In 1503, Christopher Columbus came upon a group of islands in what is now the Caribbean Sea. The people who lived there called the atolls “caiman,” their word for crocodile.

I recently followed in Columbus’ wake and found the Cayman Islands offer far more than the usual sun-and-sand pitch. From history and wildlife to water sports and museums, the Caymans pack the variety of a much larger destination into three small islands.

A blue iguana, an endangered species found only on Grand Caymen

 BAREFOOT BEACHES

When people think “Caribbean,” beaches come to mind. The Caymans deliver, with inviting stretches of soft white sand and clear water. Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman, reduced by erosion to about 5.5 miles, has been named one of the Caribbean’s “Ultimate Beaches” by Caribbean Travel & Life magazine. At the far end sits Cemetery Beach, named for its location adjacent to a burial ground, where weathered headstones read like pages from the islands’ past.

That past is full of surprises. Over time, those who found their way to this archipelago included shipwrecked sailors, pirates and deserters from British troops in Jamaica.

Grand Cayman, the largest of the three islands at about 22 miles long and 8 miles wide, is home to Stingray City, a set of shallow sandbars where southern stingrays gather. After plenty of reassurance that it was safe, I waded in and got up close and personal with these strange animals.

Little Cayman lives up to its name. It remains one of the last largely undeveloped islands of any size in the Caribbean, with unspoiled natural beauty and a slower pace. 

Cayman Brac brings a different mood, with rugged terrain and caves. Some of those caves, locals say, once served as pirate hideouts for stashing treasure. It’s a bird-watcher’s paradise—more than 200 species of resident and migratory birds have been recorded.

SHIPWRECKS & REEFS

At the Cayman Islands National Museum, intricate ship models sit near relics recovered from wrecks on the surrounding reefs, bringing the islands’ seafaring story to life. Visitors to the Central Caribbean Marine Institute learn about coral health, reef restoration and other responses to a changing ocean.

At Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, a typical Caymanian house more than a century old stands amid wetlands, forested areas and manicured gardens. The park is also home to blue iguanas, an endangered species found only on Grand Cayman.

A boat cuts through the turquoise water near the George Town waterfront. 

 Then there’s George Town, the capital, with a population of about 40,000. Despite its modest size, the metropolis plays a big role in the local tourism scene. Up to four cruise ships at a time may anchor in the harbor, sending passengers ashore for duty-free shopping and a quick sampling of what the island has to offer. Others seek out a smattering of historic buildings and landmarks that hint at the place’s colorful past.

Visitors wade in the shallows at Stingray Cit off Grand Cayman

 That history, paired with a wide choice of present-day things to see and do, makes the Cayman Islands an inviting destination. U.S. dollars are widely accepted. Public beaches are plentiful. And for snorkelers, colorful reefs and equally vivid marine life are just offshore.

For more information, go to VisitCaymanIslands.com or call the New York office (you read right) at 212-889-9009.