Our plane touched down on the island of Grand Cayman where the weather was a balmy 80 degrees in January of 1997. Traveling with my friend Cheryl, we were excited to pick up our rental car, check into our hotel on Seven Mile Beach and begin exploring the island, most known for its spectacular diving.
Located 480 miles south of Miami, Grand Cayman is one of three of the Cayman Islands which is a popular cruise ship port for the Western Caribbean itineraries. I had visited here while working for the cruise lines and longed for its laid back atmosphere, friendly stingrays and beautiful white sand beaches.
After checking into our hotel, we didn’t waste time exploring the island starting with a visit to Hell. Staying on Seven Mile Beach, we drove north until we reached the island’s West Bay.
The attraction was surprisingly small, but since it was free, we followed the boardwalk towards acres of black-covered limestone formations. The rocks appeared to have been scorched from a raging fire, leaving an eerie landscape resembling a Biblical apocalypse.
Hell’s owner, Ivan Farrington was well known by the locals as he became famous for wearing a devil costume at the site. Visitors could pose for photos with the “Devil in Hell”, a picture perfect opportunity.
UPDATE: As of spring of 2019, Ivan is selling his geological attraction of Hell for an outstanding eight million dollars. Any takers?
Hell was really not much to write home about, but we thought it would be fun to send a postcard back to family and friends from the post office. We browsed the gift shop, posted our cards and decided to drive back to the hotel.
We found The Cracked Conch, a nearby restaurant where we dined on unbelievable seafood. After dinner, we decided to enjoy the pool before a big day of adventure tomorrow. We planned to wake up early and drive towards the east of the island to explore its interesting attractions and shoreline views, so we will be needing a great night’s sleep.
Have you visited Grand Cayman’s West Bay town of Hell? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my throwback visit to Grand Cayman and wishing you many Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Devil’s Hangout
Hell Road, West Bay
Hell, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Telephone: +345 949 3358
Where to Stay:
Sunshine Suites Resort
1465 Esterley Tibbetts Highway
Seven Mile Beach
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands KY1-1201
Telephone: 877 780 1110
Where to Eat:
Cracked Conch
847 North West Point, Road, West Bay
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands KY1-1201
Telephone: 345 945 5217
This award-winning restaurant is located on the West Bay of Grand Cayman offering fresh seafood (namely conch) with spectacular oceanfront views. Order the outstanding conch ceviche, followed by the Pan Seared Snapper served with creamy chorizo, local cho cho, Madagascar beans and tomato vinaigrette. Save room for the Guava Glazed Bread & Butter Pudding! You won’t believe their amazing liquor selection.
What to Eat:
- Caymanian Fruit Cake: Very similar to the Christmas fruit cakes made in the US, Grand Cayman also makes its own fruit cake with local fruit soaked in rum.
- Coconut Shrimp: Grand Cayman uses fresh shaved coconut for this lovely appetizer, giving the dish an irresistible flavor.
- Conch Stew: Conch is a popular ingredient in many dishes on the island of Grand Cayman. The stew includes this sea snail cooked with tomatoes, island herbs and Cayman peppers adding some heat to the stew.
- Fish Rundown: Grand Cayman’s fish rundown is unique to the island made from chunks of local fish or salt beef, coconut milk and local spices. The stew can either contain plantain, dumplings or breadfruit, this is a seafood dish you won’t want to miss.
- Heavy Cake: Considered the national cake of the island, the heavy cake is made from cassava (tapioca) flour which comes from a root grown on the island. Based on a 200 year old recipe, the moist, dense cake is very sweet and is usually flavored with the spices cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Johnny Cakes (Fritters): Made from unleavened dough, the Johnny Cake is sweetened, baked and then fried as an outstanding appetizer.
- Mudslide: A cocktail made with vodka, coffee-flavored liqueur, and Irish cream. Often times it is topped with whipped cream from a can.
- Turtle Stew: Turtle stew, the national dish of the Cayman Islands, is a popular staple on many restaurant menus and the locals use farm raised turtles as its main ingredient. Order a side of rice and plantains to complete the experience.
What to Read:
- The Firm by John Grisham
- Founded Upon the Seas: A History of the Cayman Islands by Michael Craton
- The Cayman Islands by Hans Hanau
- Cayman Cowboys by Eric Douglas
Photo Guide for Grand Cayman
- Cayman Crystal Caves: stalagmites and stalactites; a great place to cool off during the summer
- Rum Point: beautiful shades of blue ocean and the directional sign
- Seven Mile Beach: pristine white sand for miles
- Smith Cove: for its crystal clear water
- Stingray City: above or below water, you can capture some amazing photos of the tame, super-friendly stingrays
- Sunset over the Edge Cafe: amazing sunsets from this restaurant and bar
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