Why Honeymoon on Little Cayman
Couples come here to switch off. Wi-Fi exists but is often slow, televisions are scarce and the loudest noise most nights is the wind in the casuarinas. You spend your days in the sea and your evenings over long dinners.
The marine life is exceptional. Bloody Bay Marine Park protects the north shore reefs, where turtles, groupers, eagle rays and reef sharks are common sights. Inland, the Booby Pond Nature Reserve shelters what is described as the largest colony of red-footed boobies in the Western Hemisphere, alongside frigatebirds that wheel over the pond at sunset.
It is not for everyone. Restaurants are almost all inside the lodges, the pace is slow and rough weather can cancel boat trips for a day or two. Couples who need variety should treat this as a three-night add-on to Grand Cayman.
When to Go
Winter and spring bring dry weather and comfortable temperatures, which makes December through April the most popular time. From about April through July the sea is often at its flattest, ideal for the north shore boat dives and long snorkel sessions.
Winter cold fronts sometimes push north winds across the island for a few days. When they blow, the dive boats move to the sheltered south side, which is still good but less dramatic than Bloody Bay.
Hurricane season runs June through November, with the highest risk from August through October. Some lodges close for part of the autumn for maintenance, so confirm opening dates before planning a September trip. The upside of the shoulder months is real: lower rates and the feeling that you have the whole island to yourselves.
Where to Stay
Lodging is small scale and spread along the south and west shores, with most places a few minutes by bike from the airstrip.
The Southern Cross Club has brightly painted beach cottages, a dive operation and meal packages; rooms skip televisions on purpose. Little Cayman Beach Resort is the largest property on the island, with a pool, a spa and its own dive shop. Pirates Point Resort is a cluster of cottages that has long had a strong reputation for its food. Condo and villa options such as the Conch Club and Paradise Villas suit couples who want a kitchen.
Because there are so few restaurants, choose a lodge with a meal plan or at least dinner included. Most packages bundle diving or snorkel trips too, which usually works out cheaper than paying for each separately.
Romantic Things to Do
Take a boat trip to Bloody Bay. Snorkelers float over coral heads in 20 feet of water and watch the reef edge disappear into indigo below. Certified divers drift along the wall itself.
Rent a kayak and paddle across to Owen Island, an uninhabited islet a couple of hundred yards off the south shore. Pack a towel and some lunch; you may have the beach to yourselves.
Cycle to Point of Sand at the eastern tip, a soft beach with shallow water and views across the channel to the cliffs of Cayman Brac. Late in the day, stop at the Booby Pond viewing area near the airstrip to watch thousands of seabirds return to the nesting colony.
On a clear night, lie on the dock outside your lodge. With so little artificial light, the stars put on a better show than most planetariums.
Getting There and Around
Fly to Grand Cayman (GCM) first. Cayman Airways Express operates small turboprops to Little Cayman several times a day, sometimes with a stop on Cayman Brac on the way. The flight takes well under an hour. Seats are limited and so is baggage, with weight allowances lower than on jets, so book early and pack soft bags. Dive gear may need to be checked as extra luggage.
International arrivals clear immigration and customs on Grand Cayman, so build in enough connection time.
The airstrip sits next to the main settlement of Blossom Village. Lodges meet your flight. Most hand out bicycles, which is all you need on an island this flat and this quiet. A few places rent jeeps or scooters for a day of exploring the northern and eastern coasts.
Food and Drink
Eating on Little Cayman means eating at your lodge or at one of the others nearby. Many guests take a full meal plan. Dinners are often served at set times, sometimes at shared tables, which is a pleasant way to swap dive stories with other couples.
Expect fresh fish, conch and lobster in season, plus the hearty Caribbean cooking that keeps divers fueled. Pirates Point has been praised for years for its kitchen. Lodge bars do rum punch at sunset.
The island has one small grocery store and prices there are steep because everything arrives by plane or barge. If you rent a condo, bring snacks and treats from Grand Cayman. Keep some cash on hand, since card machines and banking services are limited.
Honeymoon Tips
- Book three or four nights. One night is too short to recover the travel time. A week suits only keen divers.
- Pack reef-safe sunscreen, a rash guard, insect repellent and any medicine you need. There is only a small clinic on the island.
- Tell your lodge it is your honeymoon. Small places often arrange a private beach dinner or a sunset boat ride on request.
- If you are not certified, ask about a short introductory dive in the shallows. Little Cayman is a gentle place to try it.
- Allow a buffer night on Grand Cayman before your flight home in case weather delays the island hop.
- Drive and cycle slowly. Rock iguanas sunbathe on the warm road and have right of way.
