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Significant interest from staycationers is fuelling a property investment boom on the Sister Islands.
Land lots and homes on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are being bought up at an unprecedented rate since the pandemic began.
Realtors say almost every available property on the market has sold, since restrictions on travel from Grand Cayman were lifted last summer.
With the territory’s borders closed to the wider world, inter-island travel has been the only option for vacations for Grand Cayman residents.
There have been 76 property sales so far in 2021 compared with 19 in the entirety of 2018 and 26 the following year.
Sales started to increase in the second half of 2020 but really rocketed in the second quarter of this year, coinciding with a rise in staycation traffic.
Carla Reid, a former chairperson of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, said most of the interest was coming from visitors from Grand Cayman.
“Many people who have never been to the Sister Islands have discovered how unique they are and each island offers something different,” she said.
“We’ve had some folk who have lived on Grand Cayman for years and never been here and in the last eight months have been over twice.”
Reid, also said most of the interest she had seen had not been from developers but from residents who were drawn to the peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.
Roe said many people were attracted to the Sister Islands because of the laid-back way of life, the absence of traffic and the proximity to nature reminded them of what Grand Cayman used to be like.
Interest from larger investors
He said there had also been sales of some larger tracts of land to investors that were looking long term at the potential of Little Cayman and the Brac.
“There is a real lack of inventory in Grand Cayman and those companies are looking at the future in the Sister Islands,” he said.
The development of larger resorts and tourism destinations has traditionally been curtailed on the Sister Islands, by the absence of substantial airlift and the policies of the Development Control Board.
However, recent activity – including proposals by billionaire Frank Schilling for a new village and marina on the Brac and a recent application from Peppercorn Investments for a resort on Little Cayman– suggest rising enthusiasm from developers.
Gregory McTaggart, chair of the Little Cayman District Committee of the National Trust, said the significant increase in real estate activity on the island was one of the unexpected consequences of the pandemic.
“With the closing of the country’s borders, the collapse of the tourism economy and exodus of workers from Little Cayman, the last thing that would be expected is a real estate boom,” he said.
He questioned whether that interest might wane as Cayman opens up to the world and be followed by a ‘bust’ with the market flooded with property for sale.
Development plan needed
Meanwhile, the National Trust remains watchful over the potential for development on the island and is advocating for the “special and unique nature” of the island to be considered.
“It should be self-evident that the level of development that has occurred on Grand Cayman is not viable and would be disastrous to the natural environment, character and uniqueness of Little Cayman,” McTaggart said.
He added that the Little Cayman district committee would like to see the island included in a National Development Plan that incorporates the desires of the community and not just developers.
“Things such as the introduction of zoning, increasing minimum lot size, and future plans that consider the physical size and infrastructure limitations of Little Cayman need to be implemented,” he said.
“The unique environment and relatively unspoiled nature of Little Cayman are assets that belong to all Caymanians. Will these assets be consumed and lost or preserved?”
The Cayman Islands are an outdoor lover’s paradise. Divers, especially, will enjoy the chance to explore the area’s coral reefs—there are even a few shipwrecks—and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes will want to meander the abundant nature trails.
Prefer your island experience to be a bit urbaner? Not a problem. The Caymans offer fantastic shopping, dining and of course, nightlife.
Looking for a few ideas for what to do on your next trip? Consider the following:
Grand Cayman
As the name suggests, Grand Cayman is the largest of the Caymans and offers up a host of activities from sunbathing to exciting nightlife. Visitors to the island will want to hit the hotspots, natural and otherwise.
Seven Mile Beach is consistently named one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, and one visit will tell you why. Soft coral sand, clear water, great snorkeling and a relatively unpopulated beach is a win in anyone’s book.
Stingray City, despite its reputation as a bit of a tourist trap, is worth a visit. Here, visitors can feed and interact with the fever of stingrays that live along this sandbar.
Looking for something land-based?
Lace up the hiking boots and hit the Mastic Trail, a 200-year old path through a mangrove swamp. Here, visitors can explore some of the island’s rarest plant life as they walk through the 2 million-year-old woodland.
Or for something different, go to Hell. Literally. This vast expanse of black limestone juts up from the ground, reminding visitors just how inhospitable Mother Nature can be. And while you can’t walk over the area, there are two platforms from which you can take pictures and even a gift shop and post office from which you can send mail to your nearest and possibly not-so-dearest.
Visit Cayman Brac
Despite its smaller size, Cayman Brac has a lot to offer. The Brac as it’s called is just 14 square miles but offers a lot of adventure opportunities packed in. Snorkelers and divers will be pleased to have the chance to explore some of the sunken ships in the warm, clear waters that surround the island.
