Holidays in the Cayman Islands – Cayman Brac

Cayman Brac is one of the best places to visit if you are looking for an active vacation in the Caribbean. It is much more rugged than Little Cayman, with only a few beaches. The draw to Brac, as it is known locally, is the diving and hiking available.

It is located about 80 miles northeast of Grand Cayman and is reached by air. Cayman Airways flies in a loop from Grand Cayman to Little Cayman to Cayman Brac, but not always in that order.

Like its sister islands, Brac has a museum showcasing local history. There is also a chance to see a Cayman Brac Parrot in its natural habitat at the Brac Parrot Reserve. This parrot is now found only on Cayman Brac, although it used to inhabit Little Cayman. The last remaining parrots are believed to have been wiped out in the great storm of 1932. The Cayman Brac parrot has the smallest range of any Amazon parrot, and is therefore one of the rarest.

It’s possible to dive from shore, especially on the calmer north side of the island, but you’ll need a boat for the best sites, which are about 10-20 minutes away. Here you will find walls, elbows, large schools of fish and sponges.

Brac’s beaches are nothing like those found on its sister islands. The sandy beaches that do exist have a lot of sea grass. Although there is a ‘good’ beach (which is public) on the south side of the island. Most of the hotels are located nearby.

There are more hiking trails here than on Little Cayman, which are well marked with white Heritage Site signs. This is the best way to explore the island. The longest last around three hours, but most require a car or bike, as they are far from the hotels. Free guidebooks are available from the Brac Tourism department and most hotels offer free maps. Proper hiking boots should be worn as the ground may be formed by a sharp iron edge. If you’re feeling brave, there are plenty of caves you can walk through, but don’t bother the bats. Also try to finish before sunset as that is the peak time for mosquitoes.

Cayman Brac is the ideal vacation getaway spot for people not looking for a beach.