Little Cayman - Fantasy Beaches and Ugly Iguanas - IgoUgo Cayman Islands Journal

Little Cayman - Fantasy Beaches and Ugly Iguanas

Best Of IgoUgo

Overview

Little Cayman Beach Resort Photo - Cayman Islands, Caribbean

Quote:

Little Cayman is the kind of island that you dream about, but weren’t really sure existed. Before you even land on the tiny, mostly grassy airstrip, you might think you are living out an episode of "Fantasy Island." I kept waiting to hear Tattoo say "The plane, the plane." The airport terminal/check-in counter consists of one tiny room located right next to the airstrip. Flying in on a tiny Twin Otter DC6 plane and landing on a short, grassy airstrip was kind of an adventure in and of itself. This island is known for its incredible diving opportunities, but even if you’re not a diver, this island paradise is a wonder to behold. It’s a beautiful, pristine island ringed by bea...Read More

Little Cayman is the kind of island that you dream about, but weren’t really sure existed. Before you even land on the tiny, mostly grassy airstrip, you might think you are living out an episode of "Fantasy Island." I kept waiting to hear Tattoo say "The plane, the plane."

The airport terminal/check-in counter consists of one tiny room located right next to the airstrip. Flying in on a tiny Twin Otter DC6 plane and landing on a short, grassy airstrip was kind of an adventure in and of itself.

This island is known for its incredible diving opportunities, but even if you’re not a diver, this island paradise is a wonder to behold. It’s a beautiful, pristine island ringed by beautiful, wide, white sand beaches. There is great visibility throughout the blue sky and in the turquoise-blue waters. The island is drenched in coconut palms, grape trees, gargantuan aloe vera plants, various tropical ivy plants (flowering), and yes, well over two thousand Iguanas. Visitors can take bicycle trips around the island to explore gorgeous beaches (many with no one on them other than you). Renting a jeep for 2 days to explore the island is also a good way that you can end your trip, without wondering what you may have missed on the bicycles.

If you’re looking for the wild bars and the exciting nightlife of Cancun, this is not the place for you. The population here is a whopping 100 people. There are 100 visitors to this island per day, and 100 residents. This is a more remote island, whereby you truly can find a stunningly white beach all to yourself with ease. Here you'll find romantic, unspoiled tropical landscapes; excellent diving; quiet, untainted, breath-taking beaches; snorkeling; friendly locals; a more primitive overall experience (without sacrificing conveniences of home); and the best rum punch you’ve ever tasted.

The only real restaurant outside the all-inclusive resorts is The Hungry Iguana. We loved the food and drink here!

Don't miss a day trip to nearby uninhabited Owen Island. The waters surrounding this island are the loveliest of all.

Bloody Bay wall is one of the most sought after dive spots in the world. I suggest not to miss it if you dive! Point of Sand and Bus Stop are said to be two of the best snorkeling spots. Snorkeling and dive gear is easily rented at any of the three resorts here.

Quick Tips:

Ride bikes out to the subdivision with the brick signs that say "Mohagany." This subdivision is located on the southwest side of the island. Ride bikes straight to the back of the subdivision (there are few houses in this subdivision). When the street dead ends, break out the bananas and throw a few pieces onto the empty street. Wait a few minutes and about 10 large Iguanas will come out from the bushes.

Outside of the three resorts, there are really only one or two restaurants. One is located on the southeast end of the island, the other is very close-by to the airstrip (The Hungry Iguana).

The only commercial airline now serving passengers to Little Cayman is Cayman Airways. Island Air will only fly you to Little Cayman if you wish to charter their entire aircraft. Thus, Island Air is not an option unless you have a large group of travelers with you or are independently wealthy. A round-trip flight via Cayman Airways from Grand Cayman Island to Little Cayman Island will cost about , round-trip, per person. Cayman Airways limits each passenger to a total of 55 pounds of checked luggage, so pack lightly. The flight is well worth it, since they service this island only via a small twin otter plane. Experiencing this flight is unforgettable all by itself.

Sunscreen is extremely important here. You can get a burn here and not even feel it until the next day. It sneaks up on you.

