Piece of Heaven
Three tiny islands make up the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands, balanced precariously one side of the enormous Cayman Trench, the deepest part of the Caribbean. While synonymous worldwide with banking, tax havens and beach holidays, there is much more to this tiny, proud nation, even if you do need to look quite hard to find it.
What is so surprising about the Caymans at first is how un-British they are – it would be hard to design a more Americanized place than Grand Cayman, where the ubiquitous SUVs jostle for space in the parking lots of large malls and US dollars change hands as if they were the national currency. Only the occasional portrait of the Queen or a fluttering Union Jack ever begs to differ. This contradiction is just the first of many you will discover while getting to know these islands. The key to understanding what makes the Caymans tick is getting away from the crowded commercialism of Grand Cayman long western coastline and exploring the rest of the island. Better still, leave Grand Cayman altogether and visit the charming sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Here life runs at a slower pace and the natural delights that see people coming back again and again – from bird-watching and hiking to diving and snorkeling – are never far away.
The Caymans may lack the dramatic scenery and steamy nightlife of much of the rest of the Caribbean, but in their place you will find a charming, independent and deeply warm people spread over three islands boasting many of life is quieter charms.
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In the Cayman Islands you can hike through untouched woodland, pay a visit to colorful reefs and fish on a scuba-diving or snorkeling trip, or plunk yourself down on the white sands with a frosted drink in hand. You can rent a little, isolated West Indian cottage or stay in a luxurious resort. You can chow down on fresh fried fish at a waterside shack or indulge in a world-class five-course meal.
For the most part, the sand on the Caymans is sugary white, the surf is warm and gentle, and the colors are primarily aqua and turquoise. Grand Cayman is celebrated for its magnificent stretch of white sands, known as Seven Mile Beach, which is lined with hotels and condos. Crowding is rarely a problem on the beach, even with heavy cruise-ship arrivals. To satisfy your inner Robinson Crusoe, explore the many hidden coves, beautiful sheltered bays, and expanses of coastline where you can flee the crowds to find your own paradise. The other islands, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, also have hidden beaches and coves.
When you tire of the beach -- if that is possible -- you will find some of the world s best scuba diving and snorkeling, from the plunge at Bloody Bay Wall off Little Cayman to the calm waters and gentle stingrays at Stingray City off Grand Cayman.
Although the Cayman Islands do have splashes of floral and faunal color, along with rows of royal palms and tall pines swaying in the trade winds, far prettier and more geographically dramatic islands exist in the Caribbean. You wont see any spectacular land vistas, although some of Grand Caymans beaches, found primarily on the western and northern coasts, rank among the most beautiful in the region.
Most people come to the Cayman Islands to get away from it all in a secluded, safe haven, and many visitors come back after sampling the Caymans for the first time, including honeymooners who return to celebrate their anniversaries.
You wont find another green sea turtle-farm like this anywhere else in the world. Turtles here range in size from 6 ounces to 600 pounds.
Experiment a short walk through wetland, swamp, dry thicket, mahogany-tree stands, and patches of orchids and bromeliads.
