When you are looking to “get away from it all” there may be no better way than to explore the East End. Less developed than other parts of the islands, you’ll find unspoiled beaches that meet waters with coral reefs for snorkeling and caverns and canyons to explore. Discover marshlands that are a birdwatcher’s paradise and flush with turtle grass teeming with small fish. While Colliers Beach can get busy on the weekends, most days you’ll have this piece of paradise (almost) to yourself.
If you’ve heard of just one attraction in the Cayman Islands, it’s probably Stingray City. So is it a tourist trap? Yes, and no, and you probably won’t mind getting trapped by this unique experience. Set on Grand Cayman’s North Sound, the waters of a shallow sandbar are home to a huge number of Atlantic stingrays. Wild. They are not penned in for our pleasure. They do hang around for the food, as feeding these magnificent sea creatures is part of the experience. You can wade into the waters, do it while diving, or enjoy some distance and see the site from a glass-bottom boat. You can also snorkel and continue the undersea exploration at an adjacent coral reef.
You’re probably not heading to the Cayman Islands to go shopping. Still, if you are looking to pick up a souvenir or some essentials like sunglasses or a beach book, this massive mixed-use complex is a magnificent spot. Add in lots of restaurants, a six-screen multiplex, and a farmer’s market each week, just to name a few of the enticements. And, as its name suggests, you can’t beat the waterfront location.
With nearly 60 acres of nature for roaming, there’s a lot to choose from when exploring Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. Wander through wetlands and swamps, passing through gardens with bromeliads and orchids, and tromp along stands of mahogany trees. Keep an eye out for wildlife, with freshwater turtles living in small ponds, anole lizards skittering through the foliage, and the odd blue iguana. A vast variety of birdlife reside on three small islands that dot a lake. And discover the history of flora on the islands at a heritage garden that recreates a traditional islander home.
Popular with cruise ships, the charming capital welcomes with colonial history, duty-free shopping, and an eclectic dining scene. Wander its quaint streets to check out art galleries, the local museum, or a distillery that makes the region’s famed rum. As most cruises pull into port from Tuesday to Thursday, best to visit from Friday to Monday if you’re looking for a more tranquil scene.
The undisputed champion of diving spots on Little Cayman is the Bloody Bay Marine Reserve. And the top draw in the park is undeniably the Bloody Bay Wall, a dramatic reef that drops over 1,000 feet in crystal-clear water that provides incredible visibility for the myriad of tropical marine life that call the reef home. While novices can take the plunge, this is a site that draws in serious divers and you will pay a healthy fee to the tour company that takes you on the adventure.
Yes, the place is simply called Hell. And with one glance you can see why. Satan would be right at home amid the craggy landscape that looks as if it was conjured up in a fever dream nightmare. Granted, there isn’t much more at the spot, about the size of a football field, than a series of disjointed dolomite and limestone formations. But it certainly makes for some nice selfies and you can get the t-shirt stating, “I went to Hell and back.”
One of the best-known stretches of sand in the Caymans, Seven Mile Beach is home to some of the area’s top resorts. There are also a good number of restaurants and beach bars serving up tropical cocktails before glorious seafront views. But, as you can guess by the name, there’s lots of space to explore the coral sands of the crescent-shaped haven. Calm, clear waters and coral also make it a great spot to get in some snorkeling and do some stand-up paddleboarding.
There may be no better way to head off on a nature excursion in the Caymans than with a hike on the Mastic Trail, about 15 miles outside of George Town. A path that dates back two centuries weaves through distinct landscapes, including a mangrove swamp, dense woodlands, and wide-open landscapes on the 2.3-mile run. It’s one of the few places in the Caribbean where you can find subtropical, dry, and semi-deciduous dry forests. The terrain can get somewhat rough so wear solid hiking shoes and bring insect repellent as things can get a bit buggy.
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