About eighty miles northeast of Grand Cayman, and accessible by a quick plane hop, lies tiny CAYMAN BRAC . With none of the fast-food outlets or tourist bustle of the larger island, the Brac (as it's colloquially known) offers the chance for an isolated Caribbean vacation, though growing numbers come here for outdoor activities such as scuba diving and hiking. As such, relatively few resorts cater to such vacationers, although those that do generally have the best access to the few beaches on the island; most are relatively brackish, with plenty of seagrass, save for the lone public beach, which is the best stretch around these parts, located on the same south side as most hotels and just a ten-minute bicycle ride away.

The best way to explore the Brac is to get on one of its numerous trails , the best of which traverse the bluff that runs along the island's spine and culminates with great ocean views on the eastern coast - a perfect place to catch the sunrise. The trails are accessible off the main road, marked by large white Heritage Site signs that designate the name of the trail. You'll need a car or motor scooter to reach most of the trails as few are within walking distance of the main hotels. You might also consider renting a bicycle to get around, though if you're serious about cycling, it's best to bring your own as most here are of the no-speed coaster-brake variety.

There's not much in the way of specific attractions on the island, other than the Cayman Brac Museum in Stake Bay (Mon-Fri 9am-noon & 1-4pm; free) where local history is on display, and the Brac Parrot Reserve near the bluff to the island's northeast - a tropical woodland where the rare, emerald-green Cayman Brac parrot has nesting colonies. A short nature trail threads its way through forty-odd species of native trees, including candlewood and mastic, plus varieties of cacti and orchids.

As well, the scuba diving here is supreme and most sites are a ten- to twenty- minute boat ride from the shore. It is possible to shore dive here, though it's easiest on the north side where the water is generally calmer. The marine life is abundant, among which you'll find schooling fish and vibrant parrot fish. Walls are encrusted with purple sea fans, massive barrel sponges and the occasional spotted moray and green eel.

As there is no main town or major developments outside the scattered hotels on the island, the place you choose to stay will go a long way toward determining what facilities are on offer. Neither are there miles-long strips of beautiful sand; most of the small beaches, located on hotel property, have a fair amount of seagrass in their waters; the public beach , a short ways north of the main hotels, is the best on offer.