Colorful George Town on Grand Cayman has a historic downtown with plenty of small museums, art galleries and shops to explore. Photo by Hans Eismann | Pixabay

• Share

PRINT

When Mother Nature is battering us with winter’s chill, some of us dream of a Caribbean getaway. I recently visited the Cayman Islands and found that, along with typical sun, sand and surf attractions, these three islands have a wide choice of enticing things to see and do.

Their name comes from the Arawak-Taíno people, who visited the islands and called them “Caiman” (crocodile) after the semiaquatic reptiles there.

Mention the word Caribbean, and beaches probably come to mind. Those on the Cayman Islands are varied, inviting and covered with postcard-perfect, soft, white sand.

The now-misnamed Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman, where erosion has diminished the beach to about 5.5 miles long, has been declared one of the Caribbean’s “Ultimate Beaches” by Caribbean Travel & Life magazine.

I found Cemetery Beach, nestled at the end of Seven Mile, to be much less crowded. It’s named for the adjacent burial ground, whose weathered headstones relate pages from the islands’ past.

That antiquity is well worth recalling. Early settlers who found their way to the archipelago included shipwrecked pirates, deserters from English troops in Jamaica and others seeking sanctuary.

Each island offers its own attractions and activities. Grand Cayman, largest of the three (22 miles long, eight miles wide), is home to Stingray City, a group of shallow sandbars where those unusual creatures congregate. After receiving assurances that I could walk among and even pet the strange looking animals, I got close up and personal with several of them.

Little Cayman lives up — or, rather, down — to its name. As one of the least developed islands in the Caribbean, it offers almost unspoiled natural beauty and relaxation.

On Cayman Brac, I encountered rugged terrain and hidden caves, some of which were used by pirates to stash their treasure. This is a birdwatcher’s paradise, where more than 200 species of residents and migrators have been recorded.

Touring the historic Cayman Brac Heritage House, I was introduced to snippets of the past. The building is an old Caymanian home, one of a number of examples of the local heritage.

Historic sites

Christopher Columbus came upon the three unpopulated islands in 1503, during his last journey. But there’s much more history to explore.

Other places also bring stories of the past to the present. The Cayman Islands National Museum keeps alive the islands’ seafaring history. Intricate ship models are displayed near relics recovered from shipwrecks that dot the surrounding reefs.

Visitors to the Central Caribbean Marine Institute learn about the life, and death, of coral; reef restoration; and other solutions to declining ocean health.

I entered a very different setting at Pedro St. James, built in 1780 by people enslaved by an English settler who established a cotton and mahogany plantation. That “Great House” has coral-rock walls, wide verandas, shuttered windows and a slate roof brought from England. In December 1831, it hosted a meeting to form the Cayman Islands’ elected parliament, earning it the title “Birthplace of Caymanian Democracy.”

Another Caymanian house, which is more than a century old, greeted me at Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. It’s surrounded by wetlands, forested areas and manicured gardens that serve as a haven for blue iguanas, an endangered animal which is endemic to Grand Cayman.

Capital city sights

A very different scene awaits visitors to George Town, capital city of the Cayman Islands. Despite its relatively small size (population about 40,000), the metropolis plays a big role in local tourism.

Up to four cruise ships at a time may dock in the harbor, disgorging passengers eager to take advantage of tax-free shopping opportunities and experience a quick taste of what the islands have to offer.

George Town is the quintessential Caribbean waterfront community, with Technicolor wooden buildings that vie for attention with the surrounding natural hues. There’s no shortage of diversions to satisfy history buffs, from ruins of fortifications to a rum distillery to structures remaining from the 19th century.

Shopping and sun worshiping, combined with a wide choice of other things to see and do, make the Cayman Islands an inviting destination, especially, especially during the winter months.

If you go

The Cayman Islands are the Caribbean’s self-proclaimed leading luxury lifestyle destination, so it’s not surprising to come upon a line of high-priced hotels along Seven Mile Beach. By contrast, The Locale offers budget-stretching accommodations, a pool, restaurant and included breakfast. Double room rates begin at $180 (staylocale.com).

Grand Cayman also is the self-described Culinary Capital of the Caribbean, with more than 200 restaurants to support that claim. Dining options focus upon fresh seafood and traditional island specialties like grilled or broiled fish, oxtail stew and conch (pronounced conk), prepared many ways.

Among factors that make visiting the Cayman Islands convenient are that you may use U.S. money. Public beaches are everywhere, and, for snorkelers, colorful reefs and marine life are just offshore.

Although you must drive on the left, in the British tradition, the roads are well-paved, and I found most Caymanians to be cautious and courteous motorists.

For more information, see visitcaymanislands.com.