Just 60 miles (100 km) north of Venezuela, Grenada is the largest of the three small islands that make up the Caribbean nation of the same name. Completing the threesome are Carriacou and Petit Martinique, the most southerly of a long string of coral islands stretching north to neighboring St Vincent. Trinidad and Tobago are Grenada's only Caribbean neighbors to the south.

Grenada has a varied ecosystem of rainforests, montane thickets, elfin woodlands and lowland dry forests. Mona monkeys swing within wooded areas, and opossums, armadillos, mongoose, pelicans, osprey hawks and rarely seen tree boas roam throughout the island. Among the endangered species are sea turtles and hook-billed kites.

Temperatures in Grenada are balmy year round, with daily highs averaging around 80°F (30°C). The rainy season lasts from June to November, and rain falls on average on 22 days a month during this period. Even in the driest months, between January and April, it rains 12 days a month - which accounts for the island's lush vegetation.

Grenada is not one of the Caribbean's flash islands, but it offers a degree of comfort while being friendly to budget travelers. If you stay in top-end lodging, eat at the island's best restaurants and rent a car for your whole stay, you can hit up to US$250 a day. Staying in medium-priced hotels, eating at moderately priced restaurants and mixing the public transport with taxis will cost around US$150 a day. Barebones budgeters can get by on around US$75 a day resting in modest accomodations, eating casually and relying solely on buses and a good pair of walking shoes.

US dollars are widely accepted by hotels, shops and restaurants, but you'll get a better deal if you purchase EC dollars at a bank and use the local currency. Major credit cards are accepted by most hotels and top-end restaurants as well as the larger car rental agencies. When you're catching taxis, make sure you know whether prices being quoted are in EC or US dollars.

An 8% tax and a 10% service charge are added to most hotel and restaurant bills. If no service charge is added, a 10% tip is generally expected.

With warm weather and temperatures averaging 80°F (27°C) yearround, there really isn't a bad time to visit Grenada. The rain falls each month, though not every day, with a bit more during the rainy season between June and November. The second weekend in August is when to catch Carnival, the island's biggest and busiest event, so make sure to reserve in advance to enjoy the festivities. Winter is prime fishing season and, accordingly, the Spice Island Billfish Tournament, which draws anglers from around North America and the Caribbean, is held annually in January.