All you need to know to plan the perfect wedding in the sand:
1. Get Help
The services of a wedding planner can be invaluable when it comes to your beach wedding. If you can, try to earmark part of your budget (about 10 percent of the total) for a planner. She can shoulder the burden of researching, auditioning, and securing local vendors — and this last tool is especially valuable if you require services specific to a destination wedding or an outdoor wedding, like tents, special food prep stations, or even portable toilets. A planner is also the behind-the-scene queen (or king) that can create gift bags for guests, greet everyone at the airport, keep people busy with fun activities, vet special requests (babysitters, dry cleaners, etc.), and get everyone where they need to be on time.
2. Schedule a Test Drive
Remember, unlike a wedding in a hotel ballroom or restaurant, guests are dependent on you once they reach the destination. Make sure you have adequate signage on the beach to direct guests to the ceremony spot and that the beach itself is navigable (no rickety boardwalks). If the beach has limited parking, consider providing a shuttle service from a central location.
3. Take a Trip
If you’ve decided to tackle planning on your own, be sure to scout out beaches after you’ve finalized your guest count. You’ll need to know if there’s a limit to how many people you can bring on the beach and how certain spots might affect your set-up. You’ll also want to decide whether you want to have your reception directly on the beach. If so, you’ll need to make catering arrangements and find a rental company that can provide you with all the necessary equipment.
4. Vendor Checkups
To be sure your vendors have sufficient experience with beach weddings, ask for a portfolio of pictures and at least three references. Be sure the references are people for whom the vendor did an event similar to yours — a recommendation from a couple that had 10 guests doesn’t help if you’re inviting 100. Also ask for the names of other vendors who worked those events and use them as further references regarding the company in question.
Clue guests in to your wedding’s sandy locale when you send your save-the-dates so they know to dress appropriately.
5. Be Gracious
A good way to make nice with the local vendors is to send handwritten thank-you notes when you book their services. (Remember that they can literally make or break your wedding, and a little goes a long way toward getting them on your side.) During the event itself, it’s wise to have plenty of small bills on hand for palm-greasing, especially for the delivery people who will be setting up your site to turn it into a wedding wonderland.
6. Forewarn Your Friends and Family
Clue guests in to your wedding’s sandy locale when you send your save-the-dates so they know to dress appropriately (no stilettos!).
7. Get a Grip
Don’t be upset if some of your closest friends or relatives don’t attend. Some, like your great Uncle Fred, may not be able to traverse a rocky beach or sit in the sun for an extended amount of time. And while your wedding is, in a sense, a mini-vacation for you, it may not be the one they want to take!
8. Mind Mother Nature
Don’t forget to consider the climate when choosing your dress. You’ll be swimming in sweat if you pair your fairy-tale satin ball gown with the beach’s intense rays. Go for lighter fabrics and silhouettes, and be sure to slather on the sunscreen or you’ll risk some serious burn.
9. Be a Zen Bride
Don’t keep a constant eye on the time. Remember that you can’t control the environment (really, you can’t) and you may need to wait for the tides to recede or for the beach to empty a bit before you can start the ceremony. Keep an open mind — and remember that minor mishaps can sometimes make for the best memories (really, they can).
10. Pack Right
Whatever you want to have with you for the ceremony (vase, candles, etc.), you have to lug along to the destination (or ship it there ahead of time). Once there, make sure you can actually cart everything onto the beach with ease.
11. Call on a Courier
Don’t forget to plan for potential wedding presents. If you’ve got a ton of wedding gifts to take home, bring an extra duffle bag to pack them in. Ask someone you trust to keep a close eye on them throughout the day, and keep track of how many you have. Figure this out before the wedding so you’ll have a plan of action if you need it.
12. Welcome Your Guests
Be sure to place an amenities basket at the entrance to your spot on the beach that is full of essentials for the day outdoors (suntan lotion, bug spray, etc.) and goodies that will remind them of the setting — embroidered beach blankets with your names and wedding date, shawls for the ladies, or pretty parasols in your wedding colors, for example.
