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By Bill LeConey
The Cayman Islands, just south of Cuba and northwest of
Jamaica, are a great, romantic honeymoon destination. The three islands
which make up The Caymans - Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman
- offer a warm, tropical climate, beautiful beaches and some of the best
diving and snorkeling on the planet.
The waters have clarity second to none, a variety of
marine life, and a diversity of dive sites that can interest the most
well traveled diver. Hiking and day trips offer remote, exotic locales
for honeymooners, and you'll find spectacular island wildlife from
iguanas and turtles to exotic parrots, red-footed boobies and the
magnificent frigate bird on interior hikes of the islands. If you’re
looking for a more leisurely pace to complement your honeymoon, submit
to the temptation of a sunset sail or a long walk on a powdery sand
beach.
The Caymans may lack the dramatic scenery and steamy
nightlife of much of the rest of the Caribbean, but in their place you’ll
find a charming, warm people spread over three islands boasting many of
life’s quieter charms. When not mingling in the myriad shops,
vacationers delve into the sparkling waters to snorkel and dive, but
increasingly, couples are also coming to the Caymans to be married, or
at least to enjoy their honeymoon.
To understand what makes the Caymans tick, get away from
the crowded commercialism of Grand Cayman’s western coastline and
explore the rest of the island. Better yet, leave Grand Cayman
altogether and visit the charming sister islands, where life runs at a
more leisurely pace, and the tantalizing natural delights of
bird-watching, hiking, diving and snorkeling are always close within
reach.
Weather:
The weather in the Caymans ranges from the mid-70's to
80's most of the year with temperatures climbing into the 90s during the
summer months. Expect 10-15 degrees cooler during the evening. Rainy
season runs from Sept.-Nov.
The island of Grand Cayman, which lies largely
unprotected at sea level, was struck a body blow by Hurricane Ivan in
September 2004, which destroyed many buildings and damaged 90 percent of
them. Ivan was the worst hurricane to hit the islands in 86 years, which
is saying something: more hurricane and tropical systems have affected
the Cayman Islands than any other region in the Atlantic basin.
Repairs are largely complete now and the future looks
bright for the Caymans, where tourism is making inroads into even the
remote sister islands.
Diving and snorkeling:
The Cayman Islands is regarded as one of the world's
best scuba diving destinations because of its crystal-clear waters and
pristine walls. There are several snorkeling locations where tourists
can swim with stingrays, including the popular Stingray City on Grand
Cayman.
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The three islands are the exposed top of an
underwater mountain. Underwater, the sides of this mountain are
quite steep, vertical in some places, within a few hundred
meters from shore. In addition to the expected coral reefs,
colorful fish, and other underwater creatures, this "wall
diving" provides extraordinary delights for scuba divers. |
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The tourism industry on the Cayman Islands caters to
divers, with many resorts and condominium complexes having in-house
diving operations offering course work, daily excursions, and scuba
equipment sales and rentals. There are over 100 sites off Grand Cayman
alone and roughly 40 sites each off Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
According to Joan Maddox of East Coast Diving, The
Cayman Islands are a great place for diving "because they have
experienced dive guides and many of the dives are easy and in shallow
waters."
Grand Cayman:
One of Grand Cayman's main attractions is the
world-famous Seven Mile Beach. Most of the island's resorts,
restaurants, and shopping centers sit along this strip. At the public
beach toward the north end you can find chairs for rent ($10 for the
day, including a beverage), a playground, water toys, two beach bars,
restrooms, and showers. The best snorkeling is at either end, by the
Marriott and Treasure Island or off the northern section called Cemetery
Reef Beach.
Here are some other Grand Cayman attractions, in
detail:
Smith's Cove
South of the Grand Old House, this tiny but popular,
protected swimming and snorkeling spot makes a wonderful beach wedding
location. The bottom drops off quickly enough to allow you to swim and
play close to shore; it's also a romantic sunset spot.
