When one thinks of the Cayman Islands and Grand Cayman, thoughts of offshore bank accounts and wild, James Bond boat chases come to mind. But that is not all the island has to offer! Grand Cayman is a beautiful, well-developed island with friendly locals and long, coral-sand beaches stretching as far as the eye can see. The most famous of these is Seven Mile Beach, a five-and-a-half mile stretch (go figure) of white sand bordered on the land side by tall Casuarina trees. Though most of the island’s hotels and resorts are located along this beach, it is carefully preserved and open to the public allowing you to walk the entire length if you like. George Town is the capital and major city, where nearly half of the island’s population resides. This is the home for the cruise ships who pull into port (or tender), the shopping districts, clubs and bars, and the National Museum.
Be sure to see the recommended tours by ShoreTrips after the article.
60-Second Geography Grand Cayman |
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Once you leave George Town, Grand Cayman’s natural wonders come alive. Head west to hike the Mastic Trail, a 200-year old footpath flanked by Cedar, Mahogany, and Black Mangrove trees, as well as the eponymous Mastic.
The West Bay section of the island features the famed turtle farm, where thousands of Green Sea Turtles are raised each year for both food and for release into the wild. This is also the home of the kitschy town of Hell — a bleak natural limestone formation with a nearby gift shop and (of course) a post office that sells postcards that can be sent home from—Hell. On the North Side resides the Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Park, a series of lush tropical gardens full of herbs and orchids, not to mention a fascinating butterfly garden and an iguana habitat. But, perhaps the most famous attraction in Grand Cayman is not on land at all. A few miles off shore in the North Sound, lies Stingray City, a series of shallow sandbars flush with friendly southern stingrays just begging for handouts from the tourists who flock to the site. |
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Explore Grand Cayman With ShoreTrips
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One thought on “Grand Cayman — By ShoreTrips”
Yes, stingrays and all other rays are beautiful creatures to watch in the water. They move with a lot of grace. I did the scuba dive down in Stingray City (Grand Cayman Island) and a big one accidentally bashed me in the face. Caught it all on video too (now posted on my blog).