Cayman Brac

Wildlife Attractions like Parrots, Iguanas and Red Footed Boobies!

A British Territory in the Western Caribbean, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are peaks of the massive underwater Cayman Ridge. The Cayman Islands are located south of Cuba, between Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Jamaica. Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are situated east and slightly north of Grand Cayman.

If you’re wondering how to get to these remote islands… Don’t worry, there are daily island hopper flights from Grand Cayman that can fly you over quickly and easily. Local Grand Cayman boat operators can also cover the 80 miles (130km) and the cruise is fun in itself.

There’s plenty of unique and interesting things to do in the Cayman Islands, and that includes the lesser visited ones as well as Grand Cayman. Let’s take a look at some of our favourite attractions and things to do when visiting Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

Things to Do in Cayman Brac

The first thing to know about Cayman Brac, affectionately known as ‘the brac’, is that the island is named for the 140 foot (43m) high bluff, or “brac” on the east end of the island. While not exactly daunting, it is the highest point of the Cayman Islands and provides some pretty spectacular views of the sea towards Cuba. The main attraction of the Brac is the National Trust Parrot Reserve. These protected lands are home to the remaining few hundred of endemic parrots that exist in the wild. There’s a mile long nature trail that loops through a corner of the reserve, allowing you to experience the area’s natural brush and forested habitat as well as mango trees, cactus and orchids. With any luck, you may even spot a parrot!

You’ll also find a couple of interesting low-key attractions on the island. Heritage House, a re-purposed old tannery, hosts cultural events and a local craft market. The Cayman Brac Museum features free exhibits showcasing the turtle trade, ship-building as well as the history of local hurricanes.

Things to Do on Little Cayman

If you’re looking for a quieter island than Cayman Brac, well Little Cayman, population 100 (there-abouts), will probably fit the bill 😉 One recommendation for something to do on the island is… Relax and do nothing – and by nothing we mean, meditate, read a book or go for some leisurely walks. When you’re ready for a little more excitement, you can hop on a bike and casually cycle around the island’s 8 mile (13km) loop stopping at wildlife viewing stations along the way.

The real attraction of the island is it’s relatively undisturbed nature. Little Cayman has gorgeous mangroves and lagoons, as well as salt ponds and tropical forests to explore. One area of interest is the Preston Bay Iguana Habitat. Here you can stroll along a boardwalk learning about what lives in the area from informational signs posted along the way. The real star of the show however, is Booby Pond Nature Reserve – A RAMSAR wetland, recognized by BirdLife International as an ‘Important Bird Area’! The 200 acre site is home to 10s of thousands of red-footed boobies along with frigates, herons, ducks, warblers, plovers, sandpipers and more. The Reserve has a visitor centre with an observation gallery equipped with some handy telescopes for examining the local flora and fauna.

If you’re looking for some fun and festivities, time your visit to coincide with the annual Cayman Islands Pirates Week Festival. You can participate in the Caribbean’s premier pirate festival and the Cayman Islands’ largest national event which includes activities on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Events include parades, costume contests, scavenger hunts, street parties, boat races and more.

Have Fun!

ACT Staff

For more information on things to do in the Cayman Islands, including a list of tour operators to take care of you, click on our Things to Do in the Cayman Islands, Cayman Islands Land Excursions, Cayman Islands Ocean Excursions and Cayman Islands Festivals & Events pages

If you’re looking for something else to do on the islands, that will raise your pulse rate a bit higher, check out our Cayman Brac & Little Cayman Adventure recommendations blog

For our overview of the beautiful and diverse islands that make up the Caymans, click on our Cayman Islands Vacations page

Cayman Brac & Little Cayman are home to great Caribbean adventures, including the Caribbean's best Diving & Rock Climbing, plus great Caving, hiking & cycling.

Amazing Diving and Climbing / Caving, Hiking and Cycling too!

If you’re wondering how to get to these remote islands, don’t worry – There are daily island hopper flights from Grand Cayman that can get you over quickly and easily. Local Grand Cayman boat operators can also cover the 80 miles (130km) or so of ocean.