Source: The Knot, by Meredith Gray
Grand Cayman’s treasure trove of diving spots was off the radar for early scuba enthusiasts until the first dive operation opened in 1957. Today this island, which measures 196 square kilometers in size, is now receiving boatloads of divers every single day. Today, Grand Cayman is a top destination for divers all over the world. If you’re looking for diverse dive sites and dive establishments, Grand Cayman is the way to go. Below is a list of Grand Cayman diving spots you shouldn’t miss.
Stingray City
Stingray City is a site that some tourists think twice about visiting. First, the tail of a stingray is thin and sharp; and second, its stinger stores venom. Still, most of those who hesitate to visit Stingray City end up going to the site and even plan on coming back because it’s such a fabulous experience. There’s nowhere else in the world where you can interact with stingrays but in Stingray City.
Honored as the “world’s best 12-foot dive,” Stingray City is located in the mouth of the North Sound between Rum Point and West Bay. You can contact any of the dozens and dozens of watersports operators who offer excursions both in its deep and shallow parts. You may also choose between half-day and full-day excursions. To see and feed stingrays, you can either scuba dive or snorkel. Bring a bucket of squid to let all the rays come near you. No need to fret because at Stingray City the rays are used to people. The water is clear and blue, and the guides are very encouraging and helpful.
How to Go: Because of Stingray City’s popularity, it is very easy to go to this dive site. There are numerous custom charters and group snorkel or dive tours to Stingray City. Inquire at your resort or at the nearest dive shop to arrange a tour to Stingray City.
Turtle Reef
If you are an amateur diver expecting the most diverse of marine life in the shallowest of waters, Turtle Reef is the place to visit. It is one of the best kept secrets of the Cayman Islands. You do not need to go too far to see golden sea fans, brain coral heads, sailfin blennys, scorpionfish, lettuce sea slugs, peacock flounders and octopuses all in one spot. With a mini-wall which you can reach in a five-minute swim from the shoreline and a few magnificent ledges and caves after an 18-meter wall drop, you will realize it doesn’t take professional skills to see so much of the underwater world.
How to Go: Turtle Reef is easy to find. Just go to West Bay and you will find Turtle Reef located next to the Tortuga Rum shop. It is right behind the Cracked Conch restaurant.
Bonnie’s Arch
A lot of tourists will tell you that diving in Bonnie’s Arch is the highlight of their diving escapades in the Cayman Islands. Diving Bonnie’s Arch is such an amazing experience that divers usually don’t have enough time to take pictures. The arch, the mini-wall and the cavern pointing towards the sandy valley are just some of the site’s features that will make you want to come back. With all the remora, sponges, corals, tangs, tarpon and turtles you will see 60 feet below, you will surely find this diving spot the best part of your vacation.
How to Go: Bonnie’s Arch is at West Bay, just off Northwest Point.
Babylon
Babylon is for all divers of all levels. Its sandy flats welcome amateur divers, while its stunning 40-foot wall lip invites intermediate divers to explore the area. The pinnacle is dotted with pink-tipped anemones, bull sharks, green turtles, eagle rays, sponges and corals which divers love to photograph. There’s also a passageway with black coral bushes, sponges and gorgonians everywhere, which challenge and entice divers to travel around Babylon.
How to Go: Proceed to Grand Cayman’s North Shore. Babylon is right across from the Queen’s Monument, east of Old Man Bay. If you are an expert diver, you can go to Babylon from the shore, but make sure that surface conditions are ideal before taking the plunge.
Doc Polson Wreck
If a tugboat 80 feet in length were intentionally sunk in the waters, you get a shipwreck as breathtaking as what you may have seen in pirate films and as fascinating as the Doc Polson Wreck. Diving the Doc Polson is safe because all its hatches were removed. You can safely tour the ship by swimming through the cargo holds or the wheelhouse. It’s quite an experience witnessing the deck, which features the controls, industrial equipment and winches of the tugboat. Night diving is best at the Doc Polson wreck because here you will see scary wiggly bloodworms attracted by the light.
