Who knew Hell Could be Fun!

Just outside of West Bay, and only about a 6 minute drive from Silver Sands, on the North-West tip of Seven Mile Beach, lies the community of Hell. Hell is host to one of the most colorfully-named post offices in the world. Many visitors stop by in order to send a postcard, franked "Hell, Grand Cayman". They have been to Hell. Are you going too?

Hell’s fame, in addition to its great postmark, lies in the rock formations rising out of the ground. Short spikes of eerie-looking black rock look like lava in the aftermath of a volcano. The black, threatening rock gives an intimidating impression of what the other Hell may well be like. These jagged rock formations occupy an area around half the size of a soccer field. People are no longer allowed to walk among the rocks, for fear of damage. However, two observation platforms give a fascinating view of this Infernal landscape.

The rock formations are not actually lava, despite their appearance. They are a mixture of limestone and dolomite. The stone has been eroded over the years by algae producing a landform called a phytokarst. The algae attacks the calcium in the limestone, leaving a predominance of the harder dolomite. The resulting shapes are those which can be seen in Hell today. No further erosion will now take place as the algae requires water to stay alive. The rock is actually bright white in color, but has been blackened by the algae, giving rise to its weird appearance.

Info courtesy of Ecay Online.

Photography by: Heather Holt Photography

Cayman Hurricane Season 2017

A few weeks ago we posted about the West Bay Dock and Public Beach, and how gorgeous it is. Unfortunately despite Hurricane Nate being 300 miles from the Cayman Islands we still felt the effects. The West Bay dock got some huge swell and did not fair well. These photos were taken the day after the big swell so you can imagine the waves the dock had to endure! Other areas along 7-Mile and South Sound had rough waters and large swell as well but nothing too serious.

During Irma we also got a bit of wind and waves. Silver Sand's beach and the other beaches around the island were covered in sea weed and many of the trees suffered from the sea spray and had to be cut back, but all in all Cayman has lucked out with the hurricanes this season and we are all so grateful our little island is, for the most part, still in tact. 

Photography by: Heather Holt Photography

Kaibo Yacht Club: A Cayman Favorite

If you feel like a little day trip or an evening culinary adventure away from Silver Sands, a trip to Kaibo Yacht Club is right up your alley. If you are hungry after your adventure at Starfish Point, Kaibo is the perfect chilled out lunch spot with a killer view of the boats, docks and the Northside beach. They are also open for dinner and have some awesome evening events like the Luna del Mar full moon dinner, or the Beach BBQ. Below is a little virtual tour of this charming seaside beach bar. All information and photography comes from the Kaibo website. 

"The oldest and the favorite local beach bar in Cayman Kai, Kaibo Beach Bar combines the feel of down-to-earth beach shack with a fine island establishment. First erected in the ’80s to serve drinks to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her tour of Grand Cayman, Kaibo Beach Bar’s charm remains intact, despite several transformations since. Kaibo Beach Grill serves local specialities all day, and the drinks are worth the discovery.

Kaibo Beach Bar is the heart of this unique piece of paradise. Kaibo Beach Bar is well known for its ice cold beer,  devotedly covered by fresh mountains of ice, day and night. The attraction of Kaibo Beach is it’s distance from the tourist strip of Seven Mile Beach. The quickest way to travel is by boat, arriving at the dock in just 15-25 minutes from Camana Bay.

The drive from George Town is worth the picturesque journey, with historical Bodden Town, The Botanical Gardens and The Mastic Trail on the way. Wonderful friendly bar staff, retro beach signs on the back wall, free wifi, the Caribbean BBQ, live music on Tuesday, and the affordable all day island style menu are key qualities of Kaibo Beach Bar. Kaibo is nestled in the safe and quiet harbour of secluded Cayman Kai and the North Sound Nature Reserve, nearby Starfish Point."

"The menu is unpretentious, fresh and delicious. Beach Bar speciality drinks such as the Rare Rum Mojito, and the Premium Mudslide adorn the list of tropical cocktails to complete your beach experience.

