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The most southerly of the Grenadine islands, CARRIACOU (an Arawak name meaning "island of reefs") is at thirteen square miles the largest of the island chain that lies between Grenada and St Vincent. Although just a short ferry hop from Grenada, the seven thousand inhabitants of Carriacou, fondly nicknamed "Kayaks" by Grenadians, enjoy a more relaxed pace of life than their neighbours. The main town of Hillsborough , surrounded by low, forested hills, won't detain you for long, but the rest of the island, especially to the south and west, promises good walking, excellent watersports and unspoiled beaches. Diving is also good on the island, with a range of sites for all levels of experience, including the wreck of a small World War I gunboat. There's enough here to warrant more than a day trip if you want to escape the trappings of the tourist industry for a few days. Carriacou also has no shortage of culture . Belief systems of the African slaves remain strong on Carriacou and are preserved in rituals such as the powerful Big Drum Dance , a pre-Christian ceremony in which ancestors communicate with their descendants. The Big Drum Dances, along with street parties and calypso, are the highlights of the Carriacou Regatta held every August, during which descendants of the island's Scottish boat builders show off their hand-built schooners. Other festive times to visit are Carnival , celebrated before the start of Lent, May Day and the Parang festival prior to Christmas - all are opportunities to hit the streets, dance and eat, and there is never any shortage of calypso.
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