On the 10th May 1503, the Cayman Islands were sighted by Christopher Columbus, who was on his fourth voyage of discovery in the new world. The islands he described were actually Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Numerous sea turtles surrounded these low-lying islands, so much so that they looked like thousands of tiny rocks in the sea. Because of this amazing scene Columbus was inspired to name the islands “Las Tortugas” meaning “the Turtles” in Spanish. However, during the course of the next hundred years the island became more popularly known as “Caymanas”, which is derived from a Carib word for crocodiles. The name springs from the crocodiles that could be found there at the time and were sometimes hunted for by the ships that stopped there.

The resident population of the Cayman Islands is relatively small. Between 1970 and 1998 the islands’ population grew from 10,200 to about 35,000. Half of the resident population today are foreigners employed in the thriving tourist and financial industries. The pace of development of Grand Cayman over the past 30 years has been radical. Native bush has been cut down to make way for thousands of modern concrete houses and apartments,

Fringed by some of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches, Grand Cayman offers sunbathing and seashell collecting, a favourite for children, on the Famed Seven Mile Beach, Collier’s Point on the East End, and Old Man Bay and Cayman Kai on the North Coast.

The Cayman Islands can boast of having something to offer any tourist. From their well-developed eco-tourism sector to their thriving business industry, the Cayman Islands are certainly any tourist’s dream. But never go these islands for just a day because it is not enough time to discover all of their natural beauty, and like the many expatriates living on the islands will say, you’ll never want to leave.

The offshore financial services industry is comprised of banking, trustee services, company management, mutual fund management and insurance company management. The term “company management” actually covers a broad spectrum, including shipping companies, offshore investment companies and international trading companies all of which are really industries within an industry. The banking industry is considered the most important facet of the finance industry. Grand Cayman is recognised as the 5th largest financial centre in the world (in terms of assets held) and the 7th largest international banking operation. Forty-seven of the world’s largest top 50 banks are registered in Grand Cayman.

The two-mile mastic trail in North Side is a narrow path cut through ancient forest and swamp. Walking the trail is an extraordinary experience: one enters a primeval world, an environment which is almost undoubtedly the same now as it was thousands of years ago, untouched by human development. The trail, which often feels like a tunnel it is so heavily overhung by trees, weaves through an interesting mixture of terrain – mangrove wetlands, dry woodlands and extraordinary rock formations. The trail, which teems with birds, was important some 200 years ago as a footpath between the north and south coasts. It was restored in 1993 by the National Trust.

Cayman Brac has five small local restaurants in addition to two hotel restaurants serving buffet style meals, and the new Captain's Table full service restaurant at the Brac Caribbean Beach Village.

Diving in the Cayman Islands. April 2001. .

Some topics in this essay:
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, Little Cayman, West Indian, Marriott Local, Cayman Brac, Stingray City, National Museum, American Tex-Mex, National Trust, cayman islands, grand cayman, cayman brac, little cayman, george town, seven mile, islands offer, square miles, seven mile beach, mile beach, cayman brac little, attraction cayman, brac little cayman, cayman brac parrot, tourism april 2001,