stretch of Grand Anse sees dramatically fewer visitors in May - you can claim a palm-shaded spot by 9am without the elbow-to-elbow beach towel situation of high season. Water stays calm most mornings before afternoon breezes create small waves, perfect for swimming or trying paddleboard rentals. The UV index of 8 means you'll want shade breaks, but the occasional cloud cover provides natural relief. Local beach bars serve fresh grilled fish lunches for EC$25-40, and vendors are more relaxed about haggling on sarongs and spice packets. Walk south toward Morne Rouge Bay in late afternoon (4-5pm) when temperatures drop to 24-25°C (75-77°F) and catch locals playing beach football.
St. George's Market and Harbor Walking
Saturday morning market at Market Square runs 6am-noon and peaks around 8-9am when vendors display dasheen leaves, christophene, soursop, and those incredible Julie mangoes for EC$2-3 per bag. May means mango season is in full swing, so you'll find at least 6-7 varieties with vendors happy to explain which are best for eating fresh versus cooking. The Carenage waterfront stays relatively empty compared to cruise ship days - you can photograph the colorful buildings and fishing boats without crowds blocking your shots. Walk up to Fort George (20-25 minute climb) in early morning before 10am when temperatures are still comfortable, then explore the Sendall Tunnel and Grenada National Museum. The humidity makes midday walking sticky, so plan indoor market browsing or museum visits for 11am-2pm.
Sunset Catamaran Sailing
May evenings offer spectacular cloud formations from the variable weather patterns, creating dramatic sunset backdrops as you sail along the southwest coast. Departures around 4:30-5pm catch the golden hour light, and sea conditions tend to calm down after breezy afternoons. Water temperature stays around 27°C (81°F), comfortable for the swimming stop most catamarans include at Magazine Beach or Flamingo Bay. You'll share the boat with maybe 15-20 people instead of the 30-40 passenger loads in peak season, meaning more space on deck and better access to the captain for questions. The rum punch flows freely, and some operators grill fish or chicken onboard as the sun drops behind the hills.
May Events & Festivals
Spice Basket Festival Activities
While the main Spice Basket Festival typically runs in late April, May sees continuation events and vendor competitions, particularly around Gouyave and Victoria. You'll find cooking demonstrations featuring mango chutneys and preserves, spice grinding competitions, and local restaurants showcasing seasonal dishes. Not a formal tourist event, but worth checking with the Grenada Tourism Authority for any scheduled activities during your visit - it's more about catching authentic local celebrations than organized festival programming.