Check out the one and only grocery store here. It's the tiny General Store which is a stone's throw from the airstrip. There is an adjactent gift shop, which is small but worth a look. The General Store is quite pricey, and prices there are in Cayman dollars. in the Cayman Islands is only worth about .79¢. Everyone readily accepts the US dollar, and the General Store will accept your travelers checks. You will find sunblock, chips, cereal, fresh produce, bottled water (by the gallon or liter), aloe, first-aid supplies, cokes (pricey), ramen noodles, gourmet items, and much of what you would find in a small-pantry store.

If you have room, pack extra bottled water, mosquito repellent, and sunscreen. Bottled water here runs about for a small bottle at the resorts.

There are few phones here, yet strangely, wireless internet and satellite TV are available.

Best Way To Get Around:

With a population of only 100, and only three real resorts on this small island, you will find there are no car rental agencies here. You really only have two options… renting a bicycle, or shelling out a day for a rusty jeep. We enjoyed the bikes provided to us by Little Cayman Beach Resort (the first 2 hours are free, an hour thereafter). Feeling like we "had" to ride bikes (as opposed to paying per day for a rusted out jeep) was actually wonderful. It really turned back the clock for us. We felt like kids again. We explored the island by bicycle and that is fairly easy to do since the island is only 1-mile wide and 10-miles long. The bonus is you get exercise in—plus a tan.

We were somewhat out of shape and only managed to bicycle perhaps 10 miles during the whole week, so we did break down at the end of our weeks stay and rented a rusty, rattling jeep to explore the parts of the island we had missed on bicycle. It was well worth it, though personally, I would not choose to rent a jeep for more than 2 days. In 2 days via jeep, you can see pretty much all of the island you want to.

There are no moped or motorcycle rentals here. Truly, all you have to choose from are bicycles or a jeep. There are only 40 cars on the island. There are vans from the all-inclusive resorts that pick up passengers from the airstrip (notify your resort in advance of arrival with flight arrival date and time).

If you would like to rent a jeep for around per day (includes a temporary Caymans drivers license), contact:

McLaughlin Rentals
1-345-948-1000
or Email them at littlcay@candw.ky
Read Less

Cheer!
Flag

Little Cayman Beach Resort

Best Of IgoUgo

Hotel

Entrance to Little Cayman Beach Resort Photo - Little Cayman Beach Resort, Cayman Islands, Caribbean

Quote:

Little Cayman Beach Resort is a small, moderate, all-inclusive resort (meals included, but not alcoholic beverages). Total number of rooms: 40. This beach front property offers ocean view rooms and stunning views. We paid for a pool view room (1,085 per person, per week; peak season). We were pleasantly surprised with a partial ocean-view room for no extra charge. The beach is white, laced with just the right number of coconut palms and hammocks as well crystal clear blue waters. The beach is kept clean. It can be sharp to step on because of the coral; bring rubber soled shoes. The ocean here is clear and was slightly choppy when we were here earlier in February. Service was very good with a very p...Read More

Little Cayman Beach Resort is a small, moderate, all-inclusive resort (meals included, but not alcoholic beverages). Total number of rooms: 40. This beach front property offers ocean view rooms and stunning views. We paid for a pool view room (1,085 per person, per week; peak season). We were pleasantly surprised with a partial ocean-view room for no extra charge. The beach is white, laced with just the right number of coconut palms and hammocks as well crystal clear blue waters. The beach is kept clean. It can be sharp to step on because of the coral; bring rubber soled shoes. The ocean here is clear and was slightly choppy when we were here earlier in February. Service was very good with a very personable staff.

Room: You’ll get a king or two doubles. Bed was comfortable. Room reminds me of La Quinta, but is larger. You’ll have a wicker love seat with seafoam green cushions, flowery matching bedspread, dresser, plenty of space to store and hang your clothes/luggage, coffee maker, and satellite TV with 11 channels (including HBO). It was an extremely clean room that was cleaned thoroughly on a daily basis. We asked for extra towels and got them, no problem 'mon. In addition to your bath towels, expect two beach towels in your room as well (no need to pack beach towels - a nice plus). The bathroom comes with a basket that includes soap, shampoo, conditioner, shower cap, and a very nice sewing kit. The shower is VERY large, but there is no bathtub.

