Northside, Cayman Guide

Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman make up the Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory set in the western Caribbean Sea. Though small in size, the islands have a deep and varied history that continues to shape the identity and culture of the Caymanian people.

That story begins with the Taino, an Indigenous group thought to have journeyed from South America around the 4th century AD. They lived off both land and sea, farming and fishing to sustain their communities. When Spanish explorers reached the islands in the 1500s, they named them Las Tortugas—a nod to the many sea turtles that swam in the surrounding waters.

By the early 1600s, British pirates and buccaneers began using the islands as a base for raiding Spanish ships moving through the Caribbean. Their presence marked the start of European settlement. In the mid-1700s, Britain formally claimed the territory, naming it the Cayman Islands after the caiman crocodiles that once inhabited the area.

During the late 1700s, the islands became known as a safe and dependable port of call for vessels traveling between Europe and the Caribbean. With sheltered harbors and reliable freshwater, they offered ideal conditions for rest and resupply. Around this time, the islands’ first key industries—fishing, shipbuilding, and turtle harvesting—took root.

The 19th century brought lasting change. Grand Cayman’s first permanent settlement was founded in 1831, the same year the islands were officially declared a British colony. As fishing and the turtle trade expanded, workers from Cuba, Jamaica, and other parts of the Caribbean arrived, and the population steadily grew.

By the early 1900s, the turtle industry had reached its height, bringing considerable wealth through the export of meat and shells. But when global protections for sea turtles took effect in the 1960s, the trade collapsed, forcing the islands to seek new paths forward.

Tourism and finance gradually took its place. Today, the Cayman Islands are not only one of the world’s top offshore financial centers but also a major travel destination, drawing visitors with their white sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, and easygoing island charm. Together, these industries transformed the economy and positioned the Caymans as a significant presence on the world stage.

Despite all that growth and change, the islands have held on to their distinctive spirit. Every chapter of their history—from their Indigenous roots to their pirate lore and modern prosperity—has left a mark. The result is a culture that’s resilient, diverse, and unmistakably Caymanian.