George Town

George Town is the capital of Grand Cayman, the biggest of the three Cayman Islands. Grand Cayman is located 480 miles south of a Miami and 180 miles northwest of Jamaica. The Islands are world famous for their crystal clear waters, with some of the world's most exquisite coral reefs and sea life found off the islands shores.

Christopher Columbus first discovered the Cayman Islands in May of 1503. Columbus actually explored the other two Islands, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The islands were heavily populated by turtles at the time, so Columbus named them "Las Tortugas." Less than thirty years later, however, the islands became known as the "Caymanas," which is a Carib Indian word for alligator.

Grand Cayman is only 22 miles long and eight miles wide, with a total area of only 76 square miles. Of that total, over half of the land is essentially swamp.

George Town is the offshore banking capital of the Caribbean. Over 500 global banks have offices here. But that's not the main reason to visit the island's capital. For that, you need only look around you.

Seven Mile Beach is the main tourist development part of the island. Located on Grand Cayman's western shore, north of George Town, all of the major hotels and resorts are found here. Golf lovers will find a beautiful golf course nearby, while worshippers of the sun will have no problem staking their claim to some of the purest, whitest sand in the Caribbean. If you are inclined to do more than just sunbathe, enjoy some of the best diving anywhere in the world.

Among Grand Cayman's most unique attractions is a turtle farm, which has brought a number of turtle species back from the endangered list. Head a couple of miles offshore and you will find a community of stingrays that have perplexed scientists and tourists alike. They stay in pretty much the same place all year, and they are friendly to the humans who come to feed and pet them.

Grand Cayman does not have the vibrant party scene you will find on other Caribbean islands. In fact, the general feel of the island is decidedly reserved and relaxed, a hint of Great Britain's tight upper lip mixed in with the flavor of a tropical island in a beautiful climate.

Because the Islands are under British authority, English is the official language.