Yello’s Bite-sized Guide to the Caribbean: The Cayman Islands
by Karen Rollins Dec 6, 2021
Yello knows
the Caribbean! We are based in 20 countries across the region, and each one of
them is quintessentially Caribbean while also offering visitors a one-of-a-kind
cultural experience.
Our British,
French and Dutch colonial past can be seen in our food, art, fashion, music,
and languages. Yet as a region, we are also slowly developing our own unique
Caribbean identity based on our distinct geography, values, and experiences.
It’s time to
appreciate our shared Caribbean culture and learn more about the islands in our
region – let’s visit the Cayman Islands.
Constitution
Day: First Monday in
July.
Capital: George Town (Grand Cayman).
Background:
The Cayman Islands consists
of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. Grand Cayman is the largest and most populous island.
It is about 22 miles long and eight miles across at its widest.
The first
recorded sighting of the Cayman Islands was by explorer Christopher Columbus on
10 May 1503. The islands were uninhabited except for wildlife, including
iguanas, alligators (caimánes in Spanish), and turtles.
The first
settlers arrived in the 1730s after the territory was decreed a dependency of
Jamaica in the Treaty of Madrid (1670) between Great Britain and Spain. The
earliest settlers were reportedly deserters from Oliver Cromwell’s army in
Jamaica, along with British mariners and shipwrecked passengers.
A census in
1802 recorded the population of Grand Cayman at just 933. Around half were of
British descent, and the rest were descended from enslaved Africans.
Getting
around: One of the
best ways to move around all the Cayman Islands is by car. Hiring a car is easy
with rental companies situated close to Owen Roberts International Airport on
Grand Cayman. Hiring a moped or bike is also an option. (Tramadol)
Remember, the
Cayman Islands is a British overseas territory, so driving is on the left.
If you want
to island hop to either Cayman Brac or Little Cayman, you can charter a private
boat, although this can be expensive, so shop around!
Must-see
place of interest: The
Cayman Islands National Museum is located on Harbour Drive in George Town. The
historic building dates back to the 1800s and is Cayman’s oldest surviving
public building.
The museum was
established in 1979 to “collect, preserve, interpret and exhibit the natural, cultural
and art history of the Cayman Islands”.
The site features
a video room, natural and cultural history galleries, a children’s gallery and
rotating exhibits throughout the year.
Must-do
annual event: The Pirates
Week Festival held every year in November is one of the most beloved and
celebrated traditions in the Cayman Islands. The festivities are not only
restricted to Grand Cayman, but also take place on the sister islands.
Events
throughout this period include mock invasions by pirates along with ‘Heritage
Days’ dedicated to the authentic traditions of each district. Spectators can
also witness a series of parades and firework displays, street dances, costume
contests, celebrations of traditional foods, music and much more.
Little
known fact: The
Cayman Islands are not islands at all. They’re part of a mountain called the
Cayman Ridge which rises more than 7,500m from the ocean floor.
Motto: ‘He hath founded it upon the seas’.
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If you would like to visit the Cayman Islands, please check the official Cayman Islands tourism website for the latest COVID-19 travel protocols.