Sunset Cottage is an oceanfront vacationing where you can sun, snorkel, and scuba from your very own beach. You can also scuba dive with one of the three full-service dive operations. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Cayman_Islands/sunsetcottage/hotel/79/4/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:03:03 EST "Do you really want to "get away from it all," especially to a tropical paradise on a safe, affluent Caribbean island? Sunset Cottage offers oceanfront vacationing where you can sun, snorkel, and scuba from your very own beach. You can also scuba dive with one of the three full-service dive operations. "OR you may choose to just do nothing at all. Drift off to sleep to the sound of gentle breakers . . . Get the picture?" Sunset Cottage is located just 1 minute from Cayman Brac's Airport, about 1/2 hour from the International Airport on Grand Cayman (airport code: GCM). Flight time to Grand Cayman from Miami is about 1 hour; New York is about 3.5 hours. Government-owned Cayman Airways (toll-free: 800-G-CAYMAN) provides direct service between Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, with direct connections to Grand Cayman from Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Houston, and Kingston, Jamaica. Island Air also provides service; see Island Air - Cayman Islands, Flight and Fare Schedule. U.S. citizens must present a valid passport or notarized birth certificate to enter the Cayman Islands. Others require a valid passport. 150 miles south of Cuba and 180 miles east of Jamaica, about 32,000 permanent residents call the tropical Cayman Islands home. Just 1200 reside on Cayman Brac, a small island paradise -- surrounded by live coral reefs -- that is consistently rated among the world's top 10 scuba diving and snorkeling sites. Sun worshipers love its white sand beaches. Christopher Columbus first visited Cayman Brac in 1503. Pirates later enjoyed its isolated coves. Today, more than a million visitors arrive annually on Grand Cayman Island, but just a few thousand vacationers seeking solitude, quiet nights, and vibrant coral reefs continue onward to the secluded privacy of Cayman Brac (14 square miles: 12 miles by 1+ --90 miles east of Grand Cayman). The bluff ('brac') on Cayman Brac rises to 140 feet at its eastern end, where it drops into to the Caribbean Sea. Shallow reefs teaming with fish and coral surround the island, attracting divers; walls and a steep drop-off begin as little as 1/4 mile offshore. Little Cayman Island (10 square miles, 200 residents), easily reached by boat just 4 miles west of Cayman Brac, also includes some of the world's finest coral reefs and dive sites. The best-known of Cayman Brac's 40+ marked dive sites include Bert Brothers Boulders, East Chute (and nearby Cayman Mariner), Greenhouse Reef, Tarpon Reef, and Wilderness Wall. For those who don't dive, Cayman Brac offers beautiful scenery and wildlife. You'll find an old lighthouse, caves carved into 100-foot cliffs (including more than dozen that challenge even experienced spelunkers), tropical cacti, unusual plants and trees, a 180-acre preserve that's home to 400 endangered Cayman Brac Parrots, more than 100 species of birds to delight birdwatchers, hermit crabs, and more. Be sure the visit the Cayman Brac Museum (free admission), where you can learn about the island's history. For those seeking a stable, friendly home for their savings and investments, Cayman Brac offers the same financial and investing advantages as Grand Cayman -- business conducted in the Caymans is nearly 100% tax-free. Christopher Columbus originally named the Cayman Islands 'Las Tortugas', for the many turtles he observed here. The current 'Cayman' derives from the Carib Indian word for lizards of the crocodile family. Britain took control of the islands from Spain in 1655, but marauding pirates deterred serious settlement until the mid-1700's. Until the mid-1900's, most Cayman Islanders (including descendants of slaves, emancipated about 1835) lived by fishing, turtling, and sailing. Once part of Jamaica, the Cayman Islands today remain under British rule as a self-governing British Crown Colony, with an appointed Governor and 15 elected legislators. English is the official language. The Cayman Islands Dollar is the official currency (fixed rate: US$1.00 = CI$0.80); US currency is also widely accepted. You can reach the Department of Tourism at Pavilion Building, Cricket Lane, P.O. Box 67, George Town, Cayman Islands, BWI (345-949-0623). Check these Cayman Island weather forecasts: Intellicast: George Town, Grand Cayman Island AMENITIES: - Ceiling-Fans - Patio - Outdoor-Grill - Microwave - Washer - Dryer - Bath-Linens - Bed-Linens - Beach-Towels - Beach-Chairs - TV - VCR - Alarm-Clock - Radio - Phone - Walkway-to-Water - Sunsets-Exceptional - Views-Exceptional - Isolated-Beach ACTIVITIES: - Beaches - Swimming - Scuba-Diving - Snorkeling - Boating - DeepSea-Fishing - Fishing - Surf-Fishing - Hiking - Beachcombing - Sight-Seeing - Spelunking - Eco-Tourism - Caves - Reefs - Boat-Trips - Little-Cayman-Island DINING/RESTARUANTS: Type: Vacation Rental Beach Location: Beach Front (Directly on Beach/Water Front) http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Cayman_Islands/sunsetcottage/hotel/79/4/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:03:03 EST