Tired of Grand Cayman? You’re not completely done with it, you just need a quick getaway, to another place, preferably bigger, but smaller would do, an island even. A spit of sand. Something. Anything. Luckily, you don’t have to travel far…
If you’ve lived in Grand Cayman all your life, chances are you’ve never been to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The thought of hopping on a plane to visit the younger, more rugged siblings across the pond hasn’t even crossed your unadventurous mind. Shame on you.
Refresh your zest for Grand Cayman (island fever is real) and take a trip to drop-dead gorgeous Cayman Brac to take in the fresh air, lusher than lush scenery and sweet, sweet serenity. In just under half an hour you can be sunning your limbs on a deserted beach, traipsing around a bluff-top organic farm or stuffing your face with enough food to send you into a jerk-infused food-coma and leave you wondering why you never did this before.
STAY
Your bank balance might take a beating (depending on when you go), but S’oleil D’or has one of the prettiest grounds on the island. Tucked under the cliff face of the bluff lies this boutique hotel, a short climb to the top and you’ll be greeted by a sprawling organic farm. Here you’re encouraged to roam freely among eggplants and the odd chicken.
Beach more your thing? Brac Reef sits like a wedding cake on a platter on the sandy shore, complete with a large bar, pool and hot tub and a more cost-effective alternative.
DO
If balancing by a string on a sheer drop-off is your idea of a good time, then rock climbing will be right up your street. Or wall. There are plenty of instructors who’ll teach you the ropes.
Diving doesn’t get much better than in the Brac. The Captain Keith Tibbetts Wreck is the star attraction underwater, while on land, it’s the hidden caves cloaked in history that steal the show. You’ll find them tucked away in the Bluff dotted across the island.
When you’re done eyeing the caves and sprinting from bats, make tracks for local road-side eateries like Pat’s Kitchen, Barracuda’s, Star Island or Captain’s Table for fish soup and then a must-do for sunset— the dramatic hiking trails of the bluff.
More than 200 bird species, including the endangered Cayman Brac parrot flutter about on the bluff between quirky houses and gigantic fauna that reaches as high as your shoulders.
The view from the top is endlessly blue and salt-sprayed.
Don’t leave until you’ve wander the hallowed halls of the Cayman Brac museum, which is a window to Cayman’s past and home to artefacts thousands of years old. And for the souvenir suckers, Nim Tings in Stake Bay is a must-do.
If you’re in search of a secluded summer escape or impromptu trip that will refresh your love for the island — this is it. Just make sure you come back to Grand Cayman — K?