How to Go: Doc Polson is located in West Bay.
Aside from these popular places, the Cayman Islands has more diving spots definitely worth checking out – Ghost Mountain, MV Captain Keith Tibbetts, Wilderness Wall, Tarpon Reef, Bloody Bay Wall, Jackson’s Point, Mixing Bowl and Randy’s Gazebo. Visit the Cayman Islands now to experience these amazing diving sites yourself!
To stand silently observing Little Cayman’s seemingly desolate Booby Pond is to feel transported to an almost primitive age. As the sun fades, leaving only stark silhouettes over the inky darkness of the water, one stands in wonder as the primal battle for life is played out in the skies overhead. The National Trust’s Booby Pond Nature Reserve is home to the largest breeding colony of Red-footed Boobies in the Western Hemisphere. These birds are Little Cayman’s original deep-sea fishermen. Like our ancestors who roamed the seas in schooners in quest of bounteous fishing grounds, Red-footed Boobies fly for, sometimes, days in search of food. However, at the end of a hard day’s toil, their troubles are far from being over. For as they draw near the waters of home, they know that they will inevitably face one final challenge from their archenemies, the Magnificent Frigate bird.
Whereas our Red-footed Boobies are thought to roam as far as the Southern coast of Cuba or even possibly the Western end of Jamaica in their daily quest for food, Frigate birds tend mainly to hang around close to shore. They are Little Cayman’s airborne pirates, relying on their superior agility and strength to hijack returning Boobies and steal their catches.
February is peak nesting time for Red-footed Boobies who nest amongst the branches of mangroves and forest trees in the nature reserve. With both parents alternating responsibility for incubating eggs and feeding the downy chicks upon hatching, this means that one adult will stay on the nest while the other leaves in search of food. Boobies have a storage area called a ‘crop’ in their gullets where they hold food that will later be regurgitated to feed their chicks and mate. Unfortunately, patrolling Frigate birds are all too aware of this fact and see this as the perfect ‘easy meal’. In one-on-one combat between a Booby and Frigate bird, the latter will always win. The only option for the Booby is to lighten its load by purging the contents of its crop, and to head back out to sea to find more food, leaving its mate stranded and its chicks hungry.
However, if Boobies are deficient in strength, they are superior in intellect; for Little Cayman’s deep-sea fishermen have devised an ingenious line of defense to confuse the Frigate birds based on the premise that there is safety in numbers. Their dawn exodus from the nesting site, as they embark upon their lengthy journeys, proves unproblematic as they are without a catch. It is the return journey where they will need to outwit their enemies. For energy efficiency, Red-footed Boobies can be seen flying low over the ocean. As they near home, they mill around offshore until they have formed a group – the larger the group, the less chance there is of becoming a victim. The Boobies begin to climb in a spiraling column, joined constantly by birds arriving from out at sea. This ascent will allow them ultimately to use gravity to give them optimum speed for their final descent into the nest. Gradually, they peel off in large groups from the top of the column, wings are streamlined and, torpedo-like, the Boobies begin their controlled free fall into the safety of their nesting grounds.
When one considers there are in the region of 20,000 Red-footed Boobies in Little Cayman, it is easy to understand the astonishing spectacle this battle for survival must make in the encroaching twilight hours. Their technique must work, as recent studies indicate that the Red-footed Booby population is healthy, with an increase from 3,155 to 4,839 nesting pairs over an eleven-year period from 1986 to 1997. That is not to say, however, that the future holds no concern for these wondrous birds. The threat of explosive development on Little Cayman over the past few years may soon put a severe strain on the island’s natural resources.
So, next time you are fortunate enough to be near Booby Pond Nature Reserve at sunset, spare a thought for the plight of the Red-footed Boobies as they prepare to battle their way home to their chicks.
