The Cayman Islands
A holiday is something a lot of us look forward to, a chance to get away from daily routines and relax or explore at our own leisure. Everyone has different ideas of the ‘perfect holiday’; some of us are thrill seekers and like nothing more than hitting the slopes in winter. Some of us like to immerse ourselves in history and visit sites of our ancestors, whilst some of us like to lay on a beach with our favourite book. If you fall into the latter category and enjoy white sands and crystal clear water, the Cayman Islands are for you…
Where are they?
The Cayman Islands are in the western Caribbean Sea to the south of Cuba. They are made up of three islands and are part of the British Overseas Territory. Grand Cayman is the largest island and also houses the George Town, the capital city. Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are the other two islands.
Things to do…
Grand Cayman, is famous for its Seven Mile Beach (despite it only being five and a half miles long!). This beach is known as one of the world’s best and even though it is home to numerous hotels, it is public property and anyone is free to walk on this coral-sand beach and take in the paradisiacal scenery.
Scuba diving and snorkelling are highly popular in the Cayman Islands due to the clear waters and abundant marine life. Stingray City is a snorkelling centre in Grand Cayman with shallow waters and numerous stingrays. Visitors are invited to feed and swim with the stingrays or admire the surrounding coral reefs. A three-hour tour costs slightly over £25 and includes equipment and water.
If scuba diving is your preferred method of nautical exploration, the wreck of the Kittiwake sits 62ft below the surface and offers a wealth of sea life from tropical fish to turtles calling this ship home. As this is a protected site, divers cannot remove anything from the wreck but are more than welcome to enter the vessel and explore the ship’s operation and residential rooms.
Back on dry land, The Mastic Trail offers a two-hour hike through untouched natural forests with an informative guide who will be able to point out the different types of vegetation and wild-life whilst providing information on the local history. The tour with a trained guide will cost just under £20 and trainers or walking shoes are advised!
If a break from the beach is needed, The Pedro St. James Castle offers and insight to 18th century island life, as does The Mission House. Both build in the 1700’s but renovated in order to portray the history of the Cayman Islands.
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