Cayman Brac

Cayman Brac is the middle sister of the Cayman Islands and is situated south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica in the turquoise waters of the western Caribbean about 450 miles south of Miami. This sublime spot would be easy to miss at only 14 square miles—good thing you’ve already found us.

Christopher Columbus spotted the island, along with Little Cayman, in 1503 when he dubbed them Las Tortugas at the sight of turtles wallowing in the sun and surf. Later in the century, Sir Francis Drake renamed them the Caymanas, meaning crocodile in the historic Carib language. It is most likely that what Drake thought were crocodiles were really local iguanas that still inhabit the island’s lush tropical landscape today.

Today the island’s name considers both its terrain and its history. The word Brac is the Gaelic term for bluff, which refers to the limestone incline that covers the majority of the island. Starting its gradual rise on the western most end of the island, the Bluff is home to countless indigenous birds, namely the green parrots as well as reptiles like the iguanas and other interesting animals. Hiking trails throughout the bluff will lead you to picturesque sights, and flora and fauna you’d never expect in the depths of the Caribbean.   At its peak the Bluff rises dramatically 150 feet out of the Caribbean Sea providing a very rewarding end to a tough hike or climb, not to mention the best sunrises you’ll ever experience.

The culture and style of “The Brac”, as the locals call it, is the embodiment of island charm.  On the north side of the island historical homes and family owned businesses are sprinkled along the coastline. With only a handful of main roads and no stoplights,  you and your family will ease into the island lifestyle within moments of arriving.