Cayman Islands: What to See and Do
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.
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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.
