Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Seven Mile Beach runs from south to north along Grand Cayman's west-
ern edge, stretching from George Town to the North West Point. Along this
stretch, the land is only about a mile wide, between the waters of the West
Bay and the North Sound. To the east, the shoreline of the North Sound is
uneven, at some points etching into the land with salt creeks and small
harbors. Much of the eastern reaches of the Seven Mile Beach area are cov-
ered by swampy vegetation. The largest harbor along this stretch of the
North Sound is
Governors Harbour
, where Governors Creek creeps into
the land in a maze of natural and man-made canals. Today it's lined with
luxury lots and lavish homes, as well as the
Cayman Islands Yacht
Club
.
The resort areas of Seven Mile Beach face the West Bay and look toward
the
Main Drop-Off
, an area of the ocean that plummets to great depths.
Protected marine parks (see pages 26-27 for a description of the marine
park preservation laws) run parallel to the shore, safeguarding delicate
coral reefs and marine life. In some ways the strip of sand seems much lon-
ger than its five miles because of the numerous businesses packed along
its expanse. The beach is public and you'll find access points scattered all
along, sometimes sandwiched between condominium developments. One
of the best access points is the
public beach park
, tucked north of the
Westin Casuarina Hotel. With plenty of parking (other beach access areas
offer parking on the shoulder of busy West Bay Road), this is one of the best
options for enjoying Seven Mile Beach if you're not staying at one of the
area properties. The park includes shaded pavilions, restrooms with
changing rooms, and a small playground for the kids. Squeaky clean and,
like the rest of the island, devoid of beach vendors, the park is a wonderful
place to spend an afternoon.
TOP SEVEN REASONS TO VISIT
SEVEN MILE BEACH
For many travelers, Grand Cayman is synonymous with Seven
Mile Beach, a stretch of powdery sand lined not just with palms
and casuarina trees, but also with enough fun to keep even the
most restless traveler busy. The heart of the Caymanian tourism
business, this is one of the most popular beaches in the Carib-
bean. Regardless of your interests, you'll find plenty of reasons to
recommend Seven Mile Beach.
GREAT RESORTS.
Grand Cayman is known for its condomini-
ums, but the island is also home to several grand resorts. Clients
looking for full-service accommodations with amenities ranging
from business centers to spas to fitness facilities will find them
along Seven Mile Beach.
SCUBA DIVING AND SNORKELING.
Grand Cayman is a
capital in the world of scuba diving and Seven Mile Beach sits at