There’s plenty of outdoor adventures to experience in the Cayman Islands and that includes the rarely visited Cayman Brac, affectionately known as ‘the Brac’, as well as Little Cayman. Here’s our favourites that we would recommend…

Join an Exclusive Club of Scuba Divers

It’s not just a cliché, the Cayman Islands are truly a Diver’s Paradise! The islands are well known in diving circles for pristine sea water with amazing visibility, as well healthy coral reefs alive with marine life. When it comes to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, their remoteness translates into relatively few visitors and almost guarantees uncrowded diving at relatively untouched dive sites!

There are over 60 Cayman Brac dive sites that offer an incredible oasis for divers! There’s easy to access shore diving, shallow reefs brimming with marine life, as well as deep walls and amazing swim-throughs that never get old. There’s also plenty of shipwrecks to explore, including the 330 foot Tibbets (Russian built Navy Ship) with some of it’s guns still in place.

Little Cayman has 60 dive sites of its own, including the world-famous Bloody Bay wall… A steep wall that descends several thousand feet that is home to colourful corals, sponges and sea fans. There’s plenty of rays, barracudas, sharks and large fish to see as well – Little Cayman diving is truly a fantastic experience for experienced and beginner divers alike!

For more information on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman dive sites, as well as a listing of boat operators to get you outfitted, click on our Cayman Islands Diving page

Cave and Climb the Bluffs of Cayman Brac

The Brac is well known for it’s amazing caves! There are a number of accessible and impressive caves on the island to explore including Bat Cave, Peter’s Cave, Rebecca’s Cave, Skull Cave, Great Cave and Halfway Ground Cave.

Prefer to stay on the outside of Cayman Brac’s rocky cliffs, then maybe rock climbing is more your speed. The cliffs at the eastern end of the island seem to be made for Cayman Island rock climbing. There are dozens of routes for expert climbers to explore. With names like Dixon Wall, Neptune’s Lair, North Wall, Love Shack Wall and Tsunami Wall, its a must do for avid rock climbers!

For more information on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman caves and rock climbing, including tour guides to show you “the ropes”, check out our Cayman Islands Caving & Climbing page

Hike Pristine Caribbean Wilderness

It may be hard to believe, but there are more than a dozen short trails on Cayman Brac. While they’re all relatively easy, some of the more challenging ones include the following:

The 4 mile (6km) long Lighthouse Footpath (AKA The Bluff Trail) pretty much follows the rugged north-east coastline to the lighthouse on the east end of the island. More of a tower than a lighthouse, it stands on the 140 foot (43m) high bluff that is the highest point of the Caymans – Take in the amazing views of the sea towards Cuba.

The mile (2km) long National Trust Parrot Reserve Nature Trail is a short hike that provides the opportunity to potentially see a rare Cayman Brac Parrot. The loop trail goes through a small section of the protected reserve land covering grassed-over farmland, thickets as well as forests where you’ll pass mango trees, cactus and orchids.

The best Little Cayman hiking trails include the Salt Rock Nature Trail which is a 3 mile (5km) round trip requiring a couple of hours to complete. There’s also a good hike between Blossom Village and the north coast where you’ll likely encounter plenty of birds, butterflies, iguanas and orchids.

For more information on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman hiking trails, including guides to help you out, click on our Cayman Islands Hiking page

Cycle Around the Islands, Literally

Cayman Brac’s quiet coastal roads offer amazing sea views and the opportunity to get some really fresh air and exercise! The island’s north and south coastal roads are each approximately 9.5 miles (15 km) long… Plenty of road for you to work up a good sweat.

Little Cayman has a quiet around-the-island road resulting in a nearly 10 mile (16 km) long circuit with few vehicles and un-ending views of the Caribbean Sea! Not sure if it gets any better than that…

For more information on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman cycling, including bike rental locations, check out our Cayman Islands Cycling page

Have fun out there!

ACT Staff

Once you’ve had your fill of action and want to slow-it-down a bit, check out our recommended Things To Do in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman blog

For an overview of the beautiful and diverse islands that make up the Caymans, click on our Cayman Islands Vacations page

Tag: Cayman Brac

Things to do on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman