Cayman Islands Attractions

The only facility in the world dedicated to preservation of the endangered Green Sea Turtle alongside modest commercial farming. A variety of rare and endangered species is housed here, amid hundreds of tanks of turtles being raised to maturity. Breeding ponds, touch tanks and a swimming lagoon where yearlings glide through the water are just a few of the ways you will be fascinated and educated about Cayman's native turtle.

Dolphin Discovery and Dolphin Cove, two sparkling new facilities, offer visitors the chance to meet, commune with and swim among the dolphins. The educational programs explore the fascinating world of these marine mammals, offering the chance to interact with one of the world's most intelligent and endearing creatures.

Opened in 2009 in a purpose-built hall, this private collection of 80 motor cars and motor cycles includes the original Batmobile; dozens of mint-condition Ferraris and Maseratis; an 1886 Benz, the first car ever produced; a replica of Cayman’s first car, a 1905 Cadillac; and Elton John’s classic 1963 Bentley. The display of 80 vehicles reflects the historical significance of motorized transport.

At the end of a shaded road and atop a limestone bluff, the seven-acre Pedro St James is a spectacular historical re-creation comprising five buildings in 18th-century architectural style around a landscaped courtyard. The site marks the 1831 birthplace of democracy in the Cayman Islands. The restored plantation house and educational presentations reveal a glimpse of daily life in the early years of Cayman's history.

Opened in 1994 by Queen Elizabeth, the grounds have grown and developed into the full fledged Botanic Park that operates today. Owned by the Cayman Islands Government and the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, the Botanic Park also functions as a modest protected area -- all the forest enclosed by the Woodland Trail and south of the lake is protected to conserve the area’s native flora and fauna.

The National Museum, which used to serve as the island's courthouse, is in a much-restored clapboard-sided antique building on the George Town waterfront. Exhibits portray the natural, social, and cultural history of the Caymans with 4,000 native items, coins, rare documents, natural history specimens and a 14-foot catboat. A gift shop, theater and café are also on the premises. Both Cayman Brac and Little Cayman also have museums, displaying artifacts, utensils and tools used by islanders for generations.

Founded in 1997, the National Gallery moved in 2002 to its George Town waterfront Harbour Place home and features a rotating display of local painters, sculptors and multi-media artists, in addition to fine international collections. Children's programs and weekly art film movie nights are part of the museums mission to nurture appreciation for the visual arts.

The National Trust for the Cayman Islands is a non-profit, statutory body with a mission “to preserve natural environments and places of historic significance in the Cayman Islands for present and future generations." The trust holds 10 sites and/or buildings in Grand Cayman; three more on Cayman Brac and one, the Booby Pond Nature Reserve, on Little Cayman. The trust also oversees North Side district’s Mastic Trail, a hiking trail through old growth dry forests that used to cover the entire island. The Mastic protects part of the largest contiguous area of this old growth remaining on the island.

The USS Kittiwake, a 1945-vintage, 2,200 ton decommissioned U.S. Navy submarine rescue ship, was scuttled in early January near West Bay Public Breach, creating the latest tourist attraction in the Cayman Islands. Resting upright in 62 feet of water, the 47-foot-tall hulk is accessible to snorkelers and divers, who must purchase a $10 scuba-diving medallion or a $5 snorkeling wristband from the Cayman Islands Tourism Association.

A unique planned community, Camana Bay has been carefully designed to combine contemporary style with traditional architecture, landscaped with mature native plants and trees, giving the area a distinctive Cayman character complemented by the delights of modern restaurants and shops. Centering on the Paseo, where families play in the water fountain, Camana Bay seeks to provide a town square atmosphere for business and pleasure.