The Bluff Lighthouse Trail

Cayman Brac is named for its bluff, a limestone ridge that runs the length of the island and rises steadily eastward to forty-three metres at the far end, which makes it the highest point in the Cayman Islands. A trail follows the clifftop out to a small lighthouse at the tip, with the sea directly below on three sides and brown boobies nesting on the ledges. On a clear day Little Cayman is visible across the channel. The ground is karst, sharp and awkward, and the whole route is exposed. It is the best walk in the islands, which is a modest field but a genuine claim.

What you actually see

• The lighthouse - at the eastern tip, forty-three metres above the sea.
• Brown boobies - nesting on the cliff ledges below the trail.
• The clifftop - sea on three sides at the end of the bluff.
• Little Cayman - visible across the channel on a clear day.

When to go

November to May is the driest and coolest. Early morning or late afternoon; the trail is fully exposed and midday is punishing. Carry water. Boobies nest on the ledges through the spring and summer.

Honest expectations

The karst underfoot is jagged and shreds soft shoes; proper footwear matters. There is no shade, no water and no shelter on the route. The cliff edge is unfenced and undercut in places. Getting to Cayman Brac means a flight and a hire car, since nothing else reaches this end.

Nearby

The parrot reserve is along the bluff; Spot Bay is below on the north shore.