The Cayman Islands has its very own traditional crafts which make great keepsakes with their unique materials and designs. These include thatch items such as sunhats and bags, which have been adapted from old-time techniques. In days gone by, out of necessity, islanders used the leaves of the silver thatch palm tree to create essential…
Shipbuilders in Gloucester, UK, are working daily to restore the Cayman schooner Fair Weather. Paul Deegan tracked down the ship earlier this year, and it was then transported to the UK from Spain for refitting and repairs. Deegan aims to bring the ship – likely the last Caymanian-built wooden schooner fit for sailing – back…
TURTLES WERE FOUND IN ABUNDANCE around all three islands in days gone by. They became a major source of food and income for the islanders from the early times of settlement. They were fished in small vessels called catboats, placed in a pen known as a kraal, and traded. As numbers of turtles dwindled around…
Cayman’s national symbols convey the varied environment and wildlife of the islands. Cayman parrot The Grand Cayman parrot is iridescent green with a white eye-ring, red cheeks, black ear patches and brilliant blue wing feathers. Silver thatch palm The tall, slender silver thatch palm was an important national resource for early settlers who used the…
Traditional Caymanian homes such as these beautiful cottages are dotted around the islands. Increasingly rare, they provide a peek into how Caymanians lived in years-gone-by.
For a great family day out visit Cayman Turtle Centre, where you can see, swim with, and feed sea turtles. Located in West Bay, the conservation and education facility gives you the opportunity to interact with these fascinating creatures of the deep. Turtles are much-loved as a cultural symbol and are celebrated as an emblem…
Set in 65 acres in North Side. the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is one of Grand Cayman’s top attractions. The magnificent grounds showcase the natural beauty, culture and history of the islands. There are seven main attractions at the park: The Visitor’s Centre, the Floral Garden, Orchid Boardwalk, Xerophytic Garden, Heritage Garden, Woodland Trail…
The National Museum of the Cayman Islands is a must-stop on a trip to the Cayman Islands. It’s also a great place for residents to refresh their memories about the history and culture of the Cayman Islands. It is one of the nation’s most important cultural attractions. Not only does it house the islands’ national…
The history of the financial services sector in the Cayman Islands is a tale of rapid growth. The foundation was laid in the mid-1960s when legislation was passed to take advantage of the country’s status as a tax-free jurisdiction, ushering in the start of the Cayman Islands’ ascent into the financial services world. In the…
Peek into Cayman’s past with a visit to the heritage sites that are dotted around-island, working your way from East End to West Bay. Here are a few examples: Pedro St. James This is an 18th century Caribbean great house, hailed as the birthplace of democracy in the Cayman Islands. Leaders of the day met…
Items made from the fronds of the silver thatch palm play an important role in Cayman’s culture and history. In days gone by, ropes were made from the palm, which was a major industry for the islands. It was also used to thatch the roofs on wattle-and-daub houses, and for household essentials such as brooms,…
LONG BEFORE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND TOURISM became its main economic engines, the Cayman Islands was an isolated seafaring community which gained the moniker “the islands that time forgot”. In the early days, Caymanians relied on fishing and farming – living off the land and sea. Many men went to sea to earn a living, often…
THE CAYMAN ISLANDS WAS FIRST SPOTTED BY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS in 1503, who named them “Las Tortugas” – Spanish for turtles, which were found in abundance in the surrounding seas. In 1670, the islands were acquired by the British from Spain. The Treaty of Madrid decreed the islands a British possession and a dependency…
Grand Cayman’s blue iguanas are one of the most unique and fascinating creatures to be found in the Cayman Islands. These rare local lizards with blue-hue pigmentation are an indigenous species – found nowhere else in the world but Grand Cayman. Once facing extinction, the Blue Iguana Conservation Programme at Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park…