Trips and Attractions in Grand Cayman

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General Information

The Cayman Islands are a group of islands located in the middle of the Caribbean, 772 km southwest of Miami. The group consists of three islands that together form a British Overseas Territory, with each island having a different character. The largest of them all, Grand Cayman, is one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean and is also home to the capital of the Cayman Islands, Georgetown. More than ninety percent of the population of the Cayman Islands, which numbers about 40,000 residents, live on this island. The crime rate in the Cayman Islands is negligible and they are considered one of the safest countries in the world. This is one of the wealthiest and most modern countries in the Caribbean, with healthcare and communication systems among the most advanced in the world, a very low unemployment rate, and residents known to be friendly and welcoming.

The Cayman Islands are located at the edge of an underwater mountain, one side of which, known as the "Cayman Wall" or "Cayman Trench," drops vertically to a height of about 160 meters below sea level and continues to drop steeply for almost another 2000 meters to the ocean floor. The three islands are surrounded by rich coral reefs.

The Cayman Islands are considered the diving capital of the Caribbean and one of the best diving destinations in the entire world, thanks to the strict marine life conservation policies practiced on the islands.

 

The ocean waters surrounding the Cayman Islands are known for their clarity. Visibility in the water reaches up to 40 meters! One of the reasons for this is that there are no rivers or streams on the island flowing into the sea and clouding the water's clarity. Every year, over 80,000 divers visit the islands. Since there is also plenty of colorful marine life very close to the shore in areas where the water depth is quite low, Grand Cayman is also a paradise for snorkelers.

The beaches in the Cayman Islands are considered the best beaches in the Caribbean, especially the famous "Seven Mile Beach" (SMB) in Grand Cayman.

 

 

The truth is that the lenient tax laws were only introduced in Cayman in 1971 in order to give a boost to the islands' economy.

Booking tours in Grand Cayman from GetYourGuide.com:

Recommended hotels on the island of Grand Cayman

The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman

A 5-star hotel on the beach, 3 km from Georgetown. The hotel also has one to three-bedroom suites. The hotel features a pool, tennis court, spa, restaurant, bar, internet, and free parking.

Palm Heights

A 5-star hotel on the beach in the north of Georgetown. The hotel also has two-bedroom suites. The hotel features a pool, gym, evening entertainment, internet, and free parking.

The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort

A 4-star resort on the beach. Spa, pool, gym, sports activities, 5 restaurants, internet, and free parking.

Regal Beach Club

An apartment hotel on the beach, with 2-3 bedroom apartments including a fully equipped kitchen. Pool, jacuzzi, gym, internet, and free parking.

 

Location and Climate:

The Cayman Islands are located in the "Greater Antilles" region, 290 km northwest of Jamaica and 240 km south of Cuba.

The three islands are quite similar in their topography; they are made of limestone, are all fairly flat, and covered with low, dry vegetation.

Grand Cayman is the southernmost island of the three. The two additional islands, "Little Cayman" and "Cayman Brac," are located 145 km northeast of it and are separated from each other by a channel 11 km wide.

The total area of the three islands is only 256 square kilometers. Grand Cayman, living up to its name, is the largest of the Cayman Islands; its area constitutes 76 percent of the Cayman Islands' territory, but its dimensions are quite small compared to other islands in the Western Caribbean: its length is 35 km and its width ranges from 6.5 km to 13 km (at the widest point). The closest country to the Cayman Islands is Jamaica, between which and Cayman lies the deepest part of the Caribbean, reaching a depth of more than 6 km.

Map of the island of Grand Cayman:

 

Weather

The weather in the Cayman Islands is divided into two main seasons: the rainy season, from mid-May to October, and the dry season, from November to April. The months of March and April are considered the driest, while May and October are the wettest of all. Since the islands are located in a tropical zone, heavy and short showers are very common in the afternoons of the summer months, and sometimes light morning showers occur as well. You can sit in a lounge chair on the beach, watch the heavy clouds arrive quickly, drop a downpour, and then warm up in the wonderful sun just minutes later. It is rare for rain to fall for several days without a break.

The average temperature in the winter months is 24 degrees Celsius and in the summer months 29-30 degrees. Most sites (shops, hotels, etc.) are air-conditioned, and the trade winds keep weather conditions pleasant even in open places.

The official hurricane season in the Caribbean occurs from the beginning of June until the end of November, but the chance of a hurricane reaching Grand Cayman is quite small because most tropical storms coming from the Eastern Caribbean tend to move northwards towards the US coast, while the Cayman Islands are located in the westernmost part of the Caribbean. However, statistics are one thing and reality is another: in September 2004, Hurricane "Ivan" (a Category 5 hurricane, the highest possible) left heavy destruction on the island. The previous time extensive destruction was caused to the island was in 1932. In 1988, two hurricane storms passed south of the island (Hurricane "Gilbert" passed 50 km south of the island and Hurricane "Mitch" at a distance of 320 km south) causing minor damage.

 

♦ The main attractions on the island:

Ordering trips and tours in Grand Cayman from Viator:

 

"Stingray City"

This is one of the most famous and popular attractions on the island and is considered one of the most special underwater attractions in the world. A short sail in a tour boat (sailboat, motorboat, etc.) will bring you to a shallow area in the sea, north of the island, where you can swim with, pet, and feed large, domesticated, and friendly Stingrays, as well as dive and snorkel. Don't miss this unique experience!

