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If you are considering a Caribbean vacation this year, consider the Cayman Islands! Not only will you find great weather as they average 250 sunny days per year, you will also discover with little effort a rich and deep culture steeped in tradition.
Expect to engage the whole family during your stay. You will surely find discovery and adventure whether you are learning about the geography and the wildlife through tours to the Queen Elizabeth Botanic Gardens, to Stingray City, the Turtle Farm or by asking questions about the Caymanite necklace in a local shop, by stopping to admire the picture perfect charm of a Caymanian home or by when visiting any of the many great restaurants, museums, or partaking of water sports. Whether you need a calm relaxing break or want to be adventurous, Grand Cayman, the biggest island of three islands, has it all!
The Cayman Islands Name
It is believed that The Cayman Islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503.
He called the three islands ‘Las Tortugas,’ after the large number of turtles he saw there.
Due to shipwrecked sailors, army deserters, or visiting pirates, the turtles almost became extinct. Thankfully, they are now replenished.
Slowly, the name changed to ‘Lagartos,’ after the large lizards that were there. As more people started to settle there, the people started to call the islands after the caimans, which are large alligators.
Cayman Islands History
Now a British overseas territory, it is believed to have been discovered by Christopher Columbus on his final journey back to the New World. He was returning to what is now The Dominican Republic and Haiti.
His ship was sent off course in harsh weather and he ended up in The Cayman Islands. This was in 1503, but the islands would not be colonized until 1655 by Europeans until after the British conquest of Jamaica.
By all accounts, life was very difficult for the early settlers. The first people to settle there were pirates, war deserters, and others looking for an escape from Jamaica and areas of Europe.
The people of The Cayman Islands remained mostly isolated and self-governed. Without much to do for income, many Caymanians joined the British Merchant Navy.
Their excellent sailing skills led to employment with international shipping companies. This helped to bring more money and interest to the islands.
Caymankind
While the Cayman Islands are made up of many different cultures, its stronger influences are from the Afro-Caribbean. There is a vibe and an atmosphere on the Cayman Islands you simply won’t find anywhere else.
The term ‘Caymankind’ was developed as a great way to promote tourism in the Cayman Islands and refers to a unique local ethos, a community spirit guided by kindness and charity,
common in yesteryear when neighbors checked in on each other, shared resources and helped keep an eye on the kids. Caymankind is extended to visitors through warm hospitality and the sincere desire to share all the flavours, sounds, sights, places and experiences that we enjoy and treasure in the Cayman Islands. It naturally extends to helping and protecting each other.
You can find out exactly what it means when you book your Grand Cayman vacation rental. Everything you need is nearby. Caymankind is a welcoming warmth you will never forget.
The Cayman Environment
Geographically, the Cayman Islands are part of the Cayman Ridge, an undersea mountain range which extends westward from Cuba all the way to the Gulf of Honduras. The Cayman Trench, the deepest part of the Caribbean at a depth of over four miles, separates the three small islands from Jamaica.
The islands are also located on the plate boundary between the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates. The tectonic plates in Cayman’s region are in continuous lateral movement against each other. This movement, with the Caribbean plate travelling in an eastward direction and the North American plate moving west, limits the size of earthquakes. It is not unusual for minor tremors to be recorded. Many residents don’t even notice them. A 7.7 earthquake rocked the Cayman Islands in January 2020. The event was strongly felt but cross-departmental efforts found limited damage.
The National Trust for the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands are beautiful, and the National Trust plans to keep them that way.
The National Trust for the Cayman Islands was established in 1987 with the purpose to preserve natural environments and places of historic significance for present and future generations of the Cayman Islands.
There are several programs in place, each designed to protect and preserve a specific area of the island’s environment. One focuses on plants, while another looks at the insects that live here.
There is a visiting scientists’ program that invites scholars from universities, museums, and other areas to share their knowledge. This ensures that local environmentalists have a wide range of information and the tools to keep doing great work.
The Trust offers tours to discover the Mastic Trail, the Blue Iguana Conservation, to the Mission House and more.
