Our History
The Cayman Islands were first spotted by Christopher Columbus in 1503 during his fourth voyage. At the time, the islands were uninhabited but filled with turtles and crocodiles. Early explorers called them Las Tortugas because of the sea turtles, which became an important food source for passing ships. Over time, the name “Cayman” came from the Carib word for crocodile. For centuries, the islands were mainly used as a stopover for sailors, pirates, and shipwreck survivors rather than for settlement.
In the 1600s and 1700s, British settlers began arriving from nearby Jamaica. They lived off fishing, farming, and turtle hunting. Although the Treaty of Madrid in 1670 gave Britain official control, the islands stayed small and isolated without the large plantations seen elsewhere in the Caribbean.
By the 1800s, Caymanians became known as skilled sailors, and the local economy revolved around the sea, rope-making, and small trade. When Jamaica became independent in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British territory. Since then, they have grown into a world-famous financial center and tourism destination, while still keeping their unique island heritage.