AMAZING BEACHES & AWESOME SUNSETS

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean?

Well from now on it’s going to be the “Cayman Islands” for me. The movies were based off the Cayman Islands’ history of Tortuga.   I didn’t see any pirates running on the beach, but I did see the most amazingly clear beaches, awesome sunrises and sunsets.

 

MY EXPERIENCES

This was my second time visiting the main Cayman Island, the first time by cruise ship, this time by flying in.  I really enjoyed both visits, but I had totally different experiences.

My first visit by cruise ship unloaded us into the Georgetown area of the island.  This is the area you will find a lot of cruisers who are in for the day sightseeing, shopping, and trying to find some local food. You can also find a lot of tour opportunities that will give you a chance to see other parts of the island.

The second visit we stayed in the Seven Mile Beach area.  This was one of the most amazing beaches I have ever visited.  The water was cool, crystal clear, and very little waves. The water was so clear you could see the fish all around.

We experienced two lodging experiences while on this visit, The Westin and Comfort Suites.  My overall opinion is that with this gorgeous beach weather you are going super luxury or not, it is a great experience.

 

FOOD

Overall the food is great. The only food I didn’t care for was a fish taco I got from a beach bar grille.  However, to be fair, I enjoyed the best French bread pepperoni pizza from the same grille. It had ¼ inch thick slices of tomatoes and just enough cheese to make you go yummumm!!

My favorite dishes/drinks:

  • Ferdinan’s – Short Rib Poutine
  • The Lobster Pot –  Coconut Crème Pie
  • Stinger’s Beach Grille – Rum Punch

 

UNIQUE EXPERIENCE(S)

While on my tour from the cruise ship we stopped at a post office in a small area called HELL.  So we got our passports stamped I went to Hell and back!  Also, on the same tour they took us to a public beach with plenty of locals and there was a guy cooking BBQ, jerk pork and chicken, rice and beans and more.  We grabbed some for lunch, and I tell you that was the best surprise on that trip.

This trip I’m gonna say my unique experiences:

  • Catching the Public Bus around the island
  • The large amount of wild hens and roosters roaming the street. They reminded me of Pigeons you see in large cities.

 

BEST DEAL

  • Use the public bus services ($2 each) way
Beach at Cayman Islands
Sunset at Cayman Islands

OTHER INTERESTING ISLAND INFO

  1. The population is around 55,000 and half of these people are of Caymanian descent which not only preserved the rich island culture but also provides for an authentic Grand Cayman experience.
  2. The Banana Orchid is the national flower. The species is unique to and present on all three of the Cayman Islands: Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.
  3. Christopher Columbus who sighted the Cayman Islands named them “Las Tortugas” after the many sea turtles he saw swimming there. This ties in to the fact that the mythical Tortuga, featured in the popular Pirates of the Caribbean movies, is based on the Cayman Islands.
  4. The Cayman Islands were the birthplace of Scuba Diving and the popular pastime was introduced in 1957. The island is home to dive sites for people of all skill levels including both shallow options (like Stingray City) and deep dives (such as Babylon).
  5. Don’t tell anyone but the Seven Mile Beach is actually 5.5 miles long! It is the most popular beach on the island and, believe it or not, the average winter temperature of the water is around 80°F (27°C).
  6. Grand Cayman plans to have 365 dive sites one day—one for each day of the year! This is the go-to place for all of your diving needs as Grand Cayman is on the list of Top Five Best Caribbean Shore Diving Destinations.
  7. One of their most widely celebrated events on the island is Pirates’ Week which is celebrated this year from November 12-22. There are parades, fishing tournaments and even a mock “pirate invasion” from the sea – so be sure to plan accordingly if you want to partake!
  8. With the proximity to the water, seafood is one of the most predominant cuisines in Grand Cayman. Island chefs also embraced Caribbean influences and use processes such as “jerking” which involves slow-smoking with a spice blend.
  9. If you rent a car don’t forget that driving occurs on the left side of the street. Grand Cayman is one of the few places in the world that does so along with the United Kingdom, Malta, India and select other commonwealth countries.
  10. The total size of the three islands that comprise Grand Cayman is 100 square miles, which is about 1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

           By Ian Centrone| March 9th, 2017

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