Destination Guide

Grand Cayman

Spectacular natural beauty, a wealth of activities and points of interest, and all the modern conveniences to make your stay as comfortable as possible can be found here on the largest and most developed of the three Cayman Islands. Grand Cayman is the home of George Town, the capital city, which boasts some of the finest cuisine and shopping in the Caribbean.

Whether you want to explore a sunken wreck, dance the night away, or simply go sightseeing, Grand Cayman is the place to start.

Cayman Brac

Cayman's Brac's rugged 14 square miles retain the charm and friendliness of a traditional seafaring community - yet offers the country's most dramatic scenery.

The Country's Most Dramatic Scenery

"Brac" is the Gaelic word for bluff, the Brac's dominant natural attraction, a limestone ridge which rises gradually from the west along the center of the island to 140 ft. at the eastern tip, plunging as a sheer dramatic cliff into the turquoise Caribbean Sea below. It sculpts the landscape into unexpected vistas carved with caves and covered with a startling variety of flora and fauna.

Experience the breathtaking view on the bluff from the lighthouse. Explore the enticing caves and sinkholes, high above water. Wander through the woodlands filled with exotic flowers and plants. Bird watching on the bluff is stunning. Frigate birds, brown boobies, peregrine falcons and the rare Cayman Brac parrot can be spotted in their natural environment.

A Traditional Seafaring Community

Just as fascinating are the Brackers themselves, a warm and independent population of fewer than 1800. They take pride in their homeland and enjoy sharing it with visitors. Small towns have names like West End, Watering Place, Cotton Tree Bay, Creek and Spot Bay. Tropical flowers bloom year-round in carefully-tended yards surrounding charming Caymanian - style homes. The Brac's special peacefulness refreshes - but its startling contrasts will awaken your adventurous spirit!

Diving

In Cayman Brac, diving is what attracts most people to this small island. The newest attraction for divers is the wreck of the 330 ft. M/V Captain Keith Tibbetts, a Russian built Cuban naval frigate which was sunk off the island's northwest coast in September 1996. It is already the home for a variety of marine life. There are two other small wrecks off the Brac's coast.

Activities and Attractions

Ashore, attractions include the Cayman Brac Museum at Stake Bay, a variety of dramatic caves; such as Rebecca's Cave, Peter's Cave and Halfway Ground Cave; nature trails; exploring the bluff and ironshore beneath it at the eastern tip; small, charming homes restored in traditional seafaring architectural styles - and the delightful people of this unusual community are its main attractions.

Fishermen will revel in shallow waters filled with bonefish and deeper offshore waters teeming with game fish. For those simply wanting to relax, indulge yourself in the solitude of quiet beaches.

The National Trust chapter has activities scheduled throughout the year. A one - mile long nature trail on the bluff adjacent the 281 acre Parrot Reserve was opened in July 1996. Birdwatching has long been considered an excellent, and underpromoted attraction of this tiny island. There are over 200 bird species in the Sister Islands.

Little Cayman

Little Cayman is the least developed of the Cayman trio. With a resident population of less than 170, most of Little Cayman remains uninhabited. Only 10 miles long and a mile wide, it still offers that rare combination of sun-blessed solitude, glistening beaches and miles of untouched tropical wilderness. Here, shy iguanas and rare birds outnumber humans.

Total Relaxation

On Little Cayman, you'll find privacy and total relaxation. Bask yourself on empty beaches. Venture to remote South Hole Sound Lagoon for a private swim. Or row out to tiny, deserted Owen Island to enjoy a view of nature in its most pristine form. Here, you can truly ease the body and soul.

A Spectacular Diving Experience

On Little Cayman, diving, especially on famous Bloody Bay wall and Jackson Point, is the main attraction. Bloody Bay Marine Park is one of the world's truly legendary dive sites: the sheer coral wall begins at 20 ft. and plunges to 6000 ft. Colourful coral gardens, wavering sea plumes and exotic tropical fish thrive among more than 50 unique dive sites.

Activities and Attractions

Exceptional fishing can be done on Little Cayman, where bone fish, small tarpon and permit, particularly in South Hole Sound lagoon, challenge anglers looking for light tackle action along the coast. The 15-acre Tarpon Pond is always filled with small, but feisty, game fish.

Little Cayman also has the largest known breeding colony of the Red Footed Booby (5000 pairs) in the Caribbean, a breeding colony of Magnificent Frigate Birds and large heronry, the country's first RAMSAR site, the 203 acre Booby Pond Nature Reserve, now under National Trust protection. Groundbreaking took place on 22 July, 1995 for a the Little Cayman Trust House, a Caymanian-style building overlooking the rookery, which opened in late 1996 and serves as the headquarters for Little Cayman National Trust activities. It also provides an observation deck with high-powered telescopes for year-round viewing of the sanctuary's bird life. Little Cayman now has its own museum, located across from the Booby Pond Nature Reserve.

Little Cayman also has a resident indigenous Little Cayman Rock Iguana population estimated at 2,000. Signs painted by local artists were erected in 1995 cautioning motorists to watch out for iguanas along the main coastal road.

The local chapter of the National Trust organizes outings and activities on a regular basis. The mile-long Salt Rock Nature Trail provides glimpses of Little Cayman's natural habitat.