If you grew up in a Caribbean household, Easter likely invokes strong recollections of Good Friday and Easter Sunday church. Or a month-long fish or bun and cheese diet, and fun-filled days frolicking at the beach. Of course, we all have childhood associations of kitesurfing, regatta races, cute bunny costumes and hunting for chocolate eggs, too. But there’s only one place in the Caribbean where the four-day weekend also means camping on the beach. If you’ve never experienced the cultural phenomena of Easter beach liming in the Cayman Islands, you should try it soon.
From Holy Thursday to Easter Monday, the country’s beaches are transformed into active campsites, where families spend the day fishing, swimming and chilling; in between eating and grilling. Everybody – natives and tourists alike – is welcome to drop by and share a meal, play cards or join a competitive game of dominoes. Then after a few hours at one location, you move to another spot for more of the same. I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere else. It’s such a refreshingly authentic destination experience that’s the perfect excuse for a quick break!
Where to camp
The most popular camping spots in Grand Cayman are at Cayman Kai, East End, Smith Cove and Public Beach. If you want to partake in the festivities, you can click here for more information on the process and guidelines.
Where to eat
Sunday brunches are a staple Cayman tradition during regular times of the year, and it becomes even more of a thing to do during long weekend holidays when persons are off from work the next day. Almost every restaurant will have a special Easter brunch menu guaranteed to expand the waistline, but some of the more popular brunch spots include: The Westin, LUCA, Seven, Blue Cilantro, Marriott Beach Resort, Cimboco, the Kimpton Seafire, Karoo, and Grand Old House.
Other things to do
- Watch the Easter regatta, a ‘round the island’ boat race that happens over two days. It starts in the North Sound on Good Friday and ends in George Town at Sunset House, then on Saturday the sailors race from there back to the starting point. Even if you’re not that into boating, there’s no shortage of drinks and a good vibes flow.
- Check out Kitefest, a kite competition with music from a live band, usually held at Kaibo on Easter Monday.
Visit cultural and heritage-based sites such as:
- Explore to Pedro St James, a Great House that showcases the splendor of its 18th century heritage.
- Tour of Cayman National Museum.
- Join a walk-through of Miss Lassie House, the colorful home of artist Gladwyn Klosking Bush, otherwise known as “Miss Lassie.” Each wall is covered in her vivid murals.
So, what are you waiting for? With a short flying time of 90 minutes from Miami and non-stop service available on multiple carriers from other US gateways, there’s no reason not to hop over to Cayman for a little getaway… this year or next!
About the writer:
Macaulay is a Jamaican explorer who blogs about her travels in her spare time. You can keep up with her adventures via her blog MyTravelStamps.com or by following her at the @mytravelstamps handle on Instagram and Facebook.
