About The Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a three-island archipelago in the heart of the Caribbean Sea, consisting of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
The islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503 when he arrived at Cayman Brac but remained uninhabited for a number of years until they were colonised by shipwrecked British sailors.
The island economy was heavily based on fishing and turtling (an abundant resource on the islands for many years) and it wasn't until the latter part of the 20th century that the islands established themselves as a destination for both tourism and offshore finance.
Their location 200 miles south of Cuba and just a one-hour plane flight from Miami makes them easily accessible whilst a number of major airlines such as British Airways, American Airways and Air Canada offer direct flights to Grand Cayman's Owen Roberts airport.
Most of the country's tourism and finance is based on Grand Cayman, but Cayman Brac and Little Cayman have their own attractions:
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is home to some of the world's largest and most influential legal and accounting firms, mainly centred around the capital of George Town.
George Town also welcomes thousands of cruise ship passengers every day, giving a big lift to the island's tourism industry. Tourists are drawn to see some of the island's major attractions such as Seven Mile Beach and the Turtle Farm. The coral reef also offers exceptional diving.
Cayman Brac
The Brac takes its name from the huge limestone bluff (or brac) which rises gently from seas-level to 150ft across the island and is the only high ground on any of the three islands. The Brac has a population of around 2,000, with many visitors arriving to try out the islands world-class scuba diving.
Little Cayman
The smallest of the Cayman Islands, Little Cayman offers the best of both worlds with wonderful pristine sandy beaches and excellent diving including the famous Bloody Bay Wall. With a permanent population of just 200, visitors are guaranteed a quiet visit and many choose the island as a weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of Grand Cayman.