Source: Cayman Islands National Trust
Among the three Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman is overwhelmingly the largest, the most visited, and offers the most variety of activities. Where the two smaller islands mainly cater to diving connoisseurs and nature enthusiasts, Grand Cayman welcomes a diverse crowd of people. The local absence of taxes and many of the controls other nations place on their banking systems makes Grand Cayman one of the world’s largest offshore financial centers, attracting an international set easily identified by their cell-phones and suits. But by far the larger group is the tourists: Club-goers, beach bums and diving devotees all call the island their paradise. You’ll find it easy to enter whichever atmosphere pleases you, whether it’s hectic tourist hotspots or remote island hideaways. Choose to spend all your time on the beach and in the nightlife, or use every day to explore one of over 250 diving sites in the island’s crystal-clear water.
George Town
Nearly everyone arriving, whether by plane at Owen Roberts International Airport or by cruise ship, will end up in the same locale: George Town. That name encompasses both a district, which includes the airport, and the actual capital city of the island. After checking into your accommodation, head to the city’s waterfront shopping area. All the shopping here is duty-free, so take a little time to check out stores like Caymania Duty Free and De Sunglass Man & De Watch Man. More importantly, though, you can nosh on one of the island’s famous rum cakes here, at Tortuga Duty-Free Liquors & Bakery.
Seven Mile Beach
Once you’ve taken the edge off your hunger, head northwards while staying on the waterfront. Soon you’ll hit the coral sands of Seven Mile Beach, often called the “Best Beach in the Caribbean.” This is where the majority of the island’s tourists end up, and you won’t be able to dispute their taste once you see the white sand and turquoise waters. Dining and nightlife can both be found along the beach, mostly attached to large resorts like the Westin Casuarina and the Hyatt Regency. Some of the better restaurants that aren’t part of a resort are the Copper Falls Steakhouse, the Reef Grill, and the whimsically named Chicken! Chicken! Caribbean Wood Roasted. Various nightclubs beckon during the evening hours, but one of the best places to kick back with a pint is the Lone Star Bar.
West End
There’s no need to walk all five and a half miles of the inaccurately-named beach right now, so once you’re tired of it, catch a taxi northward to Boatswain’s Beach and visit the Turtle Farm where, aside from some turtles ranging up to 600 pounds, you can also see crocodiles and native Cayman parrots. By crossing the isthmus, on the way avoiding the tourist-trap town of Hell (unless you really can’t resist sending a postcard “from Hell”), you can reach the world-famous Stingray City. This “city” is one of the island’s main draws and famous world-wide for the masses of tame stingrays who nuzzle up to divers and snorkelers in hopes of getting a bit of squid to eat. West Bay is also home to some of the best diving charters on the island, including the popular Quabo Dives.
Bodden Town
You’ve seen much of what the western side of the island has to offer, now. But, you may ask, what about the much larger eastern section? With nearly deserted beaches, parks and bays, Grand Cayman’s North Side and East End districts offer the island seclusion that many crave. Start heading that way, but don’t let yourself skip over the former capital, Bodden Town. Historic buildings and graves in this sleepy town hearken back to the days of pirates and slaves on the island. ”Pedro Castle,” a large, lovingly restored historic home used as an early meeting place for democrats, commemorates the birth of the Cayman’s modern government, and the subsequent change of the bad old times to the romantic past.
North End
Head straight north away from Bodden Town to reach Rum Point, which has all the beauty of Seven Mile Beach with only a fraction of the human traffic. If you prefer beaches that have relatively few people on them, but still have places like The Wreck Bar nearby to eat at, this is one spot at which you may find yourself spending a lot of time. If you should decide to move on, the next spot in your line of attack is the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, where you can see what Grand Cayman is like away from the beaches. Floral gardens, woodland walking trails and wildlife are all present in this beautiful park.
East End
You’ve made your way across most of the island now, with only the eastern-most beaches left. If all you wanted in the first place was peace and quiet, maybe the place to stay would be one like Morritt’s Grand Resort, where you can be pampered or just wander off for some intimate time with the sun and sea. Many people stay on the East End to dive, basing themselves at The Reef Resort or Compass Point Dive Resort. Be warned, there’s none of Grand Cayman’s vaunted duty-free stores here and even fairly few places to eat.
