First there were the turtles, then came Christopher Columbus. He discovered the Cayman Islands by accident on his final voyage when his ships were blown off course in a storm. From buccaneers plundering Spanish galleons to an enviably high standard of living, tax-free status, and hundreds of offshore banks and financial institutions per square mile, the Cayman Islands remain a trio of lively, unspoiled islands basking peacefully in the Caribbean sun. Miles from their nearest neighbors, Jamaica and Cuba, these three small specks in the vast ocean are known for some of the best scuba diving in the world. The largest of the three at 22 miles long, Grand Cayman's capitol George Town boasts a bustling harbor and financial district.
Shopping here ranges from duty-free merchandise of all types to wonderful local crafts.
The island's turtle farm is the only one in the world raising hatchlings and re-populating the Caribbean Sea. Seven-mile beach begins just north of George Town and is home to the many luxury resorts and water sports facilities on the island. It is hard to imagine a beach so long, so white, and so soft underfoot. Fringed by tall pines and palm trees, its sheer beauty beckons one and all to its sun-baked sand and warm sea. Cruise ships stop at George Town on their way between Miami, Jamaica, and Central America.