The Cayman Islands is Worth the Wait
As isolation continues to press on through 2020 and Canadians remain tucked away from the people, places and things we love, it’s no wonder that we scroll through our phones, reminiscing about where we’ve been. We look forward to the days when we can pick up our cameras to capture new adventures, share explorations with friends and loved ones, and enjoy a change of scenery beyond our borders. We daydream of an idyllic getaway full of fresh air carrying the familiar scent of saltwater and a white sand beach looking out onto a perfect aquamarine shoreline— a destination like the Cayman Islands that provides peace of mind that it operates with the highest standard of care.
Many people have wondered why Cayman has not opened its borders despite having a miniscule number of COVID cases. With one of the highest testing rates on the planet, a sophisticated infrastructure and government that has capably managed the threat, it is the destination that Virtuoso named its no. 1 choice for travel this winter. Yet, the nation is taking its time before letting us enjoy its spoils and doing so for good reason.
In the Cayman Islands, they know that the location is so special stress seems to melt away the moment you arrive. They also know that ensuring the trio of islands remain a safe, welcoming paradise beckoning the most discerning travellers will take time. So we wait.
As Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman ready themselves to again welcome tourists, they want to ensure that any adjustments will be seamless and t hat when visitors arrive, they will ease into the same trusted, relaxed, beautiful destination.
All three islands have an advantage over other tourist destinations in that their offerings were already built for self- directed vacations, and none of its hotels are “mega- resorts.” Rather, Cayman offers a variety of exceptional low- rise hotels, villas, condominiums, restaurants and attractions designed for more intimate experiences. It is this very sensibility that has always enticed visitors and will be even more enticing given the evolved way we now travel.
Cayman is not the place where you wake up at 6 a.m. to commandeer a beach chair or line up for a buffet. It’s a tranquil, thoughtful island paradise where the world- class culinary offerings are diverse and run the gamut from the Caribbean’s only AAA Five Diamond Award- winning restaurant led by a Michelin starred chef to local fish shacks that serve daily catch hauled in just moments before it hits your plate. Its restaurants showcase the creativity that distinct international flavours can bring to a menu, and its special events, festivals and c el ebrations are civilized, organized fun that lend themselves to whatever type of experience one wishes to have.
Its miles and miles of perfect white sand beaches are not crowded. Its crystalclear waters are the perfect shade of blue, and the vibrant sunsets melt into the horizon, casting golden light on the calm, warm sea. Days and nights are spent outside, breathing in the fresh air and enjoying an unfettered peace.
Grand Cayman is the “Grande Dame” of the three islands, and the most well- known of the British Overseas Territories in the Greater Antilles. Located less than four hours by plane from Toronto, it was just last year that Prince Charles and Camilla visited to inaugurate the newly expanded and re- imagined Owen Roberts International Airport, which welcomes Air Canada and Westjet with non- stop flights from Toronto year-round.
It has over 200 restaurants and cultural attractions that range from the National Gallery and Pedro St. James to its notto- miss Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Park, Cayman Crystal Caves, with their otherworldly stalactite and stalagmite formations set in a tropical forest, to the Cayman Motor Museum featuring a collection of cars and speedboats, including the first car ever brought to the Cayman Islands ( a 1905 Cadillac) and even thenPrincess Elizabeth’s first Rolls Royce.
Cayman Brac is more rugged, with a distinctive limestone bluff that rises imposingly above sea level and is popular with rock climbers. With its caves, trails and friendly people, it’s a wonderful destination for those seeking adventures, excellent diving and a more “local” experience.
Little Cayman, just 10 miles by one mile, has a permanent population of about 250 people who consider the “hideaway” to be the Caribbean’s bestkept secret. This hidden gem offers first- rate dive resorts with access to some of the most pristine dive sites on the planet. It’s the first choice of people who truly want to “get away from it all,” unplug and enjoy nature’s spoils.
In the meantime, as the days become shorter and the fall sets in, we can look forward to longer sunsets, white sand beaches and days and nights in the peaceful, perfect Cayman Islands. It will be Worth the Wait.