Centre, you can learn about the turtles in the exhibits, the breeding and rearing process, touch and snorkel with the turtles and reef fish, swim in the freshwater pool and visit hatchlings during the nesting season. You will also be exposed to local and regional wildlife, such as flora along the nature trail, the Cayman Parrots in the Caribbean Aviary, sharks in the Predator Reef and their rescued crocodile, Smiley. SE E AD OP P OSI T E PAG E & PAG E 422
Blue Iguana Conservation Grand Cayman’s famed ‘Blue Dragons’ are found at the Blue Iguana Conservation facility located at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. Once numbering in the tens of thousands, by 2001, there were thought to be fewer than 25 Blue Iguanas left in the wild. The endangered Blue Iguana is only found here in Grand Cayman. During the 45-minute tour at the Botanic Park, your guide will walk you through the facility for a behind-the-scenes look where you will meet Peter, their most famous Blue, enjoy amazing photo opportunities, and learn from their expert wardens about how Blue Iguana Conservation has brought these endangered species back from the brink of extinction. Ticket prices include entry to the park and a guided tour by their expert wardens. Proceeds from Blue Iguana tours directly benefit the Blue Iguana Conservation programme. After your tour, you can visit the National Trust Nature
Store, located at Dart Park, to browse their selection of National Trust and Blue Iguana Conservation merchandise. For more information or to book a school, corporate or private customised guided tour, call (345) 749 1121 or email: tours@ nationaltrust.org.ky. Collier’s Nature Reserve & Trail The reserve boasts 190-acres of Blue Iguana territory. The easy walking trail allows visitors to observe the iguanas and other animals in their natural habitat, as well as many different species of Cayman’s fauna, fungi and lichens. It is located a mile inland from the coastal East End Road, Austin Conolly Drive. For more information, call (345) 749 1121. Guided Bicycle Rides Eco Rides run a cycling tour around the Eastern District. Call (345) 922 0754 or email: ecoridescayman@gmail.com for more information. Helicopter Rides A fantastic way to explore the Island is a 15-minute (US$155pp) or 40 minute (US$370pp) tour with Cayman Islands Helicopters (resident rates). Their Sunset Dinner Flight is perfect for special occasions; land for dinner at The RitzCarlton (US$950 for up to six people) or Camana Bay followed by a limousine ride home. Water enthusiasts will enjoy their ‘1 day 3 Islands’ dive package. Helicopter to Cayman Brac to dive the M/V Captain Keith Tibbetts, then helicopter on to Little Cayman to dive Bloody Bay Wall, followed by lunch at Southern Cross Club. Helicopter back to Grand Cayman to dive the USS Kittiwake before finally watching the sunset at the Lobster Pot, with wine and cheese. Call (345) 943 4354, or visit www.caymanislandshelicopters.com. Motorcycle Tours Call Cayman Custom Cycles at (345) 945 7433 for a guided tour around the Island, including lunch, or for an afternoon getaway. You must have a Group 1A
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AC T I V I T I E S F O R A D U LT S
Beaches There are a number of wonderful beaches on Grand Cayman. The most popular is Seven Mile Beach, which runs the length of the western side of the Island just north of George Town. Two popular spots along this span are Governor’s Beach, adjacent to the Governor’s House (next door to the Westin) and Public Beach, which has cabanas providing shade, public restrooms and a children’s play area. Farther north, there is Cemetery Beach, which is shaded by a number of large sea grape and casuarina trees and has great snorkelling spots only a five-minute swim offshore. Starfish Point, just beyond Kaibo in North Side, is a nice, quiet spot for a picnic or paddle. It is shaded by casuarina trees, has a wide shallow area close to the shore and large starfish can often be found just a few feet off the shore. Do not hold the starfish above the water as they need to remain in the water to survive. Rum Point, located left of Starfish Point, has shallow water, a restaurant, a bar, plenty of sun loungers, hammocks, and is a popular boat hangout. Spotts Public Beach, located off of Shamrock Road, is a good place to spot turtles in the early morning and late afternoon when they come in to feed, plus to the far right of the beach there are wonderful rock pools. Please note that there is a very strong current at this beach and swimming out to the reef is very dangerous and risky. Do not swim out to the cut in the reef. Just beyond the Grand Old House restaurant is Smith’s Barcadere (also known
as Smith’s Cove). This is a small public beach with lots of shade, picnic benches, great snorkelling and a lovely place to watch the sunset. It also has fresh water showers and restroom facilities. Many districts also have public beaches, including West Bay, Bodden Town, East End and North Side. There are no private beaches in Cayman; all beaches are public (up to the high-water mark). If you want to put your towel on a beach in front of a hotel or condominium complex, you are more than welcome to do so, as long as you stay near the high-water mark and do not use their sun loungers. There are some establishments which are open to the public. Examples include Tillie’s on Seven Mile Beach, Kaibo and Rum Point (Tel: (345) 947 9412) in North Side and the Wyndham Reef Resort in East End, all of which have beach bars and tables on the beach, where you can sit and watch the children play in the sea just a few feet away. They are also available for private functions. Please note that there are no nudist beaches in the Cayman Islands and topless sunbathing is illegal.