Around the Island
Speaking of diving, there’s an entire sea away from the shores to explore, with some of the world’s clearest water and best reefs, walls and wrecks waiting for you to discover them. Listing all of the excellent spots for diving or snorkeling around Grand Cayman would be a truly monumental task, but fortunately much of the island’s best diving can be identified by the side it’s on. The West Wall encompasses over 50 dive sites. The South Wall offers shallow diving in coral playgrounds – just be careful not to touch anything. The North Wall features spine-tingling drops that may induce panic, until you recall that you’re floating, not falling. Finally, the East End contains many of the island’s least-explored sites, a fact stemming more from its distance than relative interest to divers.
Whatever you’re looking for in a Caribbean island, Grand Cayman has it on offer. So grab your beach towel, or dive tank, or club outfit, or even your cell phone and suit, and get ready to relax in a special sort of paradise.
Source: Travel Channel
Cayman Brac has a series of caves that are open for exploring. Peter’s Cave, on the Lighthouse Trail in the East End, is mammoth, with tunnels leading off in several directions. Rebecca’s Cave lies off South Side Road, near the Carib Sands Beach Resort, and is well marked. It’s the best known of Brac’s caves, and takes its name from a young child who died here during the disastrous hurricane of 1932 that destroyed the island. Rebecca’s tomb can still be seen in the middle of the cave.
Bat Cave takes its name from its inhabitants, several species of which can be seen hanging from above if you shine your flashlight up to the roof. Most of the bats you’ll see here are Jamaican fruit bats. The bats emerge in the evening to fly about, usually after 9pm. Bat Cave is on the south side of the island and is marked by signs.
A final cave, Great Cave, stands a mile or so from the lighthouse that designates the easternmost point of the island, at the top of the Bluff. Filled with stalagmites and stalactites, it is one of the most interesting caves to explore, although a bit eerie. The terrain is dry and rocky, with plenty of sharp, loose rocks. Wear long pants and sturdy shoes, preferably with ankle supports, for scrabbling around underground.
Source: Frommer’s
Despite what you may hear, the Cayman Islands have more than banks and beaches. These Islands are a melting pot of culture and cuisine. They’re located northwest of Jamaica, southwest of Cuba, and east-northeast of Central America; with such a deliciously central location, they have a gorgeous medley of people, and the food that comes with ‘em!
It’s easy to get lost in the mixture of culture in the Caymans – it’s one of the world’s largest financial centres, and with so many different groups of people and their food, the authentic Cayman dishes are often pushed into the shadows. But, with a little digging, you can definitely find true Caymanian food.
Like in most of its surrounding countries, the Cayman diet is dependant on seafood. It’s what makes up the majority of dishes, as it is readily available and inexpensive. Tuna, mackerel, queenfish, red snapper, swordfish, eel, grouper, lobster, and mahi mahi are among the most common varieties of seafood; while chicken, salt beef, lamb, and pork are used sometimes – usually on special occasions. For traditional dishes, look to turtle and conch: soups, stews, steaks, fritters – you name it. In fact, green sea turtle is the national dish.
Meals typically consist of a “meat kind” (seafood, turtle, poultry, or red meat) and a “bread kind” (breadfruit (pictured above), rice and peas, rice and beans, squash, potato, or cassava). Caymanian dishes are very flavourful and heavily seasoned with coconut, hot peppers, garlic, onions, scallions, cilantro, cumin, oregano, culantro, salt, and pepper. Jamaica has had a very large influence, culinary-wise, on the Cayman Islands, so Jamaican jerk, curry, and other seasonings are used often.
Popular Caymanian dishes include: marinated conch, fish ‘n fritters, conch chowder, rundown (Caymanian stew), ackee and saltfish, rum cake, and heavy cake (a heavy, sweet pudding).
Source: Wanderlust and Lipstick
Residents of the Cayman Islands keep active! Some of the most popular competition sports are soccer, cricket, basketball, sailing, rugby, tennis, floor hockey and squash. With an 18-hole championship and an executive course at their disposal, residents also enjoy a round of golf.
