Cayman Islands Travel Guide

Overview

An enviably high standard of living, tax-free status and hundreds of offshore banks and financial institutions per square mile, the Cayman Islands remain a trio of lovely, unspoiled islands basking peacefully in the Caribbean sun. Miles from their nearest neighbors, Jamaica and Cuba, these three small specks in the vast ocean are known for some of the best scuba diving in the world. The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory located in the Western Caribbean, 480 miles south of Miami, Florida, 150 miles south of Cuba and 180 miles northwest of Jamaica. By jet, the Cayman Islands is only a 70-minute direct flight from Miami.

Grand Cayman might be small in size, but in every other aspect it is truly "grand." The largest of the three at 22 miles long, Grand Cayman's capital George Town boasts a bustling harbor and financial district. Shopping here ranges from duty-free merchandise of all types to wonderful local crafts. The island's turtle farm is the only one in the world raising hatchlings and re-populating the Caribbean Sea. Seven Mile Beach begins just north of George Town and is home to the many luxury resorts and water sports facilities on the island. Fringed by tall pines and palm trees, its sheer beauty beckons one and all to its sun-baked sand and warm sea. Here you will find any and all types of accommodations (including many condos), restaurants, dive shops, and stores. Many cruise ships also frequent this lovely island. Whatever you do, don't miss diving or snorkeling with the stingrays at famous Stingray City.

Cayman Brac is the middle Cayman island, 86 miles northeast of Grand Cayman (a 20-minute flight), and 12 miles long. Despite its history as a pirate hideout, Cayman Brac today is a peaceful hideaway for divers, fishermen, snorkelers, and those travelers wanting to get away from it all. A nature preserve hosting more than 150 bird species, iguanas and a colorful variety of tropical plants and flowers sits atop the cliffs. A few small resorts catering to divers make Cayman Brac a favorite with the underwater set.

Little Cayman lies five miles west of Cayman Brac and has a population of 50 residents. Only 10 miles long, this coral atoll has changed very little since Columbus' discovery in 1503. Another favorite with divers, Little Cayman's Bloody Bay Wall is consistently ranked as one of the top five dive sites in the world. Such a high honor for this tiny, unspoiled beauty. Most of this island's interior is mangrove jungle sporting the third largest bird sanctuary in the Caribbean.

The ideal tropical climate cooled by the trade winds keeps the Cayman Islands' average temperature at 80° F with water temperatures ranging from 78°-85° F and 80-100 foot or more visibility. Since scuba diving is so popular here, this is the perfect Caribbean vacation destination to learn to dive, take an advanced course, or get the kids certified.

History

The Cayman Islands were sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1503 on his fourth trip to the New World enroute to Hispaniola. The two islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman appeared on a 1523 map and by 1530 were named Caymanas, derived from the Carib Indian word for the marine crocodile.

The first census of the Islands was taken in 1802, showing a population on Grand Cayman of 933, of whom 545 were slaves. Before slavery was abolished in 1834, there were over 950 slaves owned by 116 families. Emancipation paved the way for development of a homogeneous society.

Though Cayman was always regarded as a dependency of Jamaica, the reins of government by that colony were loosely held in the early years, and a tradition grew up of self-government, with matters of public concern decided at meetings of all free males.

The constitutional relationship between Cayman and Jamaica remained ambiguous until 1863 when an act of the British parliament formally made the Cayman Islands a dependency of Jamaica. When Jamaica achieved independence in 1962, the Islands opted to remain under the British Crown, and an administrator (in 1971 the title became Governor) appointed from London assumed the responsibilities previously held by the governor of Jamaica.

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