Food: Buffet style and slightly above average quality. Desserts were excellent and prepared homemade by a well trained pastry chef. We enjoyed prime rib, lobster bisque, various shrimp dishes, oysters on the half shell, and Beef Wellington. Traditional American breakfasts typically included eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, pastries, bagels, fresh fruit, fresh juices, coffee, and yogurt. An omelet chef is ready and waiting for you each morning at the buffet.

Other Amenities: We asked in advance for a small fridge to be placed in the room for us before check-in and we got it at no extra charge. Expect satellite TV in the room with about 8 to 11 channels. Channels include HBO and the Weather Channel. There are NO PHONES in the rooms. There is however, a phone right next to the front desk for guest use if needed. Wireless internet is also offered on a daily or weekly basis. Don't want to bring the laptop? No problem! Use the desktop PC, with high speed DSL for 25¢ per minute, next to the front desk in the lobby. Check out the game room (next door to the dive shop). The game room boasts a lovely pool table (the bigger table), poker table, and free book exchange/library. Exercise equipment included a treadmill, exercise ball, and a universal gym. The manager's rum punch party on Sunday nights at 6pm at the resort bar offered free rum punch and tasty appetizers. Terrific dive operations with much to offer on-site. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 2, 2006

Little Cayman Beach Resort
Blossom Village
Little Cayman Island
(345) 948-1033

Cheer!
Flag

The Hungry Iguana

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Beach Behind Hungry Iguana Photo - The Hungry Iguana, Cayman Islands, Caribbean

Quote:

The Hungry Iguana is located just a stones throw from the airstrip, on the south side of the island. This restaurant is one of the few on the island. We found one or two other small, hole in the wall, restaurants on the south east side that didn't look very savory. By comparison, The Hungry Iguana looked like something from Lifestyles of The Rich and Famous. The environment reminds me slightly of a beach version of Chili's, only the tables and chairs inside the restaurant are much nicer and nautical. You will see a lot of rich, deep wood was used to build this restaurant. Outside, it is painted white with blue trim in a very Caribbean style. We walked from Little Cayman Beac...Read More

The Hungry Iguana is located just a stones throw from the airstrip, on the south side of the island. This restaurant is one of the few on the island. We found one or two other small, hole in the wall, restaurants on the south east side that didn't look very savory. By comparison, The Hungry Iguana looked like something from Lifestyles of The Rich and Famous.

The environment reminds me slightly of a beach version of Chili's, only the tables and chairs inside the restaurant are much nicer and nautical. You will see a lot of rich, deep wood was used to build this restaurant. Outside, it is painted white with blue trim in a very Caribbean style.

We walked from Little Cayman Beach Resort to the Hungry Iguana and had lunch here. The restaurant is perched upon a beautiful beach and offers indoor or outdoor dining (outdoor dining offers the best view). We wore shorts and t-shirts with our tennis shoes—very casual environment.

Most of what they offer is either local island fare, or American. ie. Shrimp baskets, hamburgers, marinated conch, fried conch, conch burgers, nachos, and steaks. Most entrees were in the $9.50 range at lunch. I had the conch burger which was very tender and not chewy. It was excellent! The beer batter shrimp was also a delight, although perhaps slightly over-battered. The nachos were an absolute hit! Multi-colored chips served with a mouthwatering salsa and drizzled with a delicious cheese. We fought over the last chip! The rum punch here was the best I have ever had anywhere in the Caribbean. The waitress told us that they use a blend of dark Myers Jamaican rum mixed with a coconut rum to make their version of rum punch. The presentation of the food, as well as the rum punch was quite lovely. For four rum punches, an order of nachos, one conch burger, and a lunch size portion of beer battered shrimp and fries was $76 (gratuity included). The gratuity is included on your bill, so don't tip twice unless you really want to.

On our way out, we stumbled upon the largest iguana I have ever seen. It was sunbathing on the walkway between the Hungry Iguana and the Paradise Villa swimming pool. Its mate, and baby iguana were nearby. It startled us as well as other diners who were there (see pics below).

