To the outsider, the Cayman Islands - Cayman Brac, Grand Cayman and Little Cayman - are almost always equated with watersports and glorious beaches, plus offshore banking opportunities. This is hardly surprising, since the Cayman Islands do offer world-class scuba diving in crystal-clear waters, as well as a tax-free haven. But these three islands have so much more to offer the traveler who's willing to wander off the traditional tourist paths, walk away from the beachside resorts and explore by themselves. Diverse woodlands and pristine wetlands occupy much of the islands interiors, rugged hiking trails meander across the peaks and valleys, and mangrove swamps cushion the shoreline, offering a unique breeding ground for many birds and fish. These protected wilderness areas are often left unexplored by lay-in-the-sun-all-day tourists, who miss some of the biggest attractions the islands offer. Join our Caribbean expert team of authors in their quest to discover "the other Caymans," the islands' little-visited spots away from the crowds where you can trek for miles without seeing another soul, strip down and sun yourself on a secluded beach, or join a group and sail offshore as the sun sets. As with all Adventure Guides, this book introduces you to the history, geography and people of the region first, so you have a good background knowledge of the island chain. The authors then take you touring, visiting all the popular tourist sites and towns, and offering valuable tips on shopping, transportation, restaurants and accommodations. Then, it's on with the adventures: on foot, on and below the water, on wheels, in the air and on horseback. Among the many fun activities included are paragliding, sailing, catamaran cruises, soaring, scuba diving, trekking, hiking, waterskiing, windsurfing, snorkeling, driving trips and horseback riding. For all of these, the authors give a list of local operators who can set you up with equipment, ferry you around from site to site or actually guide you on walks or riding trips. Detailed town and regional maps.
Owner Reviews
This review is from: Adventure Guide to the Cayman Islands (Serial) (Paperback)
We were disappointed in the book. If you have ever traveled to an island before and have some idea of what to expect, then I do not recommend this book. We were able to find as much useful free information about the Caymans at the airport (rental car agency, whatever). The restaraunt guide in the book is extremely incomplete, and the descriptions of beaches and snorkeling locations needed to be much more specific to be worth the investment. As another reviewer alluded to, the lack of detailed maps is a serious drawback. If there was a roadmap and maps to snorkeling sites then I would have been partially satisfied. Unless you need to learn that Grand Cayman is a "world class SCUBA diving destination" I recommend learning the basics on one of the many internet sites and then picking up the freebies when you get there.
