Cayman Islands Travel Guide

This 102 square mile territory known as the Cayman Islands is made up of three main islands called Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman located to the south of Cuba and northeast of Honduras. The capital city is George Town, on Grand Cayman, which is the most populated island. Due to the location, the Cayman Islands is considered as part of the Western Caribbean.

Technically the Cayman Islands aren’t islands... they are part of a mountain called the Cayman Ridge which rises more than 7500m from the ocean floor. All three islands are extremely flat with the highest point on Cayman Brac at just 46m.

The Cayman Islands are a British overseas territory located in the Caribbean and has been under various governments since its discovery by Europeans. Evidence suggests that humans didn’t occupy the islands prior to the 16th century and the first recorded British visitor was Sir Francis drake in 1586 who reported that the Caymans were edible (whatever that meant) it was the turtles that attracted ships in search of food for their crews and overfishing nearly extinguished the turtles from the local waters.

Turtles were the main source of economy on the islands, and it is estimated that between 1200 and 1400 turtles were captured and sold at seaports in Jamaica per year. Many of the original inhabitants of the Cayman Islands came from outside, and many were on the fringes of society thus making it a lawless society until the twentieth century. England took formal control of Cayman as well as Jamaica under the treaty of Madrid in 1670.

The Cayman Islands are home to a wide range of wildlife and fish, with several endemic and protected species. Turtles used to be the main inhabitant of the islands, but over-fishing has reduced their numbers dramatically. Thanks to the conservation work of the ‘Turtle Farm’ and their programme of releasing hatchlings back into the sea, the turtle population is increasing, and you might be lucky enough to catch Green, Hawksbill and Loggerhead turtles returning to sea. Other species inhabiting the islands include snakes, iguanas, bats and various species of birds and parrots.

The Cayman Islands are best known for diving, beautiful views, gorgeous beaches, and turtles. There is plenty of things to on any of the three main islands, including snorkelling, relaxing on the sand, golf, or riding the waves.