The Cayman Islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus on his last voyage in 1503. The explorer named the islands Las Tortogas after the many tortoises which he and his crew encountered in the waters. The name did not last but the islands today have wonderful beaches and lovely bays. Encircling the islands are dangerous coral reefs which have taken down over three hundred ships. It is in the Cayman Islands that you hear tales of buried treasure- most of which remains undiscovered.

One of the best beaches in the Caribbean is found here. Seven Mile Beach, which is also known as Wet Bay Beach is a stretch of beautiful white sand and crystal clear waters. The world's first turtle farm can be found at the Cayman Turtle Farm. Rum Point has a beautiful garden with exotic parrots. Pedro the Terrible is responsible for the construction of Pedro's Castle which now appears as a romantic castle but was originally the headquarters for the notorious pirate Henry Morgan. At George Town see the Kiemanus Museum which has treasures from shipwrecks. If you are interested in hidden treasure, take a boat on a 90 mile voyage to Cayman Brac where the honeycombed cliffs are said to still hide pirate's gold and silver.

Capital: Georgetown

Population: 35, 184

Area: 143 square miles

Language: English

Time: Eastern Standard Time all year

Electricity: 110 Volts AC / 60 Hz.

Geography: The Cayman Islands are located about 500 miles south - southwest of Miami and 180 miles northwest of Jamaica. All the island are surrounded by coral reef. Grand Cayman is the largest island and its highest point is 50 feet above sea level. The islands are relatively flat.

International Airports

Grand Cayman - Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) - The airport is about 2 miles from George town. Taxi service is good. The rate to town is about US$ 5.

Cayman Brac - Gerrard Smith International airport is 7 miles from the town of Spot Bay.

Tipping: It is not customary to tip as service charges are included in the bills.

Shopping: Stores open at 9 in the morning and close by 5:30 pm. Many have Saturday hours but are usually closed by 1 pm. There are many local items of interest which include treasure coins, woodworking, art and basketry. The Cayman Islands serve as a duty free port which means that many items which can be purchased back home can be purchased here for up to 40% off.

Food and Drink: The Caymans specialize in turtle soup and turtle steaks. Of course there are other seafood specialties which include conch, lobster and snapper. Most other foods are imported. The restaurants feature foods from all over the world with quality which is usually quite good. Alcoholic beverages are readily available, but most of it is imported. Rum is usually local.

Social: The fairly literate as the government is taking a serious look at its educational standards. English is the language here so communication is never a problem. The locals are friendly and helpful. Wearing beach attire in the town is frowned upon.

Business: Jackets are usually worn in business meetings but ties are seldom seen. Meetings are usually very informal, but appointments are made in advance.

Banking: Banks are open from 9 am to 4 pm weekdays and until 4:30 on Fridays. There are no weekend hours

Currency: The Cayman dollar. There is a fixed exchange rate of 1 Cayman dollar = 84 US cents.

Money Exchange: Banks are the best place to exchange currency. Shops will do the amount of the purchase.

Credit cards: Visa, Master Card, American Express and Diners Club

Climate

Banking: Banks are open from 9 am to 4 pm weekdays and until 4:30 on Fridays. There are no weekend hours

Currency: The Cayman dollar. There is a fixed exchange rate of 1 Cayman dollar = 84 US cents.

Money Exchange: Banks are the best place to exchange currency. Shops will do the amount of the purchase.

Credit cards: Visa, Master Card, American Express and Diners Club

Divers and snorkelers discovered the Cayman Islands long ago, but their government's recent refusal to let cruise ships dock on Sundays has given them a newfound notoriety. Despite a staid image, though, this Caribbean Trio — Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman — has some of the region's loveliest beaches and most civilized resorts. There's unbeatable sea-gazing for the underwater crowd, and plenty of action topside, too, from lush nature preserves to surprisingly innovative cuisine. A one-hour flight from Miami, they make an easy island getaway, too, especially in summer, when prices dip by about a third.

