Cayman Brac
island
Cayman Brac is a 14-square-mile (36.26 km²) island in the Cayman Islands. The island rises from the west side to tall bluffs ("brac" is Gaelic for "bluff") at the eastern tip of the island. One of the island's main appeals is diving to offshore reefs and shipwrecks. With a population less than 1,800, those that live on Cayman Brac are referred to as 'Brackers'.
Map of Cayman Brac
Get in
editBy plane
edit- 1 Charles Kirkconnell International Airport (CYB IATA previously Gerard-Smith International Airport). An airport facility with a 6000-ft runway.
Sit on the right side of the plane (either direction) if you want a view of Little Cayman and Brac.
By boat
editNo ferry service. Private charters from Grand Cayman are available.
Get around
editBy air
edit- Cayman Airways, {{Phone|+1 345 949-2311}. Provides air service between the three islands' airports.
By car
edit- 2 CB Rent-A-Car (cross the airport parking lot and it's on the other side of the street), ☏ +1 345 948 2424. Daily 8AM-6PM. Has compact cars and vans for rent.
- B & S Motor Ventures, 126 Channel Road, ☏ +1 345 948 1646. Has cards, SUVs, minivans and bicycles for rent. Free pickups from the airport.
See
edit- 1 The Bluff and Christopher Columbus Gardens, ☏ +1 345 948-2506. The bluff area is wonderful for exploration. The Columbus Garden is a memorial area for Sister Island notararies and Columbus and has beautiful plantings and a gazebo.
- 2 Brac Parrot Reserve, ☏ +1 345 948-2390. Easily walkable trails and raised walkway through the forest. Home to trees and birds found nowhere else. Especially fine in the winter when migratory birds are here.
- 3 Lighthouse (Take Major Donald Drive to the end.).
- 4 Cayman Brac Museum, 279 Stake Bay Road, ☏ +1 345 948-2622, +1 345 244-4446. W 9AM-4PM, Sa 9AM-noon. Artifacts, household items and seafaring equipment. free.
Do
edit- Shore diving: Multiple entries around the island. Rent tanks and gear at Reef Divers. There are 11 dive sites reachable by shore.
- Snorkel along the rocky coastlines - prepared entries with ladders.
- Swim in the warm waters at Public beach (bathroom/showers facilities) or from one of the cuts or docks.
- Explore the village of Spot Bay - the heart of Caymanian Culture.
- Pick your own fresh papaya, mangoes, pomegranate, bananas, etc., at Murch's farm. (Mangoes May-August)
- Deep sea fishing
- Canoeing and kayaking
- Explore dozens of caves such as Rebecca's Cave, Peter's Cave and Skull Cave and the amazing Nani's cave.
- 3 Rebecca's Cave. Interesting story and grave of the baby (Rebecca) that didn't make it.
- 4 Nani Cave. The most impressive of all of the caves. Includes a cave organ.
- 5 Great Cave. Hermit crabs and bats. Access via a ladder.
- 6 Bat Cave. Small, but easy to access via stairs.
- 7 Skull Cave (Half Way Ground Cave). Lots of bats. Easy access via stairs.
- 8 Peter's Cave (accessible from the north side of the island or from the top of the bluff). The least impressive of the Brac caves.
- Hike: Multiple trails to hike including the easy Lighthouse trail 120 feel over the sea - see the indigenous Booby birds. Also hike the Parrot reserve.
- Biking: being a small island with little traffic, exploring with bikes is enjoyable. Brac Reef and some car rental companies have bikes to use/rent.
- Bird watching
- Reef Divers, ☏ +1 345 948-1642. Affiliated with the Brac Reef Beach Resort. Reservations highly recommended. PADI 5 Star with Air and Nitrox available. Multiple Newton diveboats with daily morning dives on Cayman Brac; frequent afternoon diveboats, plus periodic morning dive trips to Little Cayman (weather permitting). Note: Reef Divers is effectively the only company running diveboats on Cayman Brac: Dive Tiara ceased operations circa 2006, and In-Depth relocated to Grand Cayman in 2009. The Village Scuba School never had their own diveboat.
- Cayman Brac Climbing, ☏ +1 345-936-2722, info@climb.ky. Rock climbing on the cliff.
Eat
edit- Brac Reef Restaurant and Bar, ☏ +1 345 948-1323. Features a largely American style menu. Karaoke on Wednesday nights and live music on Friday nights.
- Alexander Hotel Restaurant, ☏ +1 345 948-8222. Features a largely American style menu.
- Aunt Sha's Kitchen, ☏ +1 345 948-1581, fax: +1 345 948-1571. Offers largely local fare.
- 1 Captain's Table (Located directly in front of Brac Caribbean Beach Village), ☏ +1 345 948-1418, fax: +1 345 948-1419. Has swimming pool and pool bar.
- 2 PoPo Jeb's Pizza (in the vicinity of Gerrard Smith International Airport), ☏ +1 345 948-0344.
- 3 Asian House (in the vicinity of Gerrard Smith International Airport). Lunch and dinner. Cash only. Free WiFi.
- 4 Paradise Desires & Creations. Local Caribbean food in small homey restaurant.
Drink
edit- Brac Reef Bar. Live music on Fridays! Karaoke on Wednesdays.
- Coral Isle Club/Bar. Booming club music. Very popular with locals. Occasional live music on weekends!
- Alexander Hotel Bar. A variety of western menu items.
Buy
edit- Treasure Chest, ☏ +1 345 948-1333, fax: +1 345 948-1578. Sells local items, caymanite and black coral jewellery, souvenirs, etc.
- Kirk Freeport (Stake Bay), ☏ +1 345 948-2612, fax: +1 345 948-2613. Sells caymanite, ornaments, t-shirts etc.
- Marketplace. Grocery Store at Tibbets Square. Lunch and Pizza daily.
- 1 Billy's.
- 2 Kirkconnells (Stake Bay).
- Miss Mary Lou's (Fine Wines & Spirits), #25 Cross Roads Tibbetts Plaza (2 minutes drive from the airport, turn right and right again), ☏ +1 345 948 1332. Beers, wines & spirits, souvenirs and Tortuga rum cakes.
Sleep
editLodging on Cayman Brac consists mostly of rental property, although a few hotels, resorts, condominiums and a bed-and-breakfast exist.
- Brac Reef Beach Resort, ☏ +1 345 948-1642, fax: +1 345 948-1270. Rooms, dive packages available.
- The Alexander Hotel, 403 Gerrard Smith Ave, West End, ☏ +1 345 948-8222, manager@alexanderhotelcayman.com. Amenities include outdoor bar, restaurant, conference room and gift shop.
Condominums
edit- Cayman Breakers, ☏ +1 345 948-1463. Eighteen two-bedroom condos.
- Brac Caribbean and Carib Sands, ☏ +1 345 948-2265, toll-free: +1 866-843-2722, fax: +1 345 948-1111.
Holiday houses
edit- Sea Song Cottage, info@seasongcottage.com. Beautiful traditional Caribbean cottage for vacation rental. Set in its own large tropical garden by stunning limestone cliffs, 'The Bluff', and close to beaches. Sleeps two.
- Garden Estate, ☏ +1 345 328-0141, islandchicken@hotmail.com. Private rental of a 5-bedroom beach estate including pool and guest cottage, jacuzzi tub, steam room, and barbecue.
Stay healthy
editThere is one hospital on the island providing modern surgery facilities and 18 hospital beds. A dental clinic and community care center are located nearby.
- 1 Faith Hospital. It provides health services with an 18-bed hospital and modern surgery facilities.