Fishermen will also have the chance to fish for their supper, as the surrounding waters are teeming with bonefish and farther out, game fish.
Nature lovers should explore the island’s tropical forests as they search for frigate birds, peregrine falcons and brown boobies or make a visit to the 180-acre parrot reserve, which is home to the endangered Brac Parrot.
WATCH Cayman Islands: Immerse Yourself in Pure Luxury
Little Cayman
Small but mighty. That’s what you might think when you visit Little Cayman.
As the smallest and least developed of the Caymans, it’s the perfect spot to get away from it all. Whether it’s a tranquil beach experience you’re after or an unforgettable swim in the South Hole Sound Lagoon, everyone will find something to enjoy.
For those who wish to explore the island, scooters and bikes are available for rent. Or, rent a boat and sail or kayak out to Owen Island, off the southwestern coast.
Like the other Cayman Islands, Little Cayman is a diver’s dream with more than 50 excellent snorkeling and dive spots. The Bloody Bay Wall Marine Park is popular with adventurers from around the globe thanks to steep drop offs and swim-throughs. No matter where you dive, you’ll have the chance to see a variety of sea life from lobsters and octopus to reef sharks and eagle rays.
The government has extended a 15 percent import duty rate on building materials imported to Grand Cayman until Dec. 31, 2017.
Marco Archer, minister for finance and economic development, said, “The construction sector continues to improve and has contributed to strong economic growth in 2015 as well as in the first six months of 2016. But raising the import duty rate at this time may dampen the sector’s recovery.”
The normal rate of duty on construction materials is between 17 percent and 22 percent. The building material import duty concession of 15 percent first took effect on Jan. 1, 2011, and has been extended since then.
Mr. Archer said building materials are defined as: “All physical components and substances, whether solid or liquid, used in the construction, renovation or restoration and forming a permanent part of any building or related structure.”
Furniture, accessories, electronics and appliances are specifically excluded from the 15 percent concessionary duty rate.
Sister Islands concessions
On Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, a 100 percent import duty waiver on building materials will remain in place until Dec. 31 2020.
Also, a 100 percent stamp duty waiver for land purchases on the Brac is in place until Dec. 31, as will an import duty concessionary rate of 12.5 cents per gallon on the importation of motor gasoline to Cayman Brac.
Love to dive? This relaxed spot tucked away at the tip of Grand Cayman just north of Seven Mile Beach has aquatic packages aplenty. One scuba-centric deal includes two morning dives daily in addition to all three meals and five beverages per day, taxes, services, gratuities (except for scuba staff) and ground services. Premium drinks and rental gear are additional. That’ll run you $721 per person for three nights.
This is a petite resort with top-notch homey food and service as opposed to the sleek, luxe trappings and oontz-oontz soundtrack you might find at a mega-resort. For a lot of its fans, the groovy, laid-back vibe is part of the appeal—as is the nearby strip of shopping, restaurants, and things to do if you feel the need to take a break from the resort.
Points hoarders, listen up! You can use your Wyndham points here, a resort situated far from the hubbub of Seven Mile Beach on the opposite end of Grand Cayman. Stay five nights or longer and take advantage of the all-inclusive plan, which, yes, entails a wristband, but means you don’t have to carry cash around with you. It’s $189 extra per person per day for adults, $60 daily for kids between 3 and 17, and free for the littlest ones.
Like to party and want to do it up? Well, you can (responsibly!) drink as many house brand drinks as you want, including frozen cocktails—and there’s no extra charge for tiny umbrellas. Stay active and burn off the three included meals by kayaking, snorkeling, pedal boating, or paddle-boarding, or duck into the fitness center. And if you really like to blow it out on vacay, tack on a $50 surcharge daily for premium add-ons such as New York strip steak, lobster, and top-shelf spirits.
On a map they may just look like tiny specs in a sea of blue, but these tiny islands hide an intriguing secret. The Cayman Islands is home to the happiest people on earth. Well, it’s not official, but there is some truth to it, and here’s why…
The water in Cayman has this way of making you instantly relax.
Maybe it’s the vibrancy of the colours, which make it feel like an Instagram filter come to life, or simply that it’s everything you imagine paradise to be – neatly laid out, begging for you to dip your toes in.
I do exactly that my first day on Seven Mile Beach. In seconds my 4 a.m. wake-up call, two flights and the general stress caused by a day of travel slip away with the gentle lap of the waves. With the seemingly never-ending Canadian winter back home, being here is exactly what I need.
My first home in Cayman is the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa, a 343-room hotel along the picturesque stretch of Seven Mile Beach.
To start my reboot, I hook up with Chantelle from Bliss Yoga, who offers private sessions in the sand. Under the shade of nearby palms we do our sun salutations to the sound of crashing waves, letting the sea breeze and coolness of the sand awaken our senses.
