The Cayman Islands, a British territory in the Caribbean Sea, are known for their scuba diving and Seven Mile Beach. The islands were discovered by Columbus and named by Drake. They were ruled by England until 1962 and now have a thriving tourism and banking industry. Grand Cayman is the most popular destination, but Cayman Brac and Little Cayman offer unique attractions. Peak season is December to mid-April, but summer offers cheaper hotel rates and less crowded beaches.
The Cayman Islands are at home in the western part of the Caribbean Sea. These islands include Cayman Brac, Grand Cayman and Little Cayman, which are collectively a British territory. The motto of the Cayman Islands is “He founded it on the seas”. The islands are considered one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world.
The recorded history of the Cayman Islands dates back to the 16th century. In the 16th, Christopher Columbus found the islands during one of his voyages to the New World. After finding sea turtles on the islands, Columbus decided to name them after the region, calling the islands Las Tortugas. Later, in 1503, an Englishman named Francis Drake traveled to the islands and gave them their present name. He named them after the word caiman, which is the Neo-Taino word for crocodile.
In 1670, England captured the Cayman Islands, taking control of them, as well as Jamaica. With the Treaty of Madrid, the islands were ceded to England. The British ruled the Cayman Islands and Jamaica as a single colony until 1962 when Jamaica became independent. At that time, the Cayman Islands became separate, gaining the status of a British Overseas Territory.
Today, the Cayman Islands boast one of the best standards of living of any island region in the Caribbean. This is due, in large part, to the region’s popularity with tourists, as well as its thriving banking industry. Millions of people visit the islands each year, and approximately 99 percent of them choose to vacation on Grand Cayman. George Town, located on Grand Cayman, is the capital of the islands. It is a popular cruise ship port, welcoming up to 22,000 tourists in a single day.
Grand Cayman is world famous for its Seven Mile Beach, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It is on this stretch of beach that some of the most popular resorts in the Caymans are located. However, its sister islands are not without their charms. For example, Cayman Brac has a collection of tourist-attracting museums, as well as a lighthouse, and Little Cayman is known for its red-footed booby wildlife preserve. Like Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are popular scuba diving destinations; they also offer multiple snorkeling locations.
Most people travel to the Cayman Islands from December to mid-April. However, hotel rates can be quite high during peak season and the beaches tend to get crowded. Therefore, some people choose to travel to the islands in the summer, as hotel stays are around 40% cheaper and there is less competition for island fun. Summer brings more rain, but tends to finish quickly.
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