Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Sunny Silver Sands!

From the sunny Cayman Islands we are wishing you all a wonderful holiday season wherever you might be. Enjoy time with family and friends and we can't wait to see you down here in at Silver Sands again soon!

Photos by Heather Holt Photography

Days of Cayman's Past: Pedro St. James

Pedro St. James is a fantastic day trip from Silver Sands. Just a 30 minute drive and you will be transported to one of Cayman's most interesting historical sites.

William Eden, a mariner and early English settler, established a cotton and mahogany plantation on Savannah's Pedro bluff in 1780. With its spectacular view of the Caribbean and convenient anchorage for ships right offshore the location was ideal. St. James was a remarkable building for that period and it was the only house on Grand Cayman that survived the devastating hurricane of 1785. The original ruins beneath the "castle" are the oldest structure in the Cayman Islands. By 1823 the house and grounds were being used as a courthouse, jail and public pound. 

Today you can visit these ruins and get a look into how the early people of the Cayman Islands lived. The grounds are open daily during the hours of 9-5, admission is CI$8/US$10 and kids 12 and under are free. Please contact www.pedrostjames.ky for directions as well as further information.

Please visit the Cayman Islands official website for more history and information of the Cayman Islands at www.caymanislands.ky

The above photo is a typical bedroom in the house while the kitchen is outdoors in a separate building.

Photography by Heather Holt Photography, and www.pedrostjames.ky

Marine Parks: Keeping Cayman Reefs Alive and Healthy

Ever wondered what the Cayman islands are doing to keep these beautiful turquoise waters and coral reefs thriving with life? Well the Department of Environment has not only clear rules about what people can catch while fishing and a list of protected species they also have Marine Parks with clearly marked usage zones. 

As a visitor to Silver Sands, when you step onto the beach and look out to sea in front of the property you can see the area of Marine Park that is situated right in the heart of 7-Mile.

As you can see from the above chart curtesy of the DoE,  some of the different zones include:

Marine Parks

Environmental Zone

Replenishment Zone

Designated Grouper Spawning Area

Wildlife Interaction Zones

No Diving Zones

You might see some of these zones marked along the beaches as you explore the island, however if you have any further questions please check out this link to the DOE Marine Park Rules for exact rules.

One of the most well known Wildlife Interaction Zones is the famous Stingray City, a definite must during your visit to Cayman!

As you can see from the above chart, there are also rules about what you can take, hunt and fish. Line fishing from shore is legal, however spear fishing is highly restricted and you must get a special license to do so. There are also certain times of the year where catching conch, lobster and other ocean delicacies are legal, leaving the rest of the year for the stocks to replenish. For more rules and regulations on Catch Limits please follow this link to the DoE.

The DoE is also in charge of protecting and managing the land and all the terrestrial animals that make the Caymans as diverse and special as it is.

Respecting these rules as a visitor to the Cayman Islands are very easy… take lots of photos and leave only sandy foot prints and bubbles!

Photo Credits: Chase Darnell and Heather Holt Photography

Happy Thanksgiving from Silver Sands!

Here at Silver Sands we are thankful for 3 things this year:

1. We are thankful for the beautiful Cayman Islands and all it has to offer. Nowhere can beat the blue waters and the laid back island life.

2. We are thankful for Silver Sands and the lush gorgeous grounds, large spacious pool, and our quiet and stunning stretch of white sand beach.

3. We are thankful for all the people that make Silver Sands what it is. The guests, the staff and the owners all make Silver Sands one world class get away, hideaway and way of life.

photography by Heather Holt Photography

Green Iguanas: Cayman's Invasive Iguanas

The most common iguana you will stay during your vacation at Silver Sands is the Green Iguana. You will see these guys everywhere from the beach, to the canals, the golf course, up a tree, on the Silver Sands buildings and even flattened on the road.

Not only are these guys great swimmers, they are also very curious and can come up to your window and peer in. They are harmless to humans so enjoy the up close and personal wildlife viewing! 

The top photo is an adult male seen by its huge circular plate on the side of it's face. The below photo is a baby. The green iguanas are born bright vibrant green and turn a orangish greyish as they become adults. All of the Green Iguanas have the distinctive black rings around their tails.

The Green Iguanas might be harmless to people, however as invasive species the the Cayman Islands, they threaten the native flora and fauna. As we have posted previously, the Blue Iguanas are the indigenous iguana species from Grand Cayman and should not be confused by their exotic cousins. If you would like to see the differences in these spikey creatures please refer to the Blue Iguana Recovery Program's chart. Also most of the Blues live out on the East End of the island and can be mostly spotted at the Botanical Park.

Photos by Heather Holt Photography

Pirates in the Caribbean, Cayman Style

Its this time of year again... Pirates Week 2014! The Cayman Islands celebrates the piratey heritage with street parties, fireworks and the landing of the pirates. 

It is an excellent time to visit the island as it marks the end of the hurricane season, and it is a great time to mix with locals and enjoy the island life. Silver Sands offers low season rates during this time of year so please contact us for accommodation during this time.

The tradition is for the pirates to land in Hog Sty Bay in downtown Georgetown and kidnap the governor, followed by a parade and street party.

It is also a great photo op! Barb Photography was kind enough to let us use some of her photos from last weekend's parade and festivities.

There is fun for adults and children alike with participants dressing up in the lastest pirate fashion. 

The party in Georgetown begins and ends with a street party and a fantastic display of fireworks!

There are Heritage Day celebrations through out the week celebrating each districts culture and traditions. These events include dancing, cat boat races and an assortment of local dishes for sale.

Heather Holt Photography also contributed to the images from pirates week's past.