Ditch the suit and dive into the Cayman Islands

Renowned for beautiful beaches, excellent diving and offshore banking, the Cayman Islands are a group of three islands situated between Cuba and Jamaica, only a 90-minute flight from Miami. Grand Cayman is the largest and most developed of the islands and the location of the capital, George Town. It is hard to believe that among the buildings that line George Town's harbour are 500 banks making up the world's fifth largest offshore financial centre.

Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are 70 miles northeast of Grand Cayman and are much smaller and even more relaxed. Visitors don't come here in suits; the little business that goes on revolves around diving and catering for the world's best bone-fishing.

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There was a time when the Cayman Islands were lost in Jamaica's shadow but, little by little, travelers discovered the pleasures of its scuba diving, which outclasses that of just about any other island, and the warm welcoming islanders that make you feel like part of their family. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman make up this British colony. George Town, in Grand Cayman, is the capital, serving mostly as a business center that borders a protected harbor popular with cruise ship passengers pouring in for top-notch duty-free shopping. The National Museum occupies one of the few remaining 19th-century buildings, and chronicles the natural and seafaring history of the Caymans.

This is not a party island, and the happiest visitors are those looking for peace and quiet, wishing to exert themselves with little more than water activities and shopping. Resorts and hotels line the cool, white sands of Seven Mile Beach, which is a popular spot where many visitors wind down after a morning of excursions. Originally named Las Tortugas (The Turtles) by Columbus when he sailed past and saw the sea alive with turtles, the Caymans are still rich with marine life, thanks to a mostly undisturbed environment and strict protection laws.

Approximate Air Travel Time

New York City: 4.75 hours
Boston: 4.75 hours
Miami: 1.5 hours
Philadelphia: 3.5 hours
Los Angeles: 6.3 hours
Chicago: 4.5 hours
Dallas-Fort Worth: 4 hours
San Francisco: 6.75 hours

Areas Within the Cayman Islands

Grand Cayman

The largest and most prosperous of the three islands, Grand Cayman is home to 91% of the country's 31,000 residents. Its active coast gives way to lovely gardens and well-preserved lakes and woodlands. Most of the island's development is found along the powdery white-sand stretch of Seven Mile Beach, where none of the hotels are allowed to be taller than the trademark casuarina trees. Behind the resorts is a strip of restaurants, shops, and bars where virtually all of the Cayman hustle and bustle takes place.

Little Cayman

This is the smallest and least developed of the Caymans, only one mile across at its widest point. Completely lacking the resorts and businesses of Grand Cayman, this island is dominated by a flat scrub interior and a coast fringed with palms and sea grapes. Its isolation is its very attraction for divers, bird-watchers, and anglers - especially the divers, who find here one of the Caribbean's most spectacular underwater locations.

Cayman Brac

Quiet, easygoing, and laid-back, "The Brac" supports a thriving, if tiny, community of 1,000 people who are loved for their friendliness and hospitality. Like Little Cayman, it is also just a mile across at its widest point, but the landscape varies greatly. Flat in the west, it is dominated by a central bluff to the east, and dramatic cliffs at the shore. A huge variety of animal life makes its home here, both on land and in the sea, where scuba diving is as rewarding as on Little Cayman.

Topography

The Cayman Islands are outcrops of the Cayman Ridge, a range of submarine mountains. Grand Cayman is about 22 miles long and 8 miles wide. The highest elevation is roughly 60 feet above sea level, and its most striking topographical feature is the North Sound, a shallow lagoon protected by reefs throughout a 35 square-mile area. Cayman Brac, 90 miles northeast of Grand Cayman, is about 12 miles long and a mile wide. A stunning bluff stretches the length of the island and rises to 140 feet at it tallest point. The Cayman shores have some of the finest sands in the Caribbean.

Climate

Nestled in the "trade-wind" belt, the Caymans benefit from prevailing northeast winds that virtually guarantee moderate weather all year. Temperatures vary only slightly between 75° and 85° in both winter and summer, though summer sun can be quite strong. Winter nights can be chilly.

Spring average 78°
Summer average 80°
Fall average 78°
Winter average 75°

What To Do & See in the Cayman Islands

Tour Grand Cayman

Get to know the island with a native who can tell you all the legends and inside information about colorful people and places, past and present. You'll quickly feel comfortable enough to venture out on your own.