Some of the Historic Sites protected by the National Trust include:
• Dr. Roy’s Ironshore, George Town
• East End Lighthouse Park, East End
• Eldemire House, Cayman Brac
• Fort George, George Town
• Guard House Park, Bodden Town
• Heritage Beach, East End
• Mission House, Bodden Town
• Miss Izzy’s School House, West Bay
• Nurse Leila’s House, West Bay
• Old Savannah Schoolhouse, Savannah
• Watler’s Cemetery, Old Prospect Road, George Town
CCMI
Central Caribbean Marine Institute
The Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) maintains a growing marine research and education facility with a resident team of staff based in Little Cayman in the Cayman Islands. CCMI is dedicated to a world with vibrant oceans and healthy coral reefs and through cutting edge, impactful research, conservation and education initiatives they serve to bridge the gap between knowledge and action to sustain marine diversity for future generations.
Weekly tours are conducted on Friday at 3:00pm at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute for guests on Little Cayman. Visitors are able to see the research facilities firsthand and get an inside look into our current research programmes. Visitors to Little Cayman interested in a tour of the station should inquire at the reception desk of their hotel or call CCMI on: 1 345 948 1094 or email info@reefresearch.org.
Plan Your Visit to Grand Cayman
Contact us today to learn more about our Grand Cayman condos and to book your trip!
Pedro St. James
No post on the history of the Cayman Islands would be complete without mention of Pedro St.James, a national historic site located on seven beautifully landscaped acres by the sea.
Discover the unique heritage and culture of Cayman via this lovingly restored window into the 18th century that’s only a 20-minute drive from George Town.
At a time in the Cayman Islands when most people lived in tiny, thatch-covered houses, a wealthy Englishman, using slave labour from Jamaica, created an astonishing 3-storey building called Pedro St. James. Towering three stories and sporting stone walls 18 inches thick, the Great House at Pedro Point dwarfed the surrounding single-level “wattle-and-daub” dwellings that were its neighbors in 1780. Its massive size was accentuated by sweeping verandahs, large shuttered windows, and slate imported from England to fashion the roof and floors.
The elaborate construction made this Great House the Caymanian equivalent of a European castle, and the term Pedro “Castle” is used by local residents to this day.
In the 1990s, the Government of the Cayman Islands purchased Pedro St. James and painstakingly restored the Great House to the splendor of its 18th century heritage. Today, visitors can stroll through the imposing edifice with its period furniture and authentic artifacts to experience what life was like so long ago in Cayman’s history.
To learn more about Pedro St.James visit: https://pedrostjames.ky/frequently-asked-questions/?doing_wp_cron=1670194789.0851819515228271484375
There are special annual cultural events throughout the year. These events are often the reason guests book their condo a year and sometimes two years in advance. They have become the central theme in a family’s visit and part of their memories. Pirates Week, The Agriculture Show, Batabano Carnival, Taste of Cayman, the Cayman Cookout and Gimistory are but a few of the special events to celebrate year after year. Book your tickets, your flights and your Grand Cayman condo at The Grandview today!!
Gimistory – International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling is as old as mankind and is considered to be one of the most ancient arts. Storytelling celebrates the art of communication, of talking and listening, and of conveying information, whether lighthearted or profound. In Gimistory, professional storytellers come from all over the world telling stories that illuminate their heritage, stories that explore myths and legends, stories that provide laughter, drama and wonderment. Their stories engage audiences and stimulate the imagination
The Grandview Condos Vacation Rentals
Contact us today and book your vacation rental for the Cayman Islands. Choose from beachfront properties with two or three bedrooms and all the comforts of home.
We provide beautiful rentals in the perfect location, within walking distance to shops, services, supermarkets and restaurants yet far enough away from the hustle and bustle to ensure your privacy, safety, spectacular ocean views and the postcard perfect vacation you’ve always dreamed of.
Private and secure, you will enjoy our spectacular swimming pool and hot tub, the onsite BBQs, ample beach and pool lounge chairs and gazebo for friends and family to gather. Book your Grand Cayman condo now for the upcoming season. Just let us know what you need, and we will take care of everything else.