After yoga, I grab a juice from Jessie’s Juice Bar in Camana Bay, which serves a healthy selection of cold pressed juices, smoothies, cold brew coffee and kombucha. I opt for a Pink Panther with watermelon, strawberry and banana, to help cut the humidity that’s slowly building as the sun continues to rise.
Later that afternoon, I rent a paddleboard from Red Sail Sports and head out to the ocean to get better acquainted. The water is so unbelievably clear here. You’ll seriously spend hours simply marveling at it. After a few runs up and down the beach, I find myself laying down on the board, closing my eyes and just drifting.
While the beach is certainly one of Cayman’s biggest draws, there are also some really great ways to spend time out of the sun.
Natalie Urquhart, the gallery’s director and curator makes sure that the collection at The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, established in 1996, features a good mix of emerging and established Caymanian art. You’ll find great pieces from local eccentric Miss Lassie, as well as pieces from the Native Sons art collective – a Caymanian version of the Group of Seven. The collection is housed in a bright and airy contemporary space just off the main road, which is surrounded by a pretty garden filled with sculptures, an outdoor cafe and a labyrinth to help you pass the time.
Along with art, Urquhart has established an extensive education program with lectures, workshops, professional development and fun holiday activities for kids. On my visit, a group of kids – both local and visiting – are making Valentine’s Day cards using finger paint.
With free admission, it’s a great way to break from the mid-afternoon sun and get a hint of the island’s rich artistic culture.
Day two has me out on a yacht with Cayman Luxury Charters, headed for Stingray City. While I’ll be the first to admit this was probably one of the most stressful parts of my relaxing itinerary, I couldn’t miss the unique opportunity to swim with stingrays out in the middle of the ocean.
Southern stingrays have been gathering on the sandbars in the north sound of Grand Cayman for years. Attracted by fisherman who used the stop as a place to clean fish before coming into port, it now serves as a place where visitors can interact with hundreds of the diamond-shaped creatures.
When we first pull up, I’m panicked. Every where I look I can see dark bodies gracefully gliding just beneath the surface of the water. Out in the ocean the water is choppy and I worry about keeping my feet firmly planted on the ground to avoid stepping on one of the rays.
Eventually, I’m coaxed into the water and am immediately greeted with a “massage” as two rays shimmy up the back of my neck rippling their sides. They’re not slimy like I expected but instead have a thick, muscular skin similar to a dolphin. Next thing I know, I’m cradling one in my arms, face to face as it comes in for a kiss – it’s seven years of good luck, apparently!
The rest of the day is spent relaxing on the hood of the yacht, soaking up some much-needed vitamin D and stopping every so often to cool off in the crystal clear water. We visit Starfish Point and Kaibo on Water Cay, where I recharge with a fresh kale, pear and goat cheese salad.
Similar to Seven Mile Beach, this side of the island boasts some of the clearest waters. And because it’s quite shallow, it’s feels just like a warm bath.
The next day has me up before sunrise to explore Grand Cayman’s sister islands, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. I hop on a tiny propeller plane operated by Cayman Airways and in 40 minutes I’ve arrived in Cayman Brac.
Le Soleil D’Or Golden Sun
Tiny in comparison to Grand Cayman, Brac is only about 19 kilometres long and two wide. Here the coast isn’t lined with flashy resorts and there’s an all-around rugged feel thanks to the limestone cliffs. We make our way to Le Soleil D’Or Golden Sun, a stunning collection of properties spread out across the island focused on healthy living, relaxation and adventure.
Our first stop is the 20-acre farm where they offer a garden-to-table dining experience. Because a lot of produce relies on a cold season, which is pretty nonexistent here, our brunch is filled with tropical alternatives like star apple fruit, coolie plum and wild cherries. They also serve up spring rolls filled with vegetables from the garden and wrapped in crepes made from the eggs in the hen house.
Next, we heade down the hill to the water for an aquafit class in the hotel’s pool. With a view of the ocean, you can also have yoga, pilates and weight training sessions outdoors. There’s also an air-conditioned fitness centre if you’d prefer to keep your sweat sessions indoors.
The resort offers a variety of accommodations, including fully furnished villas, cottages and lodges. There are also four suites available at the picturesque main house, which has its own sunny pool.
After another incredible farm-to-table meal at the farm – this time with freshly caught fish and squash grown steps from where I’m sitting – I make my way back to the airport to fly over to Little Cayman.
Little Cayman
If Cayman Brac felt small, Little Cayman is minuscule: you can ride a bike around the entire island in just over an hour. The biggest draw of the island is definitely the diving – Bloody Bay is consistently ranked as one of the world’s top dive sites – but I come here for the laid back vibes.
