Grenada’s fertile volcanic soil fosters a profusion of colorful tropical vegetation, and gardeners on the island take full advantage. Some of the best gardens in Grenada occupy former plantations or estates, centerpieced by a manor house. Local tour operator Caribbean Horizons organized a half-day excursion for us to three such gardens.

On another day, we delved farther into the island’s verdant, mountainous interior, which is home to numerous picturesque waterfalls. Some of the loveliest can be reached only by muddy and/or lengthy hikes. It takes 30 to 45 minutes to reach St. Margaret’s Falls, an hour to reach Au Coin and three hours to reach Tufton Hall, for example. We opted to visit the two waterfalls that were simplest to access.

It's possible to visit these sites on your own, but having appointments at the gardens makes the tour worth its price, and it's far more relaxing to have a driver navigate Grenada’s narrow, twisting roads.