At Kaibo, there’s always something fun going on at the beach…… and it’s decidedly unpretentious; a favourite with ‘beach bums’, off-duty professionals, watersport fanatics, rum afficionados, dog owners, relaxed families and of course the local Cayman Kai residents. Bioluminescence kayak tours and stand up paddle boards are available if you’re feeling active. If not, come to watch the boats pull into the marina, the boating crowd visit the gas station and then frequent the bar for their own refuelling. Even when the sunset crowd regulars pile into this paradise retreat there is always plenty of space on this white sand beach. From sunset Kaibo will fill up with regulars, but pull up a stool at the bar with arguably the best view on island, and you’ll be made to feel welcome. If you’re into live music, you’re in luck because every Tuesday night a local band plays on the beach, while the beach kitchen team prepare your dinner under a cabana for the eat-all you-can the BBQ."

LUNA DEL MAR

Kaibo Beach is a very special place, there are few places in this world where you can live out your desert island dreams of palm trees and white sand beaches, and still have a high class dining experience every month. With the global notoriety that the Luna Del Mar Party has gained as being one of the best beach dinners in the world, we get more than our fair share of ‘Luna Lovers’ gracing our shores. Each year the scene here grows with the ever-increasing number of chill-out faithful that return, bringing their loved-ones and spreading the vibe.

The Luna Del Mar monthly full moon dining experience is the ultimate celebratory 3- course sharing feast at Kaibo Beach. Dine under the stars to chill out beats, and enjoy the sky lantern display after dark.

Dinner under the stars – 3 course sharing feast, 9 dishes - $55  per person

Luna Del Mar Package – water taxi sunset crossing,  3 course sharing feast and water taxi return trip.- $75 per person

How to get there

As mentioned above, the quickest way to travel is by boat, arriving at the dock in just 15-25 minutes from Camana Bay. Kaibo recommends you contact the following boat operators directly for any other times.

Captain Chris: captchrisb35@yahoo.com

Telephone: 929-4489 or 329-2394 (great for Stingray City charters!)

Cayman Ferries:  caymanferries@gmail.com

Telephone: 325-7777

Peacemaker Tours: peacemaker@stingraycity.org

Telephone: 927-5790

Double Trouble: danielbennett069@yahoo.com

Telephone: 916-1643 or 925-8762

Cayman Sunsets Never Get Old

With low season in full swing it means we can do some house cleaning here at Silver Sands to get the place ready for all our lovely guests and owners. Despite our little island being as quiet as can be and rainy season at its wettest, we are still getting those gorgeous Cayman sunsets. The rain clouds always make for some awesome sunsets.

West Bay Dock: Where 7-Mile Beach Begins

West Bay Public Beach and Dock is located at the far north end of Grand Cayman's famous 7-Mile beach and just a 5 minute drive from Silver Sands Condos.

Besides enjoying the blue water and white sand beach as is typical of 7-Mile Beach, West Bay Beach and Dock are special as you also have the old textured dock, ironshore rocks, colorful cabanas and an array of locals and tourists enjoying this charming little public beach making it a nice place to hang out and people watch.

Photography by: Heather Holt Photography

The Wild Chickens of Cayman

While enjoying the lush grounds of Silver Sands you might notice a flock of feathered friends roaming about. The chickens of Grand Cayman are wild, harmless and add that much more character to our little island. You can find them literally everywhere, from the parking lots of banks and supermarkets, to public beaches and the bush and even (disturbingly) hanging outside of KFC... if they only knew!

Some people will eat them as they are a good organic option! However it is said that their meat can be quite tough and needs to be slow cooked.

Two of the downsides to having these guys roaming free is that they don't mind what hour of the day it is, they like to make noise! 3am.... cock-a-doodle-doo!! Also they tend to hand by the sides of the road and bolt to the other side often times making them roadkill. Poor guys.

Photography by: Heather Holt Photography

Seven Mile Summer Sunsets

Summertime in the Cayman Islands is rainy season, which can mean a multitude of things... it can be a passing storm for 10 minutes that comes through unannounced and leaves just as quickly leaving you with a crystal clear day like it never happened, it can mean a wet thundery day all day long, or it can be a perfectly sunny day for you sitting in your lounge chair on the Silver Sand's beach while watching Georgetown disappear into oblivion. Whichever way the weather turns you never know how those sunset are going to end up, with all the moisture in the air and clouds in the sky there are times when that just makes the evening explode with color as the final rays of sun sink down below the horizon. 

