"Imagine floating in gin-clear water as an undulating, gray stingray sidles up beside you, begging to be fed."
Stingray City is one of the most famous attractions in the Cayman Islands, and rightly so. Swimming with these wild but remarkably gentle creatures of the deep is an experience you’ll never forget. For years, fishermen who tossed scraps from boats off Grand Cayman’s North Sound noted that dozens of Atlantic southern stingrays were flocking to feed. Oddly, the creatures seemed to have no fear of humans. In fact, dive masters reported that the mysterious rays seemed to prefer the company of two-legged swimmers. A stingray encounter is typical of the one-of-a-kind adventures you’ll have on a vacation in the Caymans. These islands in the western Caribbean are unlike any others, and they offer visitors a variety of unique attractions. Besides communing with rays, you can spy on wild iguanas, spelunk in caves and have your picture taken with a green sea turtle.
Turtles, in fact, were on hand to greet Columbus, after a freak wind blew him off course, landing him in the Caymans in 1503. The waters surrounding the islands were so dense with turtles that he named the chain Las Tortugas. The name later evolved into Lagartos (alligator or large lizard). And eventually the islands came to be called Caymanas, from a Carib word for “marine crocodile.” In succeeding decades, the islands were a favorite hangout of pirates and renegades. Then, in the 17th century, deserters from Oliver Cromwell’s army in Jamaica, arrived in the islands and began building homes and towns.
Once among the Caribbean’s poorest destinations, the Cayman Islands thrives now, thanks to the proliferation of the offshore banking industry. The British Crown Colony--which includes Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman--welcomes corporate travelers from around the world. But the islands offer abundant rewards for leisure travelers, too. Boasting fine hotels, chic shopping and some of the best diving in the world, the Caymans features something for everyone. Learn more about the islands’ fascinating history by visiting the National Museum in Grand Cayman’s George Town, a duty-free port chock full of bargains on fine china, Waterford crystal. British woolens and local black coral jewelry, some of the finest in the world.
But don’t just hang out in George Town. Why not go to Hell? This charming village was so called by early settlers because eerie rock formations brought to mind images of the fiery underworld. Grand Cayman’s most spectacular attraction, however, is its famous Seven Mile Beach. In the crystal waters that surround it, recreational diving got its start in the Caribbean more than 40 years ago. Close to shore are beautiful reefs with dramatic marine life. Farther out, you’ll find stunning caves and colorful coral formations teeming with fish. The chain, in fact, is a deep-sea fishing capital, where anglers can reel in white marlin, yellowfin tuna and wahoo.
Little Cayman and Cayman Brac offer great options for day trips. Although it's only 10 square miles, Little Cayman is a haven for nature lovers. A turtling station in the mid-1600s, the island today boasts the largest colony of red-footed boobies in the Caribbean. And it offers some of the best bone fishing in the world. Nature is near perfect, too, on Cayman Brac, where the majesty of the local wildlife is surpassed only by the beauty of the waters that embrace the island. The larger of the sister islands is a 12-mile stretch of low-lying land, which climbs to an incredible 140-foot bluff.