Grand Cayman is world-renowned for two offshore activities: banking and scuba diving. The former pays dividends in the manicured capital of George Town, which bulges with some 554 banks. The latter offers its rewards in translucent waters that are full of colorful and varied life -- much of it protected by a marine parks system. Although about a third of Grand Cayman's visitors come for the diving, a growing number are young honeymooners. The island offers many additional pleasures, from shopping for jewelry to fine dining to simply strolling hand-in-hand on a powder-soft beach.
On Grand Cayman, the historic capital of George Town, at one end of Seven Mile Beach, is easy to explore on foot. If you're a shopper, you can spend days here; otherwise, you can tour downtown in an hour. To see the rest of the island, rent a car or scooter or take a guided tour. The portion of the island called West Bay is noted for its jumble of affluent colonial neighborhoods and rather tawdry tourist attractions.
A drive along West Bay Road will take you past the dense Seven Mile Beach area and into a less congested scene. It's about a half hour to West Bay from George Town. The less developed East End has natural attractions, from blowholes to botanical gardens, as well as the remains of the original settlements. Plan on at least 45 minutes for the drive out from George Town. You need a day to circle and explore the entire island -- including a stop at a beach for a picnic or swim.
Brac, the Gaelic word for "bluff," aptly identifies this island's most distinctive feature, a rugged limestone cliff that runs down the center of the 12-mi (19-km) island and soars to 140 ft at its eastern end. Lying 89 mi (143 km) northeast of Grand Cayman, Brac is accessible via Cayman Airways and Island Air. Only 1,200 people live on the island, in communities such as Watering Place and Spot Bay.
Only 7 mi (11 km) from Cayman Brac, Little Cayman has a population of about 100 on its 12 square mi (31 square km). This is a true hideaway, with few people and spectacular diving, great fishing, fantastic bird-watching, and placid beaches.