A number of sporting organizations, including the Cayman Rugby Football Union, the Cayman Islands Football Association, the Cayman Islands Tennis Club, the Cayman Islands Squash/Racquets Association and the Cayman Islands Sailing Club are all open to all.
There are several sporting complexes that host a number of events; Truman Bodden Sports Complex, Ed Bush Sports Complex, Kings Sports Complex and the Lions Centre.
Throughout the year, several fun and competitive sporting events are held including walk/runs, the annual Pirates Week Triathlon and the Flowers sea swim which is held in July each year and attracts over 500 local and international participants.
The water and beaches provide unparalleled opportunities for all water sports especially diving, snorkeling, swimming, sailing and fishing. Dive certification courses are available all year round. Half and full day game fishing charters are also readily available.
Source: pwc.com
The island country consists of Grand Cayman, which is the largest and most populous of the trio. The Sister Islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which lie approximately 89 miles east-northeast of Grand Cayman and are separated from each other by a channel about seven miles wide.
The Cayman Islands lie 480 miles south of Miami, nestled in the turquoise waters of the western Caribbean. The three gentle islands are located just 149 miles south of their closest Caribbean neighbor Cuba, and 167 miles northwest of Jamaica. Remote, yet not removed, it’s no wonder Cayman has been meeting the demands of vacationers for over 400 years.
The total land mass of the three islands is 100 square miles. Grand Cayman occupies 76 square miles; Cayman Brac, 14 square miles and Little Cayman, 10 square miles. Grand Cayman is approximately 22 miles long and 8 miles at its widest point, reaching a maximum elevation of 79.77 feet in North Side.
Cayman Brac is 14 miles long and 2 miles wide and has the most dramatic topography of the trio. Its majestic Bluff rises west to east along the length of the island to 151.75 above Spot Bay. Many mysterious caves are carved throughout this awe-inspiring natural attraction.
Little Cayman, only 10 miles long and a mile wide, is flat, reaching a maximum elevation of 55.75 ft. Its famous Bloody Bay wall Marine Park has been called one of the world’s best dive sites. Inland, the 203 – acre Booby Pond Nature Reserve is a RAMSAR site and nesting ground for the Caribbean’s largest population of Red Footed Boobies.
The three islands are limestone outcroppings, the tops of a submarine mountain range called the Cayman Ridge, which extends west southwest for the Sierra Maestra range off the southeast part of Cuba to the Misteriosa Bank near Belize. The islands lack rivers or streams because of the porous nature of the limestone rock. It is this lack of runoff which gives the surrounding Caribbean Sea exceptional visibility, often well over 120 ft.
Between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica lies the deepest part of the Caribbean, the Cayman Trough, which is over four miles deep. South of Cayman is the Bartlett Deep where depths of over 18,000 ft. have been recorded. All three islands are surrounded by healthy coral reefs which lie at the top of dramatic walls and drop-offs close to shore, creating ideal conditions for diving and sportfishing.
One of the most spectacular island groups in the entire Caribbean region are the Cayman Islands, a cluster of three sun swept islands situated northwest of Jamaica and due south of Cuba. Under the long term, but hands off political control of the British, the Cayman Islands successfully mixes Caribbean flair with English distinction to create a community that far outstrips its neighbors in wealth, pleasure, and prestige. Small wonder why this enchanted British territory is one of the most popular wedding destinations for couples from North America as well from the United Kingdom. You can plan to have your wedding event in the Cayman Islands too; please read on how you can make your paradise dreams become a reality.
Imagine that you and your espoused are getting married in a tropical paradise with all of your invited guests in attendance. Imagine that you have the choice of marrying on sandy white beaches, on the exquisitely manicured lawn of a private country club, or inside of a stately church or charming chapel. Yes, the Cayman Islands have it all and your choices in venue are only limited by your imagination.
