You'll
never be short of things to do in The Cayman Islands. World-class scuba diving, snorkelling,
and sailing are just the beginning of your Islands' adventure.
The Islands' history is rich in exotic detail, as the Museums,
Botanic
Park and National
Trust clearly demonstrate.
So whether it's a trip under the sea to feed the stingrays, an excursion
to Boatswain's
Beach for a hands-on experience of one of nature's most inspiring
miracles, or a journey into the past to revisit the first landing by Christopher
Columbus: a feast for the senses
and sensibilities awaits.
WHAT TO
SEE
Beaches
Running
north from George Town, Seven Mile Beach is a beautiful stretch of white sand
that curls around the West of the island. A reef protects the coast and ensures
that the water is calm and ideal for swimming and snorkelling. This is the most
popular beach on the island and is bordered by dozens of hotels, but it is large
enough to ensure sunbathers do not end up towel-to-towel. North of the beach is
West
Bay, the country's second
largest town.
Boatswain's
Beach
Boatswain's
Beach is Cayman's premier attraction featuring the famous Cayman Turtle Farm as
well as a one of a kind marine park which features 23 acres of exciting
adventure. There are 23 acres of reef lagoon in which guests can snorkel, a
predator reef, free-flight bird aviary, a woodland nature trail and an Education
Centre. When Christopher Columbus first discovered the islands in 1503, he named
them 'Las Tortugas’, meaning The Turtles. According to legend, there were so
many turtles that the islands looked like they were covered with rocks. They are
now a protected species and the Cayman Islands Turtle Farm is home to thousands
of turtles ranging in size from six ounces (170g) to 575 pounds (261kg) each.
The priority of the farm is to maintain an ideal breeding environment. Breeding
season runs from May to October, during which time the turtles dig their nests
on the beach and produce their eggs. The eggs are immediately taken to the
hatchery, where staff monitor the hatching process.
Pedro
St James Castle
East
of George Town is Pedro St James. Originally built by an Englishman who arrived
in the islands in 1765, it is the islands' oldest surviving building. Local
stories also associate it with the pirate Henry Morgan and a 17th-century
Spaniard, Pedro Gómez, though there's no proof. The house is touted as the
islands' 'birthplace of democracy' - it was here in 1831 that the decision was
made to vote for elected representatives, and four years later the Slavery
Abolition Act was read here. Constructed around 1780 from quarried native stone,
the house has been restored by the government as a historic site. Behind a
traditional coral stone wall rises an authentic, three-storey early 19th-century
great house and outbuildings, with traditional 'grounds' planted with pineapple,
banana and other provisions. The adjacent acres are covered with luxuriant
tropical plants, palm-lined walkways and a splendid manicured Great Lawn
sprawling to a fantastic view over the Caribbean. A new Multi-Media Theatre shows a 20-minute
film of the history of the castle.
Queen
Elizabeth II Botanic Park
The
Caymans are better known for their sea life than habitation on the ground, but
for keen botanists or those who would simply like a pleasant walk, the
Queen
Elizabeth II Botanic
Park is hard to beat. A
well-marked mile-long (2km) trail winds through lush, easy terrain, featuring
almost 300 native species including roses, hibiscus, lilies and orchids - which
bloom in late May and June. The park and lake is home to the endangered and
elusive, Blue Iguana as well as a fascinating array of birdlife including
parrots, herons, coots and the rare West Indian Whistling Duck. The nearby
Mastic Trail meanders through the old-growth forest that once supplied early
settlers with timber. The 26-hectare (65 acres) park is in the district of North
Side, and is a 45-minute drive from George Town.
Stingray
City
and Sandbar
Stingray
City
and the Sandbar are snorkelling sites located in the North Sound, and are a must
for water enthusiasts. The clear shallow waters are frequented by friendly
stingrays that come to find out what titbits visitors have brought them. Boat
tours take snorkellers and divers to swim with and feed the stingrays on bits of
squid; they will brush against swimmers and allow themselves to be touched. This
famous Cayman attraction was accidentally created by fishermen who used to clean
their catch in the calm waters, casting bits overboard, and so attracting the
Southern Stingrays to the area.
WHAT TO
DO
Sports
You'll
never be short of things to do in The Cayman Islands. World-class scuba diving, snorkelling,
and sailing are just the beginning of your Islands' adventure.
Explore the tranquil beauty of Cayman’s ecologically sensitive coastal
environments by kayak. A short,
air-conditioned ride takes you to the kayak staging area where you will meet
your experienced guide. Or join a
professional crew with a vast knowledge of the Cayman waters for all types of
fishing.
Shopping
What
could be more exciting than spending a day shopping under a warm sun with a
gentle breeze from the nearby ocean carrying you from shop to shop? Whether you are looking for dazzling
jewellery, beautiful local arts and crafts or designer clothes, you will be
pleased with the quality and selection the stores have to offer you.
In
Grand Cayman you never have to go far to
shop. In addition to the shops in
town, there are many small malls which have restaurants, liquor and gift shops
including the new Grand Harbour
Center.
Cayman
is a duty-free destination which means many exciting opportunities for you to
save on such things as watches, china and crystal, perfumes and fine jewellery -
including authentic treasure coin jewellery - on Grand
Cayman and at a few stores on Cayman Brac. Prices on perfume, watches and select
luxury items may be as much as 30% less expensive here. In addition to traditional duty free
selections, varied and interesting shopping - from chic European fashions to
outstanding local art - delights visitors in speciality stores, hotel boutiques
and shopping plazas.
Nightlife
Grand
Cayman
has a great range of bars and nightclubs to suit all tastes for those looking
for night life in Cayman. The ‘sophisticate’ will not be disappointed with the
quality and range of high-end martini bars in Cayman and places to mingle with
the hip and trendy crowd. South Coast
Bar is located right on the water in Breakers. The view is
outstanding and you can enjoy a delicious meal in an unpretentious warm and
welcoming atmosphere. Gecko
is a great beach bar and restaurant on the most unspoilt part of Seven Mile Beach serving fresh fruit cocktails,
delicious beach fare with entertainment most nights. The
Attic is an entertainment haven where you can eat, drink, play pool
or watch international sporting events on big screen TVs. Check out the Happy
Hours and the Munchies menu!