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The Best Kept Secrets of Grand Cayman Island

Grand Cayman is best known for its sparkling beaches, its British accent, its indigenous turtles, and fascinating Stingray City, where you can swim with the local marine life. However, these are far from the only things to see and do on the island. There is a number of less popular, but no less interesting, attractions on the island.

  1. Find the hSwim with the silversides. Sure, dolphins are sweet and friendly, but how many of your neighbors can say they’ve swum with schools of dwarf herrings. These silver fish migrate to Grand Cayman in early summer and stay until early fall. If you’re visiting Grand Cayman during this season, be sure to experience this unique underwater show.
  2. Visit the farmers and craft market at Camana Bay. Each Wednesday from noon to 7:00 p.m., Camana Bay harbor hosts an eclectic craft and farmers market. The wares each week are different, but usually include paintings and jewelry by local artists, the delicious Cayman pepper jelly (available only on the island), fresh produce and one-of-a-kind souvenirs. This market is only beginning to become popular with visitors, so you won’t see a lot of touristy gee-gaws.
  3. Hiking the Majestic Trail. Another lesser-known, but worthwhile attraction on Grand Cayman is the Mastic Trail. Located at the highest point on the island (79 feet above sea level), this four-mile roundtrip, relatively easy trail, offers beautiful vistas as well as a chance to see some of the local wildlife, such as the elusive Cayman rabbits.
  4. Take a gander at the shoe tree. For more than two decades, visitors to Grand Cayman have been writing their names on the soles of their shoes (or flip flops) and taking them to a beachfront tree on the east side of the island. The colorful display is easy to find; it’s located on the Main Road West of Bodden Town.
  5. Snorkel at Cemetery Beach. Located just a short walk from one of the island’s historic cemeteries is one of the best (and lesser known) spots for diving and snorkeling. Here, you’ll find a variety of fish and other marine life, including tangs, eels, parrot fish and even an occasional nurse shark. The action centers around a reef located just off of the shore.
  6. Explore the Cayman Motor Museum. For that day when you just need to get out of the sun, take a trip to the Cayman Motor Museum, located on the west side of the island. This museum houses 80 unique vehicles, including the original Batmobile, an 1886 Benz (the world’s first car) and a 1905 Cadillac (the first car driven on Grand Cayman.)

While snorkeling along Seven Mile Beach, sampling turtle soup and swimming with the local marine life are certainly worthwhile, make sure to include a few secret attractions on your itinerary when you next visit Grand Cayman.

 

  • by:
  • July 19th, 2016
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Grand Cayman: Hike one of the Last Remaining Subtropical Forests

A beach vacation generally means you’ll be spending a lot of time on, well, beaches, but a trip to the Cayman Islands provides an opportunity for so much more than lounging around with your toes in the sand and an umbrella-topped drink in your hands (not that there’s anything wrong with that). With lush green terrain and an incredible array of wildlife, Grand Cayman offers one of the last dry, subtropical forests in the Caribbean, and it’s the perfect place for a nice, long hike.

Grand Cayman Forests: Green, Unspoiled, and Breathtaking

The flora and fauna that make up the Cayman Islands’ forests are stunningly diverse. The star is undoubtedly the Silver Thatch Palm, the iconic palm with metallic leaves that covers the island and is also, unsurprisingly, the national tree. Then there are the mangrove trees, with roots that tangle up from the water and play home to a variety of wildlife, and the beautiful wild banana orchids, with yellow trumpeted petals and purple-tinged tips.

Up Close with Grand Cayman Wildlife

Some incredible animals call this forest home, too: the brightly colored Cayman Parrot is the national bird of the Cayman Islands, and there’s also the biggest colony of red-footed boobies – an aptly named seabird with bright red feet and a blue bill – in the Western Hemisphere. Add to that a slew of other birds, bats, turtles, butterflies, snakes, iguanas (including the Blue Iguana, a native species that’s also endangered), and rabbit-sized rodents, and it’s easy to see that Grand Cayman is a veritable cornucopia of wildlife that you simply don’t want to miss.

The Mastic Trail

The Mastic Trail on Grand Cayman brings all the best elements of outdoor life on the island together for one incredible hike. Meander along the 200-year-old path and the terrain morphs from forest to grassy expanses to rocky outcrops to the mangrove-covered swamps you’d probably expect from a tropical jungle. The soundtrack is captivating; all around you, birds are celebrating your arrival with chirps and bellows that are as exotic as the fruit-laden trees they’re perched upon. Take advantage of a guided tour or head out on your own and soak up the atmosphere at your own pace.

Beyond Grand Cayman

Venture beyond the shores of Grand Cayman and more beauty awaits. Head out to Little Cayman for the day, and you’ll find unspoiled coastline dotted with hidden beaches perfect for an afternoon siesta or leisurely picnic. Inland, hikers will discover wetlands, lagoons, and the Boob Pond Nature Reserve, absolute heaven for dedicated bird watchers. Thrill-seekers will love exploring the 140-ft bluff, or “Brac,” that gives Cayman Brac its name. Some 14 square miles of spectacular scenery awaits, and if you need to get just a little bit higher, you can hike to the bluff’s lighthouse and survey the watery expanse that way.

Whether you love the great outdoors or just want to get a peek at greenery that looks a little different than your backyard at home, hiking the Cayman Islands deserves a spot on your bucket list.

 

  • by:
  • May 24th, 2016