What makes this island destination an exceedingly popular wedding venue is that it has so much to offer to everyone. Your guests will be happy to spend their time in the Cayman Islands where scuba diving is unmatched, enjoy a stroll along the famed Seven Mile Beach, take in a round of golf, involve yourself in shopping, or even do a little bit of business as The Cayman Islands is an important international finance center. No matter, your guests will be happy to wrap your wedding event around everything else they can during their stay at this island paradise.
Many couples choose to wed during the winter months as temperatures are typically in the mid seventies with no threat of hurricanes possible. Yes, the island cluster was hammered by Hurricane Ivan during 2004, but a concerted effort on the part of the government, businesses, and its citizens has meant a spectacular and rapid recovery. Naturally, if you are planning a wedding during the July to November timeframe, you will want to take note of this possibility.
Important events held in the Cayman Islands include Pirates Week which is actually a ten day festival closing out the month of October. A parade through George Town, the capital, along with street dances, music, food festivals, and sporting events help to make Pirates Week one of the most popular times for tourists to visit The Cayman Islands, therefore booking your wedding event well in advance of the festival will ensure that you are not disappointed.
In early May the Batabano Carnival is held, an event featuring hundreds of parading masked participants dressed in colorful regalia rivaling anything you have seen in Rio or in New Orleans for that matter. Batabano is also a popular time to hold a Cayman Island wedding with couples arranging their weddings to occur as close to the event as possible.
Source: Articles 20VN, by Micael Brito
If you’re looking to escape somewhere off the beaten track then look no further than Rum Point; Grand Cayman’s very own slice of paradise. Located on the North side of the island its natural beauty, white sandy beaches and azure waters are a popular hang-out for locals looking to unwind. For travellers it’s a relatively untouched delight that always offers a hammock to relax in, great food, a welcoming atmosphere and, for the more active, a wide choice of water sports.
This beautiful public beach is a 40 minute car drive from George Town or you can take a bus from the nearest bus-stop located in North Side. Although many visitors opt to take a private boat across to Rum Point so they can marvel at the sights of the approaching coastline. Once at the beach there are plenty of free benches, hammocks and sun loungers to commandeer for a day of ultimate relaxation. For those that prefer a quiet spot out of the sun’s glare there are shaded areas under the island`s swaying Casuarina trees. Toilets are also provided free of charge so there are plenty of amenities for all the family.
Once you’ve had your fill of the sun, take a dip in the warm, shallow sea where you can walk out quite a way before it gets too deep. The clear waters make it an ideal snorkelling and diving spot for lovers of marine life. For other activities Red Sail Sports run a Water Sports Centre at Rum Point that caters for all the excitement you could need. You can hire Jet Skis, paddle boats, wave runners and take water skiing lessons. There is also a glass bottom boat that takes regular excursions out to spot the huge sting rays living nearby.
Legend has it that Rum Point earned its name from the barrels of rum that would wash up on the shore when rum smuggling schooners ran into trouble at sea. Nowadays the rum still flows freely in the fabulous eateries such as the Wreck Bar. The reasonably priced menu offers a range of lunch dishes, such as the Blackened Mahi Mahi and is renowned for its Frozen Mudslide cocktails. If you fancy a more sophisticated lunch, the Rum Point Club offers a classy dining experience in Grand Cayman’s only show kitchen while looking out over views of the ocean. The restaurant is decorated with local art and has a mouth watering selection of sea food caught by local fisherman daily.
There are plenty of places to picnic if you choose to stick to the beach for lunch although signs announce that it is prohibited to consume your own food on the island. However the cafe and gift shops provide a range of food, souvenirs and essentials such as sunscreen so you have everything you need for a fun day at Rum Point.
If you feel that just one day at Rum Point is just not enough why not search through last minute holidays and organise a longer stay. There are a plethora of stunning vacation villas, B&Bs and holiday rentals such as Barefoot Lagoon in Cayman Kai set just 150 metres from Rum Point beach. It’s an ideal chance to prolong your stay at this secluded island hideaway and find out why Rum Point is one of the most precious jewels in Grand Cayman’s crown.
Source: Ecay Online