If you’ve ever met a diver, you’ll know that they’re a pretty chill group of people. They get their kicks in the deep depths of the ocean so when they’re above water, they like to focus on good food and good company.
I head to Pirates Point for dinner, where we’re served an incredible family-style meal made from scratch. I can still taste the freshly baked wild mushroom and Gruyère bread the chef whipped up that night. Drinks are self serve from the fully stocked bar where a pad of paper on the bar serves as your “tab.”
Like I said, it’s super chill here.
Grey skies the next morning lead to some choppy waters that prevent us from kayaking out to the uninhabited Owen Island just off the coast, where I’m told the sand is littered with enormous conch shells. Instead, I borrow a bike from the hotel and make my way along the one road that circles the island – and also serves as the airport runway.
My hosts seem disappointed by the weather but it’s nice to discover the island on two wheels, breaking for a crab as it slowly meanders across the street or pausing along on of the rocky edges to watch the powerful swells crash into the shore.
I’ve only been away from home for five days and it already feels like an eternity.
After my ride I head back to the airport and bid farewell to this lesser known, quiet side of the Cayman Islands.
Back in Grand Cayman I check into the Caribbean Club, a luxury resort boasting one, two and three-bedroom apartment-style accommodations. The sun is just peeking above the horizon so I take the opportunity to go for a long walk alone along the beach.
One of the great things about Cayman is how safe it is. Long after the sun sets and well into the night, the island is a safe place for anyone – even a woman – to wander freely. Unlike in other islands in the Caribbean, I don’t worry about my purse or whether I’m wearing any jewellery that may be deemed flashy. It’s a nice feeling.
My last day, I head to the Ritz to indulge in a signature facial at the in-house La Prairie spa. Everything about the treatment is customized, from the products on my face to the music being played and the scented candles in the room.
By the end, layers of stress have literally been stripped from my face leaving me looking just as relaxed as I feel on the inside and ready to face the snow that awaits me at home.
By Carib Journal
The Caribbean’s certainly exotic. But what you’re looking for a place that goes off-off the beaten path — the really exotic places, the ones with very few people and a lot of mystery? That’s where these little islands come in, some developed, others totally untouched. But they’re all equally far from convention — even by Caribbean standards. They’re not populous, but they’re not unlivable, either. These are the most exotic places to live in the Caribbean.
Little Cayman
The thing you notice landing here is that the runway is actually on a road, meaning oncoming traffic has to stop when planes land. That’s just the beginning of what makes this lovely, quirky little island in the Cayman Islands so wonderful. Set about 60 miles northeast of Grand Cayman, it has a year-round population of less than 200 people. So why not help grow it?
View the other 9 entries here: https://caribjournal.com/2015/12/12/the-10-most-exotic-places-to-live-in-the-caribbean/#
New Tourism Director, Rosa Harris, said Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are top priorities for her department. She has big plans to boost the Sister Islands economy, but wants to ensure its appeal remains.
“The Sister Islands are one of our top priority in terms of ensuring we have plans in place to support and also show the vision as to what their potential really is,” said Ms. Harris.
“Its a tranquil environment to either walk, run, many sporting events. They’ve got great facilities now to welcome visiting teams so we want to look at the low hanging fruit and be able to activate it and get the experience in hosting larger numbers to be able to take on more in the future.”
Ms. Harris also pointed to the new Cayman Airways plane that will be servicing the Brac.
She’s hoping this also means additional flights to Little Cayman and she hopes to attract more couples to the Sister Islands to choose them as a destination for their weddings.
Source: Cayman 27.
The Cayman Islands Government this week announces its going forward with some major renovations for Cayman Brac’s sports facilities. The newest wave of improvements are part of projects costing the public purse around $550,000.
The current renovations to the Cayman Brac Playing Field include the construction of three additional changing rooms, a cistern and a parking area.
Locally based company Dixon Construction was picked to handle the work, which is expected to be done in June.
This is just the latest in a wave of renovations to the field. Already installed to date:
§ FIFA-standard lighting
§ FIFA-standard artifical turf
§ Portable fencing
§ Temporary bleachers
§ Tents
§ Flag poles
§ Shelters
Deputy Premier Hon. Moses Kirkconnell spearheads the renovations, pitching them as a boost to the island’s tourism product.
“These enhancements have opened up a myriad of opportunities for Cayman Brac,” Kirkconnell said in a statement. “Including the ability to host CONCACAF and other international tournaments in the future.”
Kirkconnell is the first elected member for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
According to the Ministry, $550,000 were budgeted this fiscal year for sports facilities improvements for the Brac.
Future plans include the installation of an IAAF athletics track and an entry road to the facility.
Source www.cayman27.com