Batabano

Batabano is the Cayman Islands' carnival, held over a weekend in April or May, and the name is the Caymanian word for the tracks a turtle leaves in the sand as it comes up the beach, which turtlers followed to find nests. The parade runs through George Town with costumed bands, trucks with sound systems, soca and a road march competition, in the pattern established across the region. It began in 1983 and has grown steadily. A junior version runs the weekend before with children's bands, and Cayman Brac holds its own version, Brachanal, in the same season.

What you actually see

• The road parade - costumed bands through George Town.
• The junior carnival - children's bands the weekend before.
• Brachanal - the Cayman Brac version in the same season.
• The name - from the turtle tracks that turtlers followed.

When to go

A weekend in April or May, with dates announced months ahead. The main parade is on the Saturday. Accommodation at that time is at high-season rates and the island is busy.

Honest expectations

It is a comparatively recent and modest carnival by regional standards, considerably smaller than Trinidad or Barbados. Costumed band membership is expensive. Accommodation in Grand Cayman is costly at any time of year and worse at carnival. Dates shift and are confirmed a few months ahead.

Nearby

George Town is the venue; Cayman Brac holds its own version.