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Cayman Islands
Home » The Caribbean » The Caribbean » Cayman IslandsThe Cayman Islands are made up of three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. They are located in the Western Caribbean and are a British Crown Colony. The islands lie 150 miles south of Cuba and 180 miles northwest of Jamaica. The combined land area of the three islands is 100 square miles. Grand Cayman is the largest and most developed island and is separated from its two sister islands by 89 miles of water. The sister islands are separated by a seven-mile-wide channel.
One of the most famous tourist attractions on Grand Cayman is the Cayman Turtle Farm in West Bay; the farm is the only one of its kind in the world. Over 16,000 sea turtles, ranging from six ounces to 600 pounds each, make this their home. The Cayman Turtle Farm is a reminder of the history of the islands, since Christopher Columbus first named the islands “Las Tortugas” in 1503, meaning The Turtles. Legend says that at that time there were so many turtles, the islands looked like they were covered with rocks!
Diving is the main attraction on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, but there are many places to visit on land, as well. Don’t miss the historical museums, dramatic caves, nature trails, or the 180-acre Parrot Reserve on Cayman Brac! Little Cayman features even more exotic birds, and it also houses the Little Cayman Rock Iguana population, with an estimated 2,000 iguanas.
Gorgeous surf, relentless sun, exotic wildlife, and spectacular diving experiences will make the Cayman Islands a vacation destination you’ll not soon forget!
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