The Cayman Islands is a British overseas territory. It is set between Cuba and the Western Caribbean. The island consists of 3 islets namely the Grand Cayman, Cayman Barc and The Little Cayman. All the 3 islets are equally beautiful and yet unique in their own ways. The Grand Cayman, the largest among the three islets is home to some of the most awe-inspiring luxury beach resorts. In addition, this islet has few of the best diving spots in the world. Cayman Barc offers deep-sea fishing excursions while Little Cayman has diverse specifies of endangered wildlife. In this article, we explore the unique experiences in the Cayman Islands that are must try on your next visit to the United Kingdom.
George Town, the capital city of Cayman Islands is the place where most helicopter tours operate from. There are various packages available depending upon the duration, itinerary and other inclusions. The most popular ones are Stingray City Tour, 7 – mile tour and whole day tour. 7- Mile tour is a short 8-10 minutes tour covering the Seven-Mile Beach. Stingray City Tour will last around 15 -20 minutes covering North Sound, Stringray City Sandbar as well as Seven-Mile Beach. The whole Island tour last for 40 minutes – 1 hour and covers North Sound, Stringray City, Kittiwake and Turtle farm.
A helicopter ride is a good way of getting a birds-eye view of the entire island. Apart from the above-mentioned tours, private charters are also available which can accommodate up to 6 adults.
Crystal Caves is the newest addition to the tourist spectacle of Cayman Islands. These caves are situated on the Grand Cayman in the middle of lush green tropical forests. Crystal caves stands out as one of the unique experiences in Cayman Island. It is nothing short of a wonderland with tapering stalactites projections and glassy lands giving a glittery appearance throughout the caves. In case you are an explorer and like exploring the untouched, there are various regions in the caves which are longing to be explored. However, ensure that you track your trail back.
There are guided tours available as well for tourists lasting for a couple of hours. Guides will walk you through the key areas of the cave including the Bat Cave and Lake Cave. But the best way to explore the cave is on your own at your pace. Regardless of tours being guided or non-guided, ensure you wear appropriate hiking gears.
Kittiwake is the ex-U.S navy submarine. It had served the U.S over more than 50 years before it sunk off in Grand Cayman. Now Kittiwake Shipwreck is one of the popular dive spots in Grand Cayman. Apart from shipwreck and artificial reefs, you will witness plenty of vivid aquatic species and sea life.
The dive can be enjoyed by both advanced level and beginner level divers. On the other hand, it is an equally good snorkelling site as well, as the shipwreck is visible even from the surface owing to high visibility and shallowness of the water. The dive spot is located off the coast of Seven Mile Beach. It can be easily accessible through various dive operators like Ocean Frontiers, Turtles Cayman Etc.
A visit to Cayman is never complete without this excursion and it is truly a magical experience. This is one unique experience in the Cayman Islands that everyone can try without any cap of the age limit. This excursion is a three-hour-long excursion with snorkelling and swimming stops at specific locations. As the boat halts in shores of North sound, you will able to witness these mesmerizing creatures in their natural habitat. The Stingray tours are completely safe as the waters are pretty shallow here and vary from around 3 – 4 feet. You can snorkel and also swim with these beautiful creatures as they harmlessly breeze and brush around you. Also, you can feed them with squids which will be provided by the operators and have a photo session as well. This is one such unique experience in the Cayman Islands that will last for a lifetime.
Cayman islet consists of limestone escarpments on the Northside. These escarpments rise to 140 feet at its peak. Among leading rock-climbers around the world, hiking to the peak of limestone bluff in Cayman Brac is considered as one of the most daring adventures. A couple of years back there were no tour operators conducting such hikes and it was a strict personal risk affair. However, over the years, hiking paths have become more defined and tour operators are ensuring necessary safety standards making it completely safe.
If you are scared of scuba diving and don’t want to get wet but yet are intrigued by the underwater life, a submarine ride is the best way to put your curiosity to rest. It is a glass-enclosed 48 seater boat. The submarines go as deep as 100 feet, hence you will be able to witness even more sea life than a regular scuba dive. The most notable operators are Atlantis Submarine and they operate from Seven Mile Beach as well as George Town.
All the three islets are home to relatively untouched tropical forests. So, if you are an ardent birdwatching enthusiast, set off for an early trail and be amazed to see some of the rare species of birds. The Cayman Barc is famous for Parrot Reserve while the Salina Reserve, Mastic Reserve and Colliers are the hotspots for birdwatchers in the Grand Cayman. Little Cayman has a once-endangered red-footed booby 100 times more in numbers than that of humans
In a nutshell, all three islets are a paradise for birdwatchers. A visit to the Cayman Islands will you leave in awe owing to its natural and unconquered beauty. If the Cayman Islands fascinate you to plan a vacation to the United Kingdom, reach out Pickyourtrail for completely customizable packages and hassle-free vacation.