Boatswain's Beach www.boatswainsbeach.ky
What was Cayman's premier attraction, the Turtle Farm,
has been transformed into a marine theme park and rebranded as
Boatswain's Beach. The expanded complex now has several shops for
souvenirs, jewelry, and cigars as well as restaurants. The turtles
remain a central attraction, and you can tour ponds with thousands of
them in various stages of growth. A snorkel lagoon provides the
adventure of swimming with some of the marine life that is found just
offshore.
Pedro St. James Castle www.pedrostjames.ky
Built in 1780, the greathouse is Cayman's oldest stone
structure and the only remaining late-18th-century residence on the
island. The buildings are surrounded by eight acres of natural parks and
woodlands. You can stroll through landscaping of native Caymanian flora
and experience one of the most-spectacular views on the island from atop
the dramatic Great Pedro Bluff.
Rum Point
This North Sound beach has hammocks slung in towering
casuarina trees, picnic tables, the thatched Wreck Bar & Grill, and
Red Sail Sports, which offers various water sports and boats to explore
Stingray City.
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Blowholes
When the easterly trade winds blow hard,
crashing waves force water into caverns and send impressive
geysers shooting up as much as 20 feet through the ironshore.
Hell
This touristy stopover in West Bay is a patch of
incredibly jagged black rock formations. The attractions are the
small post office and a gift shop where you can get cards and
letters postmarked from Hell. So, if you're having a
"Honeymoon from Hell," (and we certainly hope not),
why not let your friends and family know about it? |
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South Sound Cemetery Beach
A narrow, sandy driveway takes you past the small
cemetery to a perfect beach. The sand is talcum-soft and clean, the
water calm and clear, and there are no crowds.
Butterfly Farm www.thebutterflyfarm.com
Your entry fee of $15 is good for your entire stay so
that you can watch the life-stage changes of the butterflies. It's fun,
easy, and interesting and makes a great photo op, particularly early in
the morning or on a sunny afternoon.
Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park www.botanic-park.ky
This 65-acre wilderness preserve showcases a wide range
of indigenous and non-indigenous tropical vegetation. Rare blue iguanas
are bred and released in the gardens and are a common sight on the
trails.
The Sister Islands
Cayman Brac
Named after the "brac" or "bluff’ that
makes up much of the island, the most easterly of the Cayman Islands is
much less touristy than Grand Cayman. In fact, it has the feel and easy
pace of a small town. Head to the Brac to escape the crowds and commune
with nature, as it boasts the most varied landscapes in the country.
The Bluff is a dramatic limestone formation that rises
gently from the flatlands of the west end to a height of 140 feet,
traveling the length of the island before plunging into the sea. The
road to the top passes through the National Trust Parrot Reserve, a
nesting ground for the islands’ endangered emerald green native
species, and ends at a lighthouse at the blustery Northeast Point, where
there's an astonishing view from atop the cliff to the open ocean.
Resorts and beaches are clustered along the southern tip of Cayman Brac,
including the peaceful expanses of the public beach.
Divers find two shipwrecks off the shores of Cayman Brac
particularly interesting, including the Keith Tibbetts.
Little Cayman
With more iguana residents than humans, this little gem
of an island is the place to head for solitude, tranquility and
extraordinary diving. You’ll find some of the best wall diving
anywhere in the world at Bloody Bay Marine Park and adjacent Jackson
Marine Park.
The Little Cayman National Trust is a traditional
Caymanian cottage overlooking the Booby Pond Nature Reserve; telescopes
on the second-floor deck allow for close-up views of their markings and
nests, as well as other feathered friends. Inside you'll find shell
collections, panels and dioramas discussing endemic reptiles, and
diagrams on the growth and life span of red-footed boobies, frigate
birds, egrets, and other island "residents."
Perhaps the most notable features of Little Cayman are
offshore. Owen Island, a remote and exotic island 200 yards offshore is
touted as a romantic honeymoon spot with day trips offered from Cayman
Brac and Little Brac. Point o' Sand , on the easternmost point of the
island, is a secluded beach great for wading, shell collecting, and
snorkeling.