We wanted to come back to eat here again, but just got so busy with other activities that we didn't have the time. It is somewhat pricey for lunch, but well worth it. I would not leave the island without having at least one meal here. Dinner is slightly more expensive.

We had arrived 30 minutes prior to opening for lunch, so we explored the gorgeous beaches surrounding the restaurant, as well as the adjacent Paradise Villas resort.

Hungry Iguana opens at noon and closes at 2:30pm. It re-opens in the evening around 6pm.

Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 2, 2006

The Hungry Iguana
Blossom Village, Little Cayman Island
Cayman Islands
(345) 948-0007

Cheer!
Flag

Owen Island

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction

Northwest Tip of Owen Island Photo - Owen Island, Cayman Islands, Caribbean

Quote:

Owen Island is by far, one of the loveliest gems I have ever laid eyes on. The island is tiny, uninhabited, and ringed by crystal clear, sky blue ocean. Even from a distance, you can see the extra clear ocean surrounding it, as well as swaying palms. Its location is just south of Little Cayman Island, and can clearly be seen standing on the beach at the Little Cayman Beach Resort, or from anywhere on the south, southwest, or southeast side of the island.For the first few days after landing at Little Cayman, I eyeballed this little island with great interest. It seemed as though it were a magnet to me. The more I looked at it, the more I knew I just had to explore it. On day 4, I ...Read More

Owen Island is by far, one of the loveliest gems I have ever laid eyes on. The island is tiny, uninhabited, and ringed by crystal clear, sky blue ocean. Even from a distance, you can see the extra clear ocean surrounding it, as well as swaying palms. Its location is just south of Little Cayman Island, and can clearly be seen standing on the beach at the Little Cayman Beach Resort, or from anywhere on the south, southwest, or southeast side of the island.

For the first few days after landing at Little Cayman, I eyeballed this little island with great interest. It seemed as though it were a magnet to me. The more I looked at it, the more I knew I just had to explore it. On day 4, I had decided I was going to end the mystery. I rushed over to Reef Divers (Little Cayman Beach Resort's dive operation) and booked a small boat to take us out to Owen Island, and drop us off for the day. For $5, they will take you out to Owen Island and drop you off. For an additional $5, they will come back to the island and pick you up at whatever time YOU specify. I liked the idea of not having time limits, and being able to choose my own drop off and pick up times.

On Friday, we headed for the Little Cayman Beach Resort pier and began our "monkey climb" down to the boat. They do not have a ladder or steps nailed onto their pier, so you must use the pier structure itself to climb down into the little boat waiting below. Once in the boat, the ride was wet, but not overly bumpy and lasted all of about 7 minutes.

As the boat slipped onto the beach, I realized that I had just spent the best $5 I'd ever spend in my life! Before I laid my eyes on the most stunning, and whitest of beaches I had yet to see in the Caymans. Then there was the sparkling, clear to light blue ocean that was just the perfect depth for swimming in, or snorkeling.

We set up a sort of "camp" for lunch on the beach. We enjoyed the lunch of pastrami sandwiches, fresh salads, high quality fresh fruits, and desserts prepared for us by the kitchen staff at Little Cayman Beach Resort (many thanks to Danville and Louie). There is no extra charge for this lunch if you are a guest at this resort. Just notify the front desk a day in advance of your trip to Owen Island.

As you walk around the island, you may find live conch just inches below the surface of the water, delicate rare corals and sea fans washed up along the beach, lonely coconuts which have found their way onto the sand, small fish swimming all around, and dense tropical foliage.

In my opinion, this was one of the best excursions a non diver can take.
Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 2, 2006

Owen Island
Uninhabited, Near Little Cayman Island
Owen Island - Cayman Islands

Cheer!
Flag

Little Cayman Beach Resort

Best Of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Beach and Island Bike Tour"

Point of Sand Beach Photo - Little Cayman Beach Resort, Cayman Islands, Caribbean

Quote:

Since we were staying at Little Cayman Beach Resort (LCBR), I knew in advance that bicycles would be available for rental from the resort itself. By the third day of our vacation, I was ready to start exploring the island on bicycle. The bikes here are free for the first 2 hours, and $5 an hour per person thereafter. Once we had gone through the speedy sign out process at the front desk for the bikes, we were on our way. Note: Maps of the island are available free at the front desk.There is only one narrow road that encompasses the entire island, with one road right down the middle of the island (for shortcuts). Little Cayman is 10 miles long, and only one mile wide. The narrow road is ...Read More