The stingray colony is located in shallow water at a depth of about one meter in the north of the island, about 3 km east of its northwestern tip. Stingrays have no teeth and they suck their food with great force. Some are quite large, reaching 2 meters in diameter. Their only means of defense is their tail which contains venom. They should be treated gently and not lifted by the tail.

 

There are three ways to visit Stingray City, all involving a short sail to the concentration area of these velvety creatures. The most popular way to get to know the stingrays is by snorkeling. Many call the experience "the best snorkeling experience in the world." There is no need to have any prior snorkeling experience to participate in this tour. The waters in the area are calm, shallow, and clear, and in addition to the stingrays, you will see other lovely fish.

 

 

The second way is diving (with air tanks). The third way, a glass-bottom boat tour over the stingray colony, is intended for those who do not like to get wet or put their head in the water, or when weather conditions are not optimal and there is a strong wind.

"Boatswain's Beach" Marine Life Park

In the northwest of the island, in the West End, a beachside animal park is located, with an emphasis on marine life, featuring a reef with fish of many colors and sizes as well as sharks. It also has iguanas and birds, and various activities, explanations, and animal feeding take place there.

The main attraction in the park, and the primary reason for visiting it, is the Turtle Farm. The farm has 16,000 green sea turtles, ranging from tiny ones weighing a few grams to giant turtles weighing 270 kg. This is a modern reminder of the extensive industry that flourished on the island since Columbus discovered it.

 

Turtles are now protected animals. Since 1980, the farm has released more than 29,000 turtles back into the sea to replenish the wild population. The farm sees great importance in raising turtles in the ideal environment for their breeding. The breeding season is from May to October, during which the turtles dig nests on the beach and lay their eggs. The eggs are immediately taken to a hatchery where the staff monitors the hatching process. The entire process takes about 60 days from the moment of laying to hatching. At the farm, you can see the different stages in the life cycle of the turtles.

Near the marine life park, at the northwestern tip of the island, lies the town of "Hell," which is very popular because of its name. Tourists love to stop in this tiny town, send postcards to friends from its post office with the "Hell" postmark, and buy shirts and souvenirs with the inscriptions "I was in Hell." Near the town, there are jagged rocks known as "Ironshore."

Botanic Gardens

The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is a colorful garden spanning an area of 26 dunams containing rare, some endangered, species of tropical vegetation. Along the walking paths, there are signs indicating the names and varieties of the plants. One of the attractions in the gardens is the blue iguanas, which are a rare species raised in the gardens and released into the wild after they have grown. It is recommended to visit the "Heritage Gardens," which feature a restoration of a typical Caymanian house and a backyard with a cooking area called: Caboose.

"Pedro St. James" Historic Site

This is the oldest stone house on the island, built in 1780. It is surrounded by 3.2 dunams of nature parks and forest with typical local vegetation. From the site, located on an impressive cliff, the most beautiful view on the island is revealed.

Cayman Islands National Museum

The Cayman Islands National Museum is located in a building that formerly served as the country's court and features displays including a collection of typical artifacts and exhibits on the history, nature, and cultural and social life of the Cayman Islands.

Mastic Trail

This is a trail passing through a two-million-year-old forest in the middle of the island, west of Frank Sound Road, about a 45-minute drive from the center of Georgetown. Along the trail, you pass through mangrove swamps, traditional agricultural areas, and ancient groves of trees which are the largest habitat on the island for animals and tropical plants.

The easternmost part of the island is called the East End; this is a much quieter area suitable for those who wish to get away from the tourist bustle and find secluded beaches amidst beautiful scenery. The road to the east of the island passes through the first capital of the Cayman Islands, the town of Bodden Town.

At the southeastern tip of the island, just before the community of Old Isaac Village, there are several holes in the rocks along the shore by the sea. When seawater enters these holes, called Blowholes, they create a jet of water that sprays droplets upwards like a geyser. The natural water jets are accompanied by sounds reminiscent of a lion's roar.

The Beaches of Grand Cayman:

In Grand Cayman, you will find one of the best beaches in the Caribbean:

"Seven Mile Beach" (its real name is: West Bay Beach due to its location in the west of the island). The beach is located a few miles north of the pier in Georgetown. The actual length of the beach is 5.5 miles (9 km) and not seven as its name suggests, but even so, it is a great, long stretch of beach with white sand and calm, clear turquoise water. The sand is adorned with palm and Australian pine trees. Luxurious resorts, apartment hotels, and vacation homes are built along the entire beach. Since building laws prohibit construction higher than the height of the trees, the beach's appearance is tropical and exotic and very different from the beaches of Miami Beach.

The beaches are more crowded near the large resorts, but because the beach is so long and large, everyone will find a spot to their liking. The beaches are organized and clean, having restaurants, bars, and all types of water sports.

This is an ideal beach for families, very suitable for swimming, diving, and snorkeling. The water there is exceptionally clear. Snorkeling equipment can be rented at many places along the beach. Water sports options along the beach are many and varied and include renting all types of boats, windsurf boards, jet skis, parasailing, and water skiing.

There are several smaller beaches on Grand Cayman, but none of them compare in beauty and quality to Seven Mile Beach. Those who still wish to get away from the crowds can visit the beaches located in the northern and eastern parts of the island, which are also usually quiet as they are protected by long reefs and also have pleasant white sand. One of the most recommended beaches in the north of the island is the beach near the Cayman Kai Beach Resort. This is a sandy beach abundant with palm trees and is recommended for snorkeling enthusiasts who can dive near "Rum Point."

 

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