Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
What would you say to encourage travelers to get off the beach
for a while and see more of the island's interior? What surprises
await them?
Let's face it: Cayman has beautiful beaches, but there is more to a
vacation (and life) than sitting on a beach. Besides, you can't hon-
estly say you've seen an island if you've only been “sitting on the
edge;” You've got to get out beyond the beach and see what we're
really about! Picturesque villages and gardens, beautiful roadside
scenery and historic treasures are hidden along side roads wait-
ing to be discovered.
Can you tell us more about your Mastic Trail tour?
This is one of my personal favorites. It's one of Cayman's oldest
and best-preserved traditional footpaths. It runs through the
Mastic Reserve, the second largest nature reserve on the island
encompassing reputedly the oldest stand of native woodland left
on the island. There is nowhere else in the Cayman Islands like it:
historic sites, medicinal plants, Cayman parrots, woodpeckers,
doves and other colorful bird life abound; magnificent trees - rare,
large and some twisted into unusual shapes. At the right time of
year, the trail is lush with wildflowers, including common and
rare native orchids. Participants can expect a leisurely but inter-
esting two-hour walk through this magnificent woodland where
even many locals have not trod!
Can you tell us more about your birdwatching tours?
Again one of my favorites! I personally like birdwatching because
my style is to find the birds instead of picking “one good spot” and
staying there for an hour to see what shows up. With my back-
ground in wildlife management and research, my approach is to
think of the birds as a function of their habitat. So, depending on
the time of year, the weather, the interests of the participants
(parrots are almost always on the list!), we get in the vehicle early
in the morning and we're gone for about five hours. Imagine sip-
ping coffee while sitting on the edge of a meadow waiting for the
parrots to rouse and fly across just as the sun rises!
What ecological and historical offerings of Grand Cayman
would you especially like travelers to explore?
Without hesitation I would recommend the Mastic Trail as our
unique and ultimate eco-experience. For the history-minded, I of-
fer walking tours of the West Bay and the capital, George Town's,
historic districts. This brings you face to face with the historic ar-
chitectural treasures hidden within Cayman's modern façade.
Serious birders should consider attending a meeting of the
Cayman Is-
lands Bird Club
. The group meets monthly to discuss seasonal sightings.
Call the National Trust at
345-949-0121 to check on meeting times.
