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 ayman's
beaches are among the best in the world, in particular Seven Mile Beach
on Grand Cayman. The abundance of fish, marine life and spectacular coral
reefs found in surrounding waters makes the Cayman Islands an ideal destination
for diving enthusiasts. Grand Cayman is the main tourist destination and
its capital, George Town, is today one of the leading commercial centres
in the Caribbean region. The gingerbread-style buildings lining George
Town's harbour front are prime examples of the island's traditional architecture. |
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| Cayman Brac, northeast of
Grand Cayman, is a much smaller island. The area is riddled with caves
and dozens of shipwrecks. It inspired the novel Treasure Island. |
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| When you first lay eyes
on Grand Cayman, you won't even think about mountains. It's a flat piece
of land that barely seems to rise out of the water. To find a steep slope,
you'll have to look elsewhere - in this case, straight down. Just offshore,
the coral reefs and walls plunge dramatically into the abyss, creating
superb conditions for scuba diving and snorkeling. These underwater "mountainsides"
have been leaving many a diver and snorkeler awestruck for more than 40
years. |
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There are other reasons
why travelers arrive in the Cayman Islands in large numbers. One of the
best is that it offers a largely stress-free place to vacation. Crime is
rare. Islanders are friendly, speak English and enjoy the highest standard
of living in the Caribbean. And the beaches are wide, sandy and fringed
with palm trees. In short, it's a calm place to relax. Grand Cayman's answer
to Carnival merriment is Batabano, three days of costume hedonism held
around Easter. The local equivalent on Cayman Brac is known as Brachanal,
held a week after Batabano. Pirate's Week features fireworks, mock battles
and assorted mayhem, giving bankers, barworkers and locals the chance to
wear gold earrings, eye patches and stuffed parrots at the end of October. |
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| Pretend you're Columbus
and discover what sailing was like over half a millennium ago on the most
historic replica of a Columbus ship ever built. Leave the island behind,
take the helm and sail off with a friend or even a stranger for two carefree
hours. Listen to music, relax on the deck, sip a cold drink, nibble on
snacks. Discover your own America and feel the wind in your hair. There's
also a month-long fishing tournament every June where locals and visitors
test their skills against one another and the fruits of the sea. Hefty
cash prizes are doled out for the record breakers. And Grand Caymen is
one place where you can actually Go to Hell. Visit the jagged rock called
Hell and send your boss a postcard of a beautiful tropical beach postmarked
from Hell! |
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