Nights in Little Cuba: The proprietors call their cuisine Nuevo Latino, but Casa Havana's palmy setting echoes the days of Cuba Libre. What's Cuban fusion all about? As you dine alfresco a few feet from the breaking surf, try some black bean soup, spicy Varadero shrimp, even turtle manicotti. Top it off with Tortuga rum cake, maybe a pre-Castro stogie — you get the picture. It's part of the Westin Casuarina Resort, where the 10 best rooms open right onto the sand: even numbers 100 to 108 and 190 to 198 ($375;             800-228-3000      ).

Robinson Crusoe for a Day: Little Cayman, just 10 miles long, has a population of about 70 (not counting iguanas), no traffic lights, and one crushed-shell road. Book a beachfront room (Number 216 gets our vote) at the comfortable Little Cayman Beach Resort, with its pastel colonial decor. Still not remote enough for you? Pack a picnic lunch, hop in a resort kayak, and paddle over to the nearby deserted Owen Island for snorkeling, lazing on the talcum-white beach, or exploring the 11-acre scrub forest ($195;             800-327-3835      ).

 Do Like the Diverse . . . without getting wet. While many non-scuba-certified visitors explore Cayman's waters via the Atlantis Odyssey Sub-which takes 48 passengers 100 feet down-the real adventure is on the company's Deep Explorer 1000. This exclusive two-person (plus the captain) mini sub plunges 1,000 feet, revealing a world rarely seen by land dwellers or even divers: delicate octopi, glass sponges, and colorful coral (Atlantis Odyssey Sub, $82 per person; Deep Explorer 1000, $450 per person; 345-949-7700).

Conk Out: A signature island dish, conch (pronounced "conk") chowder is served at every place to eat on Grand Cayman. But the spoons-down best version is at the funky little Cracked Conch by the Sea. After 18 years and three locations, this nautical pub's now in West Bay. Enjoy the sea breezes as you sip creamy white or spicy red-tomato chowder, unless you prefer your mollusks as conch burgers, fritters, or a zesty flambé (just past the Turtle Farm; 345-945-5217).

Treasure Hike: The middle-sized island of the trio, Cayman Brac, mixes a dash of Grand Cayman's action with a dose of Little Cayman's solitude. The 24-square-mile craggy landscape is dominated by a bluff (in Gaelic, "brac") 140 feet above the sea. For the best views, hike the mile-long trail through the Brac Parrot Reserve, and see a flurry of brilliant blues, greens, and reds. And keep your eyes peeled: Locals believe that the reserve's caves hide long-stashed pirate treasures (open daily; free).

Now Blooming: The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park has expanded steadily since 1994, when HRH herself cut the park's official ribbon. The charming Heritage Garden has come into its own, with its lush rendition of Cayman traditions. Wander the sand garden, edged with conch shells (the pinker the better, and replaced as their color fades), and the medicinal garden, meant to cure anything from toothaches to itchy skin ($6; 345-947-9462).

Historically Speaking: The Pedro St. James Castle recently opened to the public after a seven-year, $7.5 million renovation. The three-story plantation home, built by slaves about 1780 of locally quarried rock, was the only Cayman house to survive a 1785 hurricane. Today you can stroll the bluff-top estate's wide verandas surrounded by mango trees, study the intricately detailed mahogany doors, or take in the video history lesson ($8; 345-947-3329).

Hoofing It: Grand Cayman's winding Mastic Trail offers the best hiking on the islands, but another great way to explore is via a horseback ride with Honeysuckle Trail Riders. Astride your trusty Appaloosa (or a paint or quarter horse) you'll weave through a tropical-bird-populated forest, then canter along the sands of one of Grand Cayman's last remaining undeveloped beaches. The exact spot is hush-hush, so you won't find out where you're going until you and your horse leave the stable ($55 for a 90-minute ride; 345-916-3363).