Since we were staying at Little Cayman Beach Resort (LCBR), I knew in advance that bicycles would be available for rental from the resort itself. By the third day of our vacation, I was ready to start exploring the island on bicycle. The bikes here are free for the first 2 hours, and $5 an hour per person thereafter. Once we had gone through the speedy sign out process at the front desk for the bikes, we were on our way. Note: Maps of the island are available free at the front desk.

There is only one narrow road that encompasses the entire island, with one road right down the middle of the island (for shortcuts). Little Cayman is 10 miles long, and only one mile wide. The narrow road is asphalt/blacktop that has been patched and patched again. Luckily, there is little in the way of traffic as there are only 40 vehicles registered on this island. The speed limit is 25 mph, hence, there is no real "traffic" to speak of.

On our first bike trip, we turned right on the road in front of the resort (headed east). The Red Booby bird pond was to our left and the stunning Caribbean beaches to our right. The booby pond is not much too look at; very swampy. We saw only a few frigate birds and no Boobies. We stopped along the way at what appeared to be more glorious beaches... and they always were glorious. We were not disappointed.

As you make your way along the narrow, coastal road, you will find that your view of the ocean and beaches are blocked in many places by dense, tropical foliage. We stopped whenever we found a "break" in the dense foliage/brush. We were almost always rewarded with empty, stunning beaches and sweeping landscapes.

The island is largely undeveloped. However, you will find that the residential and commercial properties that are here, are taking up space along the most beautiful, prime stretches of beach. Oddly enough, we saw many signs that said "Private Property - Welcome!" You won't find that just anywhere.

As you inch your way to the northern end of the island, the trees, vines, plants, and flowers all get greener and more lush. The south end of the island boasts the loveliest beaches, but the north end offers a more lush landscape.

The best stop for us was a beach called "Point of Sand." There were only four people there when we arrived (a family) and they left 15 minutes after we arrived. We had the beach to ourselves the rest of the afternoon. Point of Sand is ideal for snorkeling and swimming, with its pristine, high visibility waters. The beaches here were blindingly white, wide, and had less turtle grass close to shore (making for a better off-the-beach snorkeling experience). The foliage behind the beach is once again, dense.

In short, this was an incredible bike trip and I highly recommend you don't miss the opportunity to make it. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 2, 2006

Little Cayman Beach Resort
Blossom Village
Little Cayman Island
(345) 948-1033

Cheer!
Flag

Jamaican Life and Influence on Little Cayman

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Resort Guest Van Photo - Cayman Islands, Caribbean

Quote:

I read somewhere that there were more Jamaicans working in Cayman Islands resorts than any other nationality. I began to believe this when our Little Caymans resort van driver pulled up and screeched to a halt (sending sandy dust clouds into the air). The minute he arrived, we could hear the rhythmic reggae music he was playing on the van’s stereo. I mused to myself "Oh yeah, he’s from Jamaica." I went on something of a quest to find out more about why Jamaicans choose to work in the Caymans, and what their lives are like being away from the home they know in Jamaica. Where might a Jamaican resort employee live on this expensive, very minimally populated island? How do they manage to f...Read More

I read somewhere that there were more Jamaicans working in Cayman Islands resorts than any other nationality. I began to believe this when our Little Caymans resort van driver pulled up and screeched to a halt (sending sandy dust clouds into the air). The minute he arrived, we could hear the rhythmic reggae music he was playing on the van’s stereo. I mused to myself "Oh yeah, he’s from Jamaica."

I went on something of a quest to find out more about why Jamaicans choose to work in the Caymans, and what their lives are like being away from the home they know in Jamaica. Where might a Jamaican resort employee live on this expensive, very minimally populated island? How do they manage to feed themselves, and family members, on this extravagant little island on a resort employees pay? Has the Jamaican culture begun to blend with that of Caymanian culture?

