Cayman Islands - Focus on the Caribbean

Today, as part of our focus on the Caribbean, we are looking at the Cayman Islands. The three islands of the Caymans all have a different personality, each with its own, unique appeal.

Grand Cayman is the largest of the three islands and also the largest island of the British Overseas Territory. Visitors are drawn to Grand Cayman by spectacular natural beauty, a wealth of activities and the friendliness of the Caymanian people as well as the gloriously soft, white sand of Seven Mile Beach and miles of unspoilt, empty coastline. Restaurants are abundant and range from simple Caymanian cafes to five star dining. Conch Fritters are a local speciality. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman (the other two smaller islands) are perfect examples of true, wild Caribbean.

The Cayman Islands are reputed for having some of the world’s best diving with over 300 sites and wrecks, with more than 50 of them being close to shore. The spectacular underwater visibility makes the Cayman Islands ideal for snorkelling too. Stingray city, for example, is a shallow sandbar where you can swim, snorkel and witness the friendly stingrays.

The islands are also a haven for wildlife and birds. Visitors can explore mile of walking trails, a turtle and marine park and 65 acres of the finest botanical gardens in the Caribbean. Whilst there you should also keep an eye out for the Blue Iguanas. They are the rarest lizard in the world and only exist in the Caymans - there are just 250 in existence.

QUICK FACTS
Size: Grand Cayman 76 square miles, Cayman Brac 14 square miles, Little Cayman 10 square miles.
Population: Grand Cayman 60,000. Cayman Brac 1,600. Little Cayman 150.
Main City: George Town (located in Grand Cayman)
Currency: CI Dollar and US dollar
Dialling Code from UK: 00 1345

WHAT’S HOT?
The five star Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman hotel being situated direclty on the white sands of Seven Mile Beach (one of the longest in the Caribbean), offers a breathtaking location unlike anywhere else on earth. Boasting excellent restaurants, including the acclaimed Blue by Eric Ripert, as well as the renowned Silver Rain, a La Prairie Spa, this hotel offers guests an unforgettable and luxurious escape. The hotel is featured in Conde Nast’s Gold List 2011 and has been voted the “Best Resort in the Caribbean” by it’s readers three years in a row.