Hammock in Paradise

How can you possibly resist this hammock in paradise??? Silver Sand's beach has some enticing places to sit and chill and enjoy a world class view of 7-Mile Beach. This is one of the favorite spots, a hammock under the palm grove with a front row seat to the turquoise blue Caribbean Sea.

The Mastic Trail: Hiking in Grand Cayman

If you would like to get out and explore the island a bit more the Mastic Trail is a perfect day trip from Silver Sands. My best recommendation is to do it in the winter months where it is not so hot and humid. Set off in the morning, do the hike and then head on over to Over the Edge or Rum Point for some lunch and R&R.

"The Mastic Reserve on Grand Cayman protects part of the largest contiguous area of untouched, old growth dry forest remaining on the island. This area and other similar expanses of forest in Cayman are of international significance representing some of the last remaining examples of the Caribbean's dry, subtropical, semi deciduous dry forest, which have been the target of particularly intense deforestation throughout the West Indies.

The area is home to a wide variety of animals and plants unique to the Cayman Islands, and also to large populations of trees which have vanished from more accessible places through logging in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

One of the principal aims of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands is to try to safeguard the survival of the diversity of native wild plants and animals on these islands. This is most effectively achieved by protecting intact natural areas. The Trust's Land Reserves Programme was set up to acquire designated high priority environmental areas for protection under the National Trust for the Cayman Islands Law, 1987. Through a combination of donations and purchases, 834 acres of the total target area of 1,300 acres is currently under the care and management of the Trust, forming the Mastic Reserve."

All above information curtesy or the National Trust Website.

Mastic Trail Tours
Tuesday through Friday mornings

$20 for members

$24 for non-members

Additional days and private tours may also be available.

Call 749-1121 for reservations, meeting time and directions.

Although not as informative, you can also brave the trail by yourself, just be sure to bring lots of bug spray, sunscreen, a hat and wear long pants and long sleeves to protect you from the poisonous plant Maiden Plum.

There is so much wildlife that you can see, the Cayman Parrot along with other native birds, snakes and other reptiles and lizards, and so much plantlife! Another reason to do a guided tour, your guide can tell you all about every little critter you might come across.

Photography by:

Heather Holt Photography
Trip Advisor: Mastic Train Grand Cayman
All Womens Talk

Slices of Py

The Silver Sand's Beach: Pick a Chair Any Chair!

The location of Silver Sands on the far north end of 7-Mile the beach is very quiet as many people don't make it up this far. We are also extremely lucky to have a HUGE beach so even if there are a few people walking by, or other guests at Silver Sands, you can always find a nice quiet chair to chill on.

The Wild West Cayman Style!

If you love horses and need a fun activity for the family then horseback riding is the activity for you! Just a 10 minute drive from Silver Sands, into the heart Cayman's very own wild west! 

Spirit of the West Camanian owned and operated you are guaranteed to make the most out of this beach riding experience. 

Beach Ride (and swim)
The beautiful Caribbean Sea is your backdrop, as you stroll along the white sands at the water's edge, led by knowledgeable and professional guides with over 40 years experience with horses, you will lose yourself in the magical wonderland of the sea, sand, flora and fauna with this unforgettable excursion. They even give the option on some of the rides to swim with your horse in the beautiful crystal clear blue water.

Moonlight Ride
Experience a ride where your senses are turned upside down and inside out! Guided only by the light of the moon and the natural instinct of your horse, you will be mesmerized by its reflection on the sea, the cool, crisp, perfect air around you and the flash of your sandy path ahead, so white it glows like snow! Keep your eye on the moon as it peeks in and out of the clouds and illuminates your ride to peaceful nirvana!

Information and photos courtesy of the Spirit of the West website.

Coral Stone Stables is another company with similar rides, swims and fun at Barkers National Park.

The below companies are also worth a mention:

Cayman Horse Riding with Nikki
Pampered Ponies

Above photo credit thanks to Tara Stanhope
Coral Stone Stables Photos by: Heather Holt Photography