I sat one night at the resort dinner buffet, pondering who I wanted to talk to about Jamaican culture. Suddenly, I was snapped out of my daze by our Jamaican waiter ("Louie" - a.k.a. Errol) asking politely "Is there anything else I can get you?" After a short discussion, my travel buddy and I decided to ask Louie to meet us in the resort game room after he was off from work at 9pm. We explained to him that I was writing an article on Jamaicans working in the Caymans, and wanted to interview him. Shortly after 9pm, Louie strolled in with a Jamaican-born friend of his named Denvil (apparently his name is pronounced "Danville"). They both had pleasant smiles on their faces, but both seemed slightly guarded.

I noted that there seemed to be an age difference between Denvil and Louie. Denvil looked a few years younger, probably only because Louie was sporting a tiny patch of salt and pepper beard on his chin. Louie seemed very self conscious about his well-earned tiny bit of gray. Louie was of average height, and was dressed more like an islander, whereas Denvil reminded me more of a prep from the east coast. Denvil was very tall, youthful, and energetic. As it turned out, Denvil was single, and in his mid-twenties, Louie was in his mid-thirties, with a wife and child back in Jamaica. They were both extremely polite and professional throughout the time we spent with them.

Once we were all comfortable and seated at the poker table inside the quiet resort game room, I began to ask some milder questions first…"So, why did you two decide to leave your lives in Jamaica and come to the tiny Island of Little Cayman to work?" Louie replied "The money I make here is worth much more back home in Jamaica. I have a wife and child to take care of. The job opportunities in Jamaica just are not there. I cannot make good money in Jamaica. I am working here for my family, so that they are taken care of." Denvil interjected with "I’m here for the job opportunity, and the ability to learn, move up in my career, and the chance to travel." "What are your job titles here?" I asked. Louie replied with "I do a little bit of everything, I act as waiter, host, clear tables, help the kitchen staff, and whatever else is needed of me." Denvil said "I am a chef here."

We took a short break while my travel companion fetched us a few drinks from the bar at the resort. After a sip of my somewhat watered down rum punch, I said "I understand that it’s quite dangerous in Jamaica, where could we go in Jamaica where it would be safer?" At this, both men seemed somewhat offended, and took great efforts to make it clear that Jamaica is not entirely the unsafe place many think it is. Louie stuck his chest out and said "You come to Jamaica and have me with you as a guide, nobody would bother you, because you are with a Jamaican." At any rate, Louie continued with "The safest places to go are Negril, Ochos Rios, Montego Bay, as well as a few other spots. However, DO NOT go to Kingston, even the Jamaicans avoid Kingston because it is a very violent, dangerous place. We Jamaicans hate that our country has been labeled as such a dangerous place... Don’t be mislead by the negative rumors about Jamaica. "Denvil piped up and said "I was born in Jamaica, but grew up in Canada and am a Canadian citizen." I could see that Denvil had a Canadian "air" about him. Denvil did not have the Jamaican lilt that Louie possessed. I knew there was something different about Denvil. Conversely, Louie then told us a story about a shooting incident and how gunshots are all too common in Jamaica. He explained that the bad things happen in only certain places, usually the bigger towns/cities. Violence is not at all common in the more rural areas.

At this point, I decided to start asking the harder questions. "So how are you all able to afford to live on this expensive little island when surely rent on this island is so unaffordable?" Louie replied "The resort has apartments for us, and they charge us a reduced rental rate. Most of us live on property here, with some of us living in the apartments across the street, and some living in the apartments behind the gift shop at the resort. Some of us pay only $100 a month in rent, while others have to pay $300 a month." "That doesn’t seem quite fair to me", I said. "It isn’t, he said." Denvil threw in "I pay $200 a month for a tiny space with a small bed." Denvil described his accommodations as not much larger than what a lower level cruise ship employee might have. I got the impression that those on staff who were Canadian, or were from any other country besides Jamaica, were receiving better housing at cheaper rental rates from the resort management/owners.

