Grand Cayman alone has over 200 multi-ethnic restaurants of all descriptions–including five-star options occupied by some of the world’s most creative and celebrated chefs–serving everything from conch fritters and local seafood to international dishes with a Caribbean twist. 

It might be less surprising to learn that the Cayman Islands has beaches that are frequently voted as some of the best in the Caribbean. Long stretches of white-sand remain completely pristine and uncrowded all year round, and visitors looking for a long beach stroll can walk the full length of the famous Seven Mile Beach, along the western shore of Grand Cayman, although it might not take as long as you’d imagine; the beach in fact measures only five and three-quarter miles long from north to south.

The Cayman Islands is a sanctuary for tropical and diverse nature. All three islands are a birdwatcher’s paradise and Grand Cayman is a haven to the once endangered blue iguana. Equally, all three islands offer snorkeling and SCUBA diving options that are peerless–with a total of 365 dive sites there’s a new dive for every day of the year. Coral reefs populated by an abundance of sea life await, punctuated by an array of ancient shipwrecks—reminders of a dramatic history dating back to the world’s earliest ocean-faring explorers, and the occasional band of pirates.

Golf on the Cayman Islands is also not to be missed in its own relaxed and natural island way. North Sound Golf Club is the only 18-hole course on the islands; a stunning public course with fairways lined by palms and with sea views around almost every turn. It is here that rising star Aaron Jarvis has honed his game. As winner of the 2022 Latin America Amateur Championship, 19-year-old Jarvis became the first Caymanian to play in the Masters in April and The [British] Open at St Andrews in July. 

Whether your preferred vacation activities are on dry land or underwater, the Cayman Islands offers an exceptional and sun-kissed island escape, all within an hour’s hop from Miami.