Boatswain’s Beach (Cayman Turtle Farm)

This 23-acre adventure marine park allows visitors to experience the rich history of Caymanian life in a fun and safe environment while providing opportunities to observe and interact with native flora and fauna. In keeping with its cultural heritage, Boatswain’s Beach is the new home of the world renowned Cayman Turtle Farm. This is the only commercial turtle farm in the world and its tanks are teeming with turtles in every stage of life from the 2-3 inch hatchlings to 100 year-old, 600 pound patriarchs. The farm also plays a role in protection of the species by raising and releasing many endangered green sea turtles into local waters each year.

Go to Hell!

Yeah, you heard us! This small settlement is known for its blackened and jagged rock formations. There are a few shops, a post office, and the famous Club Inferno. Sending postcards from Hell to your friends is a favorite activity.

Scuba Diving

Hands down one of the best places to dive in the world, with a staggering 160 charted sites, the Grand Caymans have won many scuba and snorkeling awards including Scuba Diving magazine's People's Choice Awards for: Best Overall Diving in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac; Best Fish Life in Little Cayman; Best Visibility in Cayman Brac; Healthiest Marine Environment in Little Cayman; Best Wreck Diving in Cayman Brac; Best Wall Diving in Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Grand Cayman; and Best Advanced Diving in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman! In addition to the acclaimed walls and reefs, said to rival Australia's Great Barrier Reef, divers and snorkelers should visit Stingray City. Dozens of friendly stingrays swim around you, gently feeding from squid in the palm of your hand.

The National Museum

This worthy establishment dedicates itself to preserving and researching all aspects of Caymanian heritage. In 1990, following years of planning and artifact conservation, the museum opened to the public for the first time in the historic 19th-century Old Courts Building.

Golfing

Grand Cayman is home to 2 championship golf courses. The course at Safehaven is an 18-hole championship course with fabulous views of the surrounding landscape. Britannia, a course at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman, can function as either a 9-hole championship course, an 18-hole executive course, or an 18-hole Cayman Ball course.

Atlantis Submarine

On Seven Mile Beach, you'll find the cutting-edge and comfortable Atlantis Submarine, offering non-scuba divers a chance to view the unparalleled beauty of the Cayman seas. Choose between a 100-foot dive or, if you're more daring, the 1,000-foot dive for an unforgettable and rare experience of a lifetime!

Glass Bottom Boat Tours

For the tame of heart, glass bottom boats offer a glimpse of the renowned Cayman undersea world from a gentle, above-board perspective. View historic shipwrecks, coral reefs, and exotic species in the comfort of an air-conditioned cabin.

Fishing

A plethora of fishing operations offers anglers everything from deep-sea outings to shallow water fishing. "Million Dollar Month" attracts folks from across the world to compete in one of the world's largest Big Fish contests, angling for Blue and White Marlin, Sail Fish, Wahoo, Yellowfish Tuna, Rainbow Runners, and Mahi-Mahi.

Botanical Gardens

Opened in the early 1990s by Queen Elizabeth II, these gardens offer visitors leisurely strolls through delicate and spectacular floral displays. Included are cacti, thatch palm, air plants, and orchids. Wander the lush trails or relax in a garden gazebo.

Bird-Watching

The Caymans shelter a stunning array of bird life - more than 200 species including Egrets, Rails, Sandpipers, Woodpeckers, Flycatchers, Kingbirds, Herons, and Moorhens. Birding is best done in the mornings and afternoons, when the greatest variety of species is out feeding. For choice viewing, head to the Governor Michael Gore Bird Sanctuary, set on 3½ acres of pristine wetland on Grand Cayman. There is also a rare parrot reserve on Cayman Brac and several nesting colonies on Little Cayman.

Dining in the Cayman Islands

From romantic gourmet to zesty local fare, scores of restaurants on Grand Cayman afford visitors a lavish variety of dining opportunities. There is something for everyone, with an emphasis on seafood specialties. Sunday brunch specials are popular at locations throughout the island and, during the peak season, reservations are a good idea.

Nightlife on Grand Cayman

There are no glitzy casinos and wild club venues here, but Grand Cayman does have a small but engaging variety of nighttime entertainment. Although strict laws close down the bars and clubs at 1:00am on weekdays and at midnight on Saturdays, there is still plenty to do so long as you get an early start. Visitors should consult the local papers for current entertainment listings, but there is always something fun going on at the resorts. Top local bands regularly appear at The Planet Nightclub and other venues.

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