Louie explained that the Cayman government is beginning to refuse work visas from Jamaican applicants because the Cayman government seems to believe that crime has increased as a result of the influx of Jamaican resort workers. However, the Canadian woman running the gift shop at Little Cayman Beach Resort said "The Cayman government is also refusing work visas from Canadians now as well. I think they are getting tired of seeing primarily applicants from Jamaica and Canada only, and want some new blood in the Caymans. I tried to get my Jamaican boyfriend into the Caymans for work; his visa was refused." No matter which way you slice it, it appears the Cayman government is getting quite picky about who it will allow into the country to work.

To lighten the mood a bit, I asked "So what are the favorite traditional foods of Jamaicans?" Louie smiled and answered wistfully "Mmmmm, curried lamb, hominy (grits), roasted breadfruit, Jamaican oxtail, fried plantains, boiled plantains, peas and rice, sweet potatoes and many other tings." I love the way Jamaicans pronounce "things" as "tings." Louie went on to describe the manner in which some of these foods are prepared. He also told us that "In Jamaica, no one minds if you pick fruit from their tree or vine. Everyone does it, and no one minds at all, it’s the Jamaican way."

The distance to Jamaica from the Caymans is only 300 miles, so Louie is able to fly home to see his family about twice a year. Though Louie did complain that airfares to Jamaica were very difficult for him to manage.

One ting is for sure, the Jamaican food is working its way readily into the Caymans, as we saw several of the Jamaican dishes Louie described on the buffet at Little Cayman Beach Resort, especially in the mornings. It kept breakfast interesting. Surely, our chef Denvil had a hand in preparing these dishes. I think sprinkling some Jamaican food and reggae into the Cayman islands is actually quite a wonderful thing.

Louie has been working on the island for this resort for many years and plans to stay for a few more, while Denvil has only been there for 2 years. Denvil seems content, but somewhat bored.

On our final day, Louie and Denvil prepared some special plantains for our last morning at the resort. They both saw us off the morning of our departure. Talk about personalized service! They were so polite, so kind, it would be hard to think of Jamaicans or Canadians as anything but wonderful people.

In sum, while things for the Jamaicans and other foreign workers here may be somewhat difficult (tiny rooms in which to sleep, long work weeks, and being homesick), overall, they seem to be happy. It’s too bad that the Cayman government does not see what a wonderful addition to their country Jamaicans have become.

Read Less

Cheer!
Flag

Two 40-Year-Old Kids, One Small Island

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Attack of the Iguana! Photo - Cayman Islands, Caribbean

Quote:

Going to Little Cayman will make you feel like you have slipped into a time machine and been sent back to your completely carefree childhood years. The lack of populous here, along with a complete sense of safety (there is no crime here), combined with the natural, untouched beauty of this island, are sure to give you delightful goose bumps. The butterflies, iguanas, and hermit crabs trickling their way across a deserted beach road are likely to make you feel like a kid on a very special vacation that no one else gets to go on.It all started with boarding the tiny plane in Grand Cayman, headed for Little Cayman. As we walked up the four or five steps of the plane, I saw that the cabin was only ab...Read More

