Cayman Brac

Cayman Brac is named for its most distinctive feature, a rugged limestone bluff ("brac" in Gaelic) that runs up the center of the 12-mi (19-km) island, pocked with caves and culminating in a sheer 140-foot cliff at its eastern end. The Brac, 89 mi (143 km) northeast of Grand Cayman, is accessible via Cayman Airways. It's a splendid serene destination for eco-enthusiasts, offering world-class birding, scuba diving, bonefishing in the shallows or light-tackle and deep-sea angling, hiking, spelunking, or rock climbing. With only 1,800 residents—they call themselves Brackers—the island has the feel and easy pace of a small town. Brackers are known for their friendly attitude toward visitors, so it's easy to strike up a conversation. Locals wave at passing and might invite you home for a traditional rundown (a thick sultry fish stew) and storytelling, usually about the sea, the turtle schooners, and the great hurricane of 1932 (when the caves offered shelter to islanders). Brackers are as calm and peaceful as their island is rugged, violently sculpted by sea and wind. Unfortunately, the Brac sustained a direct 145-mph hit from Hurricane Paloma in November 2008; nearly 90% of buildings were damaged, the majority severely, and many trees downed. As of this writing, most accommodations, restaurants, shops, recreational options, and sightseeing attractions are expected to come back on line anywhere from July to November 2009. The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism issued this release in late May 2009: "Cayman Brac is officially open for visitors. Car rental agencies, dive operators, restaurants, beaches and natural attractions are all open for business, however we recommend checking in with hotels and guests houses prior to booking to ensure that they are open."