Destination attractions things to do in cayman islands

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

When people think of The Cayman Islands, the first thing that may come to mind is a tax haven for the rich and maybe a turtle or two. Many consider it a stop on a cruise vacation, but not much different than the other Caribbean islands. Others still think of it as an island full of expensive resorts where only the rich who leave their money there can afford to stay.

The Cayman Islands are for everyone and actually has a lot more to impress than people think. Much more than a vacation stop along the way, the islands are a prime destination for thousands with tons to do for singles, couples, groups and families from all walks of life and economic backgrounds.

The Caymans consist of three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. All are nestled in the beautiful serene waters of the Western Carribean. Just 480 miles south of Miami, Grand Cayman is the largest and most developed of the islands with the famous capital city of Georgetown. Cayman Brac, just 14 square miles in size, is a traditional seafaring community known for its incredible scenery and the rare Cayman Brac Parrot. Little Cayman, with a population of 170 people, is mostly uninhabited and attracts visitors because of its untouched tropical wilderness and beachfront.

Water activities are the most popular on The Caymans, mostly because of the islands world-famous scuba diving sites, but there is much more the pristine blue has to offer. Yes, there are over 48 dive operations for beginners to advanced on the islands, but if that isnt your thing, the turquoise waters will call to you in some way or another.

If you're a sun worshiper, you can go parasailing along 'Seven Miles' beach or bask in the sun while laying back on the white sand. With near perfect conditions, you can go kayaking, waterskiing, snorkeling, windsurfing, wave running, aqua cycling, view boarding or paddling. If you want to stay on top of the water, sun searcher floats, banana boat rides, theme cruise getaways or sailing tours can be found anywhere. Old fashioned fishing, especially on the smaller islands, can yield yellowfin tuna, blue marlin, grouper, snapper, bonefish and more.

If you decide you dont want to get wet but cant miss out on the beautiful, colorful fish, eye-dropping drop-offs and reefs that abound, get in a submarine. Submarine tours will take you in pairs of two or up to 60 from five to 1000 feet below the surface. Some submarines have 360-degree views and others have glass bottoms to give you the best view.

On land, sports lovers can enjoy horseback riding or playing golf on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course at the Hyatt Regency. Tennis, squash and other outdoor sports are offered at most hotels and resorts. For spectators, football and Little League games abound throughout the year.

For nature lovers, The Caymans are paradise and if you're interested in learning why, there are several tours to help you. You can spend days under the palm trees, watching parrots on mango trees and turtles on the reefs. The purple wild orchids, mahogany trees and baby blue iguanas create an awesome picture of color. On all three islands, there are designated Marine Park Zones where you can witness Caymans active conservation of their environment and culture. Little Cayman is the most attractive site for nature lovers because of its untouched lagoons, mangrove forests, salt ponds and flowers, but Cayman Brac also offers 200 species of birds including some of the most rare.

Stingray City is enough reason in itself to visit the Caymans and is one of the largest tourist attractions in the world. In shallow waters, about 12 feet deep out in the ocean, there are sand bars (waist high) where hundreds of stingrays swim around tourist boats and feed off of squid right out of the tourists hands. With a pet-like nature, the rays swim along with you in hopes of some squid which they suck out of your hand because they have no teeth. Touching their soft bellies or rough tops is an exciting, exhilarating experience.

The 65-acre Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park in Frank Sound is a major heritage attraction and Hell is a town on the West Bay of Grand Cayman where tourists love to visit and send a postcard from (Get it? A postcard from hell). The Pedro St. James historic site is the islands most important natural landmark and features a historical restoration of the early 19th century great house and grounds. It is revered as the birthplace of Democracy for the Cayman Islands.

The Cayman Turtle Farm is the only attraction of its kind in the world and houses more than 16,000 sea turtles ranging in size from six ounces to 600 pounds each. The turtle is a major part of Cayman culture and history, including its naming. The farm has released over 29,000 of the protected species since 1980 and focuses on breeding to replenish the population. You can watch the process hands-on and it is especially interesting from May to October, which is breeding season.

The Cayman Islands National Museum is a prime destination for tourists who want to see the real Caymans. The museum was a jail, courthouse and place of worship for 150 years before being converted to a museum in a major restoration project. It houses over 2,000 items including rare coins, documents and hand crafted boats.

Besides spa adventures, nightclubs, concerts and eating out at the more than 100 dining spots on the islands, many people come for the shopping. Whether youre looking for jewelry, china, perfumes, local arts, crafts, foods or designer clothes, there are a myriad of choices for the savvy shopper.

Major events are happening throughout the year on the islands, so depending on when you arrive, you can be a part of the show. The Caymans are carnival heaven with the Cayman Jazz Fest in June, the Cayman Festival of the Arts (Cayfest) in April, Pirates Week (which last for ten days) in October, and the Cayman Carnival Batabano in April. There is also the Taste of Cayman during July and Aviation Week in June plus much more.

The Cayman Islands are known for being safe and welcoming, with the friendliest natives youll find in the Caribbean. With an average 80 degree temperature that drops only 5 degrees in the winter, its the perfect place to spend a vacation doing everything or nothing at all under the sun or under the water all year around.