There are only a handful of hotels on the island - one
of the most noted is McCoys Lodge, recommended by many travel books for
its affordability and the friendliness of the owners. Another, The
Little Cayman Beach Resort, caters to divers. Also, check out the
Pirates Point Resort (www.piratespointresort.com),
featuring 11 bungalow-style rooms nestled between sea grape and
casuarina pines on a sparkling sweep of palapa-dotted sand. Pirates
Point boasts fabulous food, a fantastic beach, a dynamic dive program
and a fun-loving staff.
Other recreational
activities:
You'll never be short of things to do in the Cayman
Islands, from sports clubs, night clubs, drama societies, cinemas and
theatres. There are several night spots on Grand Cayman, providing
entertainment from jazz and piano, to disco and calypso music.
For big name concerts, The Lions Centre in Red Bay
features top name concerts from the Caribbean music scene as well as
U.S. rock groups at various times throughout the year. Two theaters on
Grand Cayman which present plays and cultural exhibitions include The
Prospect Playhouse in Red Bay and The Harquail Theatre.
The Royal Palms, on West Bay Rd. in George Town, Grand
Cayman, is where local bands play Friday and Saturday nights. The
world-famous Barefoot Man, plays Tuesday and Thursday nights at the Reef
Resort (more on that below).
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Romantic Excursions
In Grand Cayman there are many sunset or dinner
cruises offered by local watersports operators including one
aboard a replica Pirate ship and one aboard the Valhalla, a 19th
century tall ship. Another romantic excursion, often touted as a
honeymoon hotspot is Owen Point or The Cay. This remote 11 acre
island - your own Gilligan's Island for the day - is located 200
yards offshore of Little Cayman. Day trips are often available
from the two smaller islands, Little Cayman or Cayman Brac. |
For non-divers, don't miss the opportunity to explore
what's underwater in the Caymans. Atlantis submarine tours operates 2
subs with underwater tours: a 46 passenger submarine which dives to 100
feet and a more expensive tour on a 2 passenger submarine which can
plunge to depths of 800 feet. Also look for other tours aboard glass
bottom boats and other boats run by local watersports operators such as
Nautilus Undersea Tours.
In reality, Grand Cayman is not really a night-life kind
of spot. It caters to retired folks, cruise ships, divers and (of
course) honeymooners, none of whom are likely to be out clubbing at 2
a.m. In fact, your (second) favorite night activity during a Grand
Cayman honeymoon will likely be night-snorkeling. Grab your snorkel gear
and an underwater flashlight and head for the nearest reef!
All-inclusive resorts:
Grand Cayman is home to a pair all-inclusive resorts,
including one on popular Seven Mile Beach and one more
off-the-beaten-path.
The Reef, a 110-suite resort, is located on the East End
of Grand Cayman, and has been rated one of the Top 20 hotels in the
world by Expedia Travel. It features a la carte dining, top-shelf
liquor, snorkeling, an introductory scuba lesson, tennis, and scheduled
activities. It is also the only resort on Grand Cayman with all
beachfront suites. Every unit has sweeping views of palm trees, the
private white sand beach, and the spectacular turquoise Caribbean
Sea. The Reef also offers destination wedding packages.
For more information on Reef Honeymoons visit:
http://www.atlanticcityweddings.com/services/reefresort/reef_honeymoons.htm
For info on Reef Destination Weddings visit:
http://www.atlanticcityweddings.com/services/reefresort/reef_weddings.htm
Or visit the reef's website: http://www.thereef.com/en/about/theReefDifference.html.
And join the AtlanticCityWeddings.com mail list
for your chance to win a Reef mini-moon getaway! Enter
Reef Contest
Beach Club Colony Hotel – This small (41-room)
all-inclusive resort located on Seven Mile Beach is a budget-conscious
alternative to the high-end resorts nearby. The package includes room,
meals, soft drinks and non-premium alcohol, and watersports (including
some diving).