Going to Little Cayman will make you feel like you have slipped into a time machine and been sent back to your completely carefree childhood years. The lack of populous here, along with a complete sense of safety (there is no crime here), combined with the natural, untouched beauty of this island, are sure to give you delightful goose bumps. The butterflies, iguanas, and hermit crabs trickling their way across a deserted beach road are likely to make you feel like a kid on a very special vacation that no one else gets to go on.It all started with boarding the tiny plane in Grand Cayman, headed for Little Cayman. As we walked up the four or five steps of the plane, I saw that the cabin was only about 4 feet in height. I had to duck down as far as I could to make my way through the tiny aisle. I looked over at my travel mate and quipped "What, is this the oomph a loompah plane?" Truly, I felt like the Jolly Green Giant on this plane. It comfortably seated perhaps 10-15 people. The cabin was so small, the only thing separating us from the pilot were a flimsy pair of short drapes. We could see the captain as he throttled up the propellers in his seemingly microscopic cockpit. I thought "Gees, what did I sign up for here? Then again, you only live once, this might be fun!"I am not afraid to fly at all, but I must admit, on this tiny plane, I held my breath and braced myself as the plane hit the end of the runway and took flight. The smell of gasoline permeated the air inside the cabin, and the noise from the engines was so loud, that you couldn’t speak to anyone on the plane without yelling at them. Altitude was always fairly low, allowing us a spectacular view the entire flight. Surprisingly, we stopped off at Cayman Brac to drop off and pick up passengers. This is a very small airport with a small airstrip. I did have time to get off of the plane at Cayman Brac to use the ladies room. We were allowed off of the plane so they could re-fuel. Once back on the plane, I held my breath again as we took flight. Was I holding my breath because I was nervous, or because the gasoline fumes were so overwhelming? I decided it must be for both reasons. Within only a few minutes, we were bouncing like a big rabbit down the grassy airstrip on Little Cayman. Ahhh, safe at last! There were no baggage carousels here, just get off the plane, and grab your luggage as the captain unloads it.Several days after our safe arrival, we rented bikes from the resort and took a long ride down the narrow road encompassing the island. We first encountered a lovely church surrounded by palms and lovely tropical flowers. It has been awhile since I’ve been to church, but this one would inspire me to go every Sunday! We stopped to literally smell the flowers on this church's property.Some days prior, some divers at our resort confided in us about the "secret Iguana feeding spot." They were kind enough to include directions to the "secret" location. On this day, we found ourselves at the south west side of the island, at the rear of the Mahogany subdivision (a subdivision obviously abandoned by builders after only building a few homes). I was a little excited, so I was peddling faster than my travel buddy and arrived at the "secret spot" faster than she did. Nope, no Iguanas. Wait, what’s that big gray thing in the grass about six inches from where I just planted my foot? Eeeeek, huge , scary looking Iguana alert! I backed away slowly and waited for my friend to arrive. We whipped out our bananas and started pulling off small pieces and throwing them in the street (as instructed by the divers we met). The Iguana nearest to my foot was the first to come forward... licking up a bit of banana but looking not so comfortable with us standing so close. I backed a bit further away. Just then, my friend starts throwing bits of banana at my feet. I looked at my friend and said "Heyy, don’t throw the bananas at my feet for the Iguanas to come bite my toes off!" I look down and there’s the big scary one eating just an inch or two from my foot. I stayed very still, eyes bugging out and breaking a sweat as I looked at my friend with both fear and anger on my face. Iguanas are not poisonous, but they have very sharp teeth that can make for some exceptionally nasty lacerations. Fifteen minutes or so after we began throwing out bits of fruit, we saw that we were surrounded by about 10 fairly large iguanas. They all wanted a piece of the pie. Like a scared kid, the minute we ran out of banana, I was on my bike and peddling away from the feeding iguanas. Best to leave them alone while they eat, don’t you think?A true, carefree feeling overtook me when we rounded the bend at the south east end of the island and encountered butterflies. We felt like kids stopping to "catch" a butterfly or two. The slow pace of the island was overtaking us as we began to peddle our bikes slower and slower... taking our sweet time more and more as the minutes and hours passed. The ocean breeze in our hair, our feet peddling on "island time"... yes, I think we were 10 years old at that moment.We saw several stunning beaches along the way, and snuck onto what appeared to be private property in order to snap a few pictures. I kept waiting for my Mom to appear and say "Get out of those peoples yard!." Lucky for me, in most cases, there wasn’t a soul in sight. I looked at the sun to approximate the time of day and I could see it was getting to be about 4pm. Time to head back to the resort, we needed to be "home" before dark! As we made the slovenly journey back to the resort, I saw what appeared to be a rock in the road. However, rocks don’t move, and this rock would move a couple of inches, stop, and then move a couple more inches. I stepped up the pace on my peddling to investigate the moving rock. I was slightly afraid, but far too curious to ignore it. I approached with caution and burst out into laughter as I saw that this "rock" was merely a very large hermit crab... trickling his way across the road and trying to do so without being "noticed."The kinds of things we saw that day are things we usually don’t have time (in every day life) to stop and enjoy. It’s funny how the simplest things in life can have the most profound effect.

Read Less

Cheer!
Flag

IgoUgo

Cayman Islands Journals

Upload Photos

Write a Review

Create a Trip Plan

Make a Journal

Little Cayman - Fantasy Beaches and Ugly Iguanas