The Islands
Nestled in the Caribbean Sea, the Cayman Islands, comprised of three islands offers a different experience for everyone. Legendary as being one of the world’s premiere places to live and visit, the islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman provides endless possibilities.
Grand Cayman
Cosmopolitan Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands, offering a wealth of activities, accommodations and attractions. Grand Cayman is approximately 76 square miles, 22 miles long and home to over 50,000 residents. It is on Grand Cayman that you will find some of the most popular activities, attractions, and festivals, including the popular Pirates Week and colourful Batabano. Other popular attractions include the Cayman Islands National Museum, Rum Point, Pedro St. James, Bodden Town—the first capital of the Cayman Islands—Cayman Turtle Center, and the National’s Trust’s Mastic Trail, a 2-mile traditional footpath through unspoiled woodlands.
On the west side of Grand Cayman you will find the famous Seven Mile Beach, the crescent-shaped natural wonder often rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in all the Caribbean—and the least populated.
The north side of the island boasts a sandbar and Stingray City, home to the friendly Southern Stingrays. The Eastern districts feature a plethora of natural beauty beyond azure waters and white-sand beaches, including sites like the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, home to the rare blue iguana, and the Wreck of the Ten Sail. George Town, the capital of the Cayman Islands, offers duty-free shopping on signature brands such as Versace, Tiffany, Gucci, and more.
Cayman Islands Travel Guide
Cayman Brac
Just 90 miles off the shore of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac is blessed with natural treasures, offering an off-the-beaten-path, adventure-fueled travel experience. Named for its breathtaking 153-foot bluff, the “Brac” is a rugged and charming 14 square miles with a population of around 2000 ‘Brackers’, as the island’s inhabitants are called. Cayman Brac provides a safe, peaceful environment for walking, hiking, biking, taking leisurely drives or just relaxing in blissful solitude.
Cayman Brac’s crystal clear, warm waters provide awe-inspiring wall dives, shallow diving and wreck diving at all levels, making for a dream Caribbean dive vacation. On land, visitors can find lush, green forests which are home to over 200 species of birds, including the endangered Cayman Brac parrot. Frigate birds, brown boobies, peregrine falcons and the rare West Indian whistling-duck can also be spotted in their natural environment.
There are a number of hiking trails throughout the island, many of them housing exotic flora and leading to wildlife habitats and historic sites. Other popular Cayman Brac attractions include the Cayman Brac Museum at Stake Bay, as well as the numerous dramatic caves throughout the island.
Cayman Brac Brochure
Little Cayman
The smallest, least developed and most tranquil of our three islands, Little Cayman epitomizes the definition of an island getaway and remains a favourite of divers, naturalists and photographers. With only ten square miles and a population of less than 200, most of Little Cayman remains uninhabited, offering a rare combination of sun-drenched solitude, glistening beaches, and miles of untouched tropical wilderness.
Visitors can take a bike or rent a scooter and meander around the entire island; however, much of the island’s beauty lies beneath the waves. Guests can snorkel in the shallow reef-protected sounds, kayak out to Owen Island or dive the famous Bloody Bay Wall, one of the most popular dive sites in the world.
Famous for its dramatic drop offs and swim-throughs, the Blood Bay Marine Park is full of fascinating sea creatures and vibrant colour. Many of the more than fifty unique Little Cayman dive sites along the wall start off as a shallow snorkelling areas before descending into the sheer expanse of pristine wall, encrusted with colourful coral gardens and exotic sponges. The waters of Little Cayman are home to lobster, octopus, eagle rays, reef sharks, turtles and every variety of tropical fish.
Little Cayman is also home to the largest colony of red-footed boobies in the Caribbean, located in the Booby Pond Nature Reserve, a designated wetland of international importance. Along with 20,000 red-footed boobies, the reserve is also home to around 350 frigate birds. The National Trust’s bird outlook on Booby Pond is the best place to view and photograph the boobies, especially at sunset when you can witness the battle for survival as the boobies return to their nesting grounds and try to outwit the frigate birds.
While the island is known for its tranquillity, it doesn’t go without excitement. Little Cayman celebrates Mardi Gras, Little Cayman Pirate’s Week, and the Little Cayman Cook-Off.
Little Cayman Brochure