Special Events:
Pirates Week Festival, on Grand Cayman, usually held the
last week in October, is the biggest blowout of the year, as the islands
celebrate their buccaneering history with treasure hunts, fireworks,
concerts, parades and a children’s fun fair. (We hear that this
festival is being renamed because of the negative connotation the word
"pirates" has gained in recent years). Other events include
the Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament, held every May, the
Cayman Caravan International Flyover in June, and the Taste of Cayman
Food Festival in November. If music is your thing, the Cayman Jazz Fest,
held in late November, draws some of the biggest names of the genre.
Other Sports:
On Grand Cayman you'll find a number of other activities
besides diving and snorkeling including deep sea fishing, golf, ocean
kayaking, water skiing, sailboat rentals and waverunner rentals. Tennis
courts can be found at many of the resorts. Bicycle and moped rentals
are also available and there are a few places for horseback riding
including Coral Stone Stables where you can ride horses along some of
the beaches of the island.
Golf has gained in popularity in the Caymans. The Links
at Safe Haven is the Islands' first championship 18-hole golf course;
and the three-in-one Britannia Golf Club designed by Jack Nicklaus
opened in 1985. The Ritz-Carlton will soon open a course designed by
Greg Norman.
The Cayman Islands Sailing Club has a clubhouse and
docking facilities in Red Bay, Grand Cayman. The Lions Centre, which has
grandstands to seat 3,500 to 4,000, is often used as a venue for
sporting events such as volleyball, basketball, and the martial arts.
Hiking:
On Grand Cayman you'll find a variety of short hikes,
most considered moderate or easy in difficulty. On the north side, The
National Trust's Mastic Trail runs two miles through scenic woodlands.
You'll also find hiking in the 65-acre Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
in Frank Sound. Look for Grand Cayman Parrots and other exotic birds,
freshwater turtles and The Grand Cayman blue iguana. For additional
hiking ideas, see our list of books and links on the Caymans.
Dining:
For dining you'll find the most variety on Grand Cayman
- everything from inexpensive fast food to more expensive and elegant
restaurants that often require a jacket and tie. Two highly recommended
restaurants, according to the books, include the well-known Grand Old
House & Ristorante Pappagallo, where you can dine among tropical
birds, and the Cracked Conch/Macabuca Oceanside Tiki Bar & Grill,
near Cayman Turtle Farm.
Shopping:
Famous for its duty free shopping, most shops in The
Cayman Islands are closed Sundays.
What to Pack:
A few items you won't want to overlook: snorkeling
equipment, wet suits fins, jacket and tie for fine dining, cool, long
sleeve shirt for the beach in case you get sunburned, sweater and/or
windbreaker (it gets cooler at night on those sunset cruises),
sunglasses, insect repellent, hiking shoes, bathing suits, lingerie and
plenty of sunscreen.
When to Go:
When to go pretty much depends on when you're planning
your honeymoon. A few things to know: Prices are a bit higher during
Peak Tourism Season from Dec. 15 - Apr. 15 than in the summertime,
June-Aug. Summer months are the best for diving due to greater
visibility. Rainy season runs Sept.-Nov.
Resources:
One of the first things you'll want to do when you get
to Grand Cayman is check the local papers for a list of what's happening
- some of these include Cayman After Dark, Caymanian Compass &
What's Hot. CayCompass.com also has a webcam.
Links: (open in new window)
www.caymanislands.ky
(official site of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism)
www.divecayman.ky
(official dive site operated by the Department of Tourism)
www.caymantripper.com
www.caymanactivityguide.com
www.caymanrestaurants.com
(guide to restaurants of the Caymans)
For more info on Cayman Brac & Little Brac, see our
Links or Books section or go to: www.sisterislands.com
Sources:
Sources used in researching this article include
numerous internet sites from our Links Section, books including Fodor's
Carribbean & The Cayman Islands; The Beach & Beyond, by Martha
K. Smith; and Hunter’s Travel Adventures in the Cayman Islands.
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