Well let me tell you about the Cayman Islands. They are 3 beautiful little islands (or splashes of colour as we call them) situated in the middle of the Caribbean in between Jamaica and Cuba. Originally discovered by Christopher Columbus after seeing Turtles nearby. The island is a British Overseas Territory so many things operate similar to Britain including driving on the left.
The Main Island and home to the CapitalGeorge Town is Grand Cayman.
This is where most people visiting the Cayman Islands will come to weather it be by plane or cruise ship. The smaller sister island have very few residents and even less tourism. However are very beautiful and great for that unspoilt feel. A small shuttle plane takes you from Grand Cayman to Little Cayman or Cayman Brac. There is not a lot to do on these island other than relax and dive.
Grand Cayman is a fantastic place to be. The island town centre George Town harbours the huge Cruise ship that visit the island. The moment you set foot on the dock you are faced with countless Duty free shops selling mainly, Booze, Jewellery and Perfume. In Town you will find some fantastic places to Drink and eat. One of the most popular is Breezes which over looks the Bay. Then Hammer Heads situated on the ocean front with decking, sit relax enjoy a mudslide and watch the boats sail past.
Further out of town but not to far is the beautiful Seven Mile Beach. Many rich Condo and Hotels are situated here. The beach is beautiful and you ca see it stretch right down the side of the island. The white sand mixed with the turquoise blue ocean is so inviting. You will find plenty of restaurants here selling the finest quality seafood.
The district of Westbay is home to the Sea Turtle farm where you can see hundreds of turtles from babies to 80 year old giants. Also in Westbay you will find a place called Hell named after it unusual land rock formation. You can even send a postcard from the Hell post office there.
In the more local part of Grand Cayman you will find Bodden Town home to the pirate caves. Where they claim buried treasure was once hidden by The Pirates of the Caribbean .
East end is very local but a nice pleasant area purely for relaxing. Bars tend to be local and local restaurants serving Conch and Turtle Stew. Not quite in East End is Queen Elizabeth botanical Park where you can enjoy a walk round beautiful gardens and see the endangered Blue Iguana roaming wild
My favourite spot on the island is a beautiful spot of peace and tranquillity called Rum Point. A small beautiful beach with a great wreck bar and grill. Sit on a sun lounger sipping an ice cold beer looking out onto the ocean. Here you may see small stingrays dotted around the jetty.
Further out from rum point you will find Sting Ray City. A home to wild sting rays. Situated on a sand bar you can stand in waist deep water and feed these beautiful creatures and give them a hug. An experience that won't be forgotten in a hurry.
The Cayman Islands are sat on top of an inactive volcano which means diving is great. Not a diver? No need to worry you can snorkel and se some of the most beautiful fish.
The climate is tropical so it's warm all year round. The summer months also mean the start of hurricane season when the island can be subject to high waves and winds. Rainy season means it will rain for 30 mins to 1 hour before stopping and the sun reappearing. Best time to visit is December to May.
The people are friendly and there are a lot of expats here due to it being a major offshore financial centre. Everyone is courteous and helpful.
The standard of living is high and therefore this island is not cheap to visit like other Caribbean islands. A beer will cost anything from £2 - £3.50. Bar food is around £5 - £15 and a restaurant meal with wine will cost around £50 upwards for 3 courses. The food in the restaurants is some of the best you will ever sample with chef from all over the world. A 15% gratuity is added to most bar and restaurant bills as standard.
The local currency is Cayman Island Dollars but US dollars are widely accepted.
Tour the island via boat, rental car or public bus. You can walk to most places if you can stand the sun. Everywhere is safe to walk round.
A great place to experience high class dining, luxury hotels, friendly people in a beautiful safe environment. Enjoy snorkling a diving in the warm waters and sea an vast array of sealife.
I love the island and the way of life, I actually now live and work here too.
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Jul 15th, 2006
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