The Cayman Islands Has Plenty of Activities for Visitors to Enjoy

The Cayman Islands is an idyllic holiday destination in the Caribbean which has so much more to offer than merely world-class beaches. It offers fantastic opportunities for scuba-diving and snorkelling, for both beginners and the more experienced.

There's also the chance to feed stingrays, or to take a trip to the Turtle Farm to see the conservation efforts firsthand. However there's lots to do on land as well. It's a great place to go hiking, and the three islands are easily explored on foot.

The Cayman Islands is remarkable for having some of the most diverse flora and fauna anywhere in the world, and it's also home to the largest colony of red footed boobies in the Western Hemisphere. The Mastic Trail on Grand Cayman is an interesting two-mile hike which takes you through dry, subtropical forests.

More adventurous hikers may want to visit Cayman Brac, as it has some pretty spectacular walks along the cliff, and is also home to numerous caves which are suitable for first-time cavers or the more experienced. Little Cayman has lots of pristine coastline and secluded beaches, as well as mangrove forests, lagoons and wetlands to explore.

The Cayman Islands are very beautiful, and the National Trust for the Cayman Islands helps to protect local natural resources and wildlife, as well as some of the cultural and traditional sites which are of historical interest. These include Fort George, East End Light House Park, and Walter Cemetery.

One of the most interesting historical sites is owned by the government. Pedro St James is a reconstruction of a 1780 Great House which took seven years to complete, and is a great way of finding out more about the Cayman Islands history.

Cayman Islands Doctor Reveals Plans to Kick Start Medical Tourism

An internationally renowned heart surgeon, Dr Devi Shetty has purchased 200 acres in the Cayman Islands and plans to build a new hospital. Survey work is already beginning, and there are plans to include energy efficient technology throughout the building.

The land at High Rock was initially intended to become a commercial seaport, but this plan failed when it proved to be unpopular with locals. It's one of the highest elevated points on Grand Cayman and has natural protection against storm surges and flooding. As well as the hospital there will also be a number of support facilities including residential accommodation and hotels.

These plans have been in the pipeline for more than two years, and recent legislation passed by the government will enable practitioners to limit damages, keeping insurance costs and internal health care costs down.

The initial phase is expected to be quite a small hospital of just 140 beds, but during the next 10 to 15 years Shetty has additional plans to include an educational facility, assisted care community, a tertiary care hospital and a biotech research centre.

A development of this size will require significant improvements to infrastructure, including transportation and public services. Patients would stay on the island an average of nine and a half days and when the hospital becomes a fully operational it could be catering for 1,400 patients a day.

Whenever medical tourism is mentioned, it's easy to think it's only available in countries such as India or Thailand, but the fact it is expanding its reach to other countries can only be good news. The international medical tourism market is a sector which is increasing rapidly with many patients unable to afford or obtain decent medical care in their own countries.

Escaping to the Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands consists of three separate islands called Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, and its appeal is easy to see.

The islands have a reputation for being an offshore haven, George III exempted the islands from taxation in 1794. This was reportedly done  to thank the islanders for rescuing the crew and cargo of 10 merchant ships which had come to grief in the surrounding waters. Whether or not this is true, it is still one of the world’s largest financial centres and does attract the wealthy.

Unsurprisingly the Cayman Islands can boast of having the highest standard of living out of all the Caribbean islands as well as a very low crime rate.

While the islands are undoubtedly glamorous, they do have much to offer ordinary mortals just looking for a luxurious holiday, and there’s a lot to see and do.

You can choose to go on a boat trip to see the dolphins or can view the island from horseback. There are also a number of guided tours along nature trails which allow you to experience the islands different ecosystems.

For something a little more manicured visit the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park which is home to the many birds and parrots, and some exceptionally beautiful orchids which are in bloom from May through June.

It goes without saying that diving here is exceptional, and even if you don't want to dive you should at least do a spot of snorkelling to admire the abundant marine life. The Cayman Islands offer a taste of paradise to everyone who visits.

Three Cayman Islands Create an Idyllic Destination

The Cayman Islands are located in the western Caribbean and consist of three islands called Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Together they form a little piece of paradise just 480 miles south of Miami. Visitors to the islands can enjoy sun kissed beaches and some of the best snorkelling and diving in the world.

The largest and most visited Ireland is Grand Cayman which is around 76 mi.². It is best known for having a shallow reef known as the North Sound which is around 35 mi.². Cayman Brac is the second largest island and is 89 miles north-east of Grand Cayman.

It is just 1.25 miles wide and 12 miles long, giving it an area of around 14 mi.². It's perhaps the most spectacular out of the three islands as there is a massive central limestone outcrop which dominates the island. Little Cayman is just 5 miles west of Cayman Brac and has an area of just 10 mi.².

The islands were discovered purely by chance in 1503 by Christopher Columbus whose ship was blown off course. He noted the islands were occupied by turtles, and this is the reason why islands were originally called Las Tortugas.

In 1523 a map showing the islands named them Lagartos which means large lizards or alligators, and by 1530 this name had changed to Caimanas which is the Carib Indian word for marine crocodile, as this creature is known to have lived on the islands. Over time the name gradually changed to become the more familiar Cayman Islands.

The Cayman Islands, Much More Than a Tax Haven

The Cayman Islands immediately conjures up images of offshore accounts as it is perhaps best known as being a tax haven, but there is far more to recommend this Caribbean paradise.

The three islands were originally discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503, but he didn't find them appealing enough to take the trouble to go ashore. By 1670 the islands were under the control of the British and had been named Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, and the first settlers began to arrive, even though the Cayman Islands didn't seem to have much to recommend them at the time as they didn't produce any goods.

They still produce very little, as most income is earned from financial services and tourism, and they have to import around 90% of consumer goods and foods. It's only recently that they have become better known as a tourism destination, even though they have stunning beaches.

One of the best-known is Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman, which is just over 5 miles long, and it is well worth spending several days at least relaxing here. The islands are well known for their excellent diving and snorkelling, as they have more than 300 marked dive sites and the waters are crystal clear. In fact the Cayman Islands are considered to offer the best diving in the Caribbean.

Each island has its own distinct personality, and Little Cayman is truly tiny at just ten miles square with just one hundred inhabitants. Cayman Brac is a little larger with a population of around 2,000, but most people choose to stay on Grand Cayman.

Cayman Islands History and Economy

Although the Cayman Islands were first sighted in 1503 by Christopher Columbus, it wasn't until several decades later that the first English visitor landed on the islands. Sir Francis Drake landed in 1586 and gave the islands their name. However they remained largely uninhabited until the 17th century, and there is no archaeological evidence to suggest an indigenous people.

England took formal control of the islands in 1670, and remained in control until 1962 when the Cayman Islands became a separate Crown colony. They are historically known for being a tax exempt destination, and much of their economy is due to the fact that they are major international financial centre and the fifth largest banking centre in the world with around $1.5 trillion in banking liabilities.

However the islands are also known for being a luxury tourist destination, especially the island of Grand Cayman which is home to the famous Seven Mile Beach along which a number of the island resorts and hotels are located. In spite of its name, the beach is only 5.5 miles long, but is well known for its beauty and has frequently been named the best beach in the Caribbean.

Tourists also visit the islands of little Cayman and Cayman Brac, and all three are popular with scuba divers. There are also several locations where tourists can swim with stingrays, with the most popular being Stingray City in Grand Cayman. The Cayman Islands make an ideal destination year-round, as temperatures are comfortably in the late 20s. The driest months are January to April, while the wettest months tend to be in autumn.