Little Cayman – A pocket of peace and serenity

It is almost impossible not to fall under the spell of tiny Little Cayman. The smallest of the three Cayman Islands, and one the last undeveloped destinations in the Caribbean, this diminutive speck of coral and sand charms visitors from the moment they step down from the propeller airplane that delivers them there.

Little by name and little by nature, the island is just ten miles long and one mile wide, with a resident population of less than 200. This is a place where the airport, fire station and post office occupy a single, small building; where there is just one bank and one shop, and where iguanas outnumber humans by a significant margin.

Blossom Villas, the island’s only ‘village’ is little more than a handful of quintessential Caribbean cottages with screened porches and gingerbread trim, connected by sandy paths, and only steps from a white sand beach and sparkling Caribbean Sea.

Little Cayman is as serene and simple as its big sister, Grand Cayman, is sophisticated and glamorous. Life unfolds at a languid pace here: it’s surprisingly easy to while away entire days swaying gently in a hammock, counting the endless hues of the ocean. But if the need to explore arises, a pushbike is all you need to pedal your way slowly around the island, stopping to see the red footed boobies at the Booby Pond Nature Reserve, the shimmering tarpon in Tarpon Lake (a must for fly fishermen), and to snorkel from the pink-hued beach at Point o Sand.

For the ultimate desert island experience, rent a kayak or stand up paddle board and make your way over to Owen Island. Lying just 200 yards from Little Cayman’s southern shore, you could well find you have this uninhabited islet all to yourself.

Most visitors however, come for Little Cayman’s underwater riches – because this unassuming island is home to some of the best diving in the Caribbean. Just a few yards off the north shore, Bloody Bay Wall is a dramatic underwater drop-off that plunges vertically from around 15 feet to some 5,000 feet. It is not only the topography that makes this wall impressive though, it is also encrusted with vibrant corals and sponges which attract an abundance of marine life.

Places to stay on such a tiny, remote island are inevitably limited, but Cayman Villas has two villas on the island that are perfect for the barefoot lifestyle Little Cayman is known for. Blossom Village Cottage is in fact three cottages (one bedroom in each) set on soft white sand only a few steps from the sea. Simple and quaint, the property is equipped with everything you need for a relaxing stay, and ideally located a short walk from the airport, shop and one of the island’s best eateries.

If total seclusion is what you’re after though, it doesn’t get much better than Little Cayman Escape, a beach house on the northeast shore. The villa’s circular design includes three bedrooms and open-plan living space with a wraparound veranda offering panoramic views of sea and sky, plus a stretch of beach just for you.

For more information on holiday rentals in the Cayman Islands, contact Cayman Villas.