Where is the Cayman Islands?
Learn about the geography of the three islands that make up the Cayman Islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman.
![Emily Richardson image](https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/Profile-Image-Emily.jpg?auto=format&fit=crop&w=100&h=100)
![Cayman kai aerial](https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/cayman-kai-aerial.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1332&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=2000)
The Cayman Islands are made up of three islands: Grand Cayman, the largest and most developed (approximately 22 miles long), Cayman Brac (15 square miles) and Little Cayman (10 square miles).
Cayman is one of just a handful of places worldwide where you can experience the Bioluminescence phenomenon. Click for more !
The Cayman Islands lie 480 miles south of Miami, 150 miles south of Cuba and 167 miles northwest of Jamaica.
The Islands are the tops of pinnacles reaching up from the Cayman Trench – one of the deepest sections of ocean in the world, reaching depths of around 25,000ft.
The trench lies just offshore, offering a fascinating glimpse into the depths of the marine world and it has featured in prominently in Hollywood movies such as James Cameron's The Abyss.
The Cayman Islands rise from the deepest depths of the ocean to their peak height at Cayman Brac, which is home to a variety of spectacular rock formations, including the highest point on all three Islands at 141 feet above sea level. These formations were sculpted by millions of years of erosion and shaped by the Island's unique geological history. They can be found throughout, from the towering cliffs of The Bluff to the intricate caves that honeycomb the limestone bedrock.
The Cayman Islands boast unique terrestrial ecosystems, including pine forests, mangrove swamps, and coral reefs, each playing a vital role in its biodiversity.
![Grand Cayman Map Explore Cayman24](https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/Grand_Cayman_Map_ExploreCayman24_2023-12-06-205650_ovfn.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.7183&h=655&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=1200 1200w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/Grand_Cayman_Map_ExploreCayman24_2023-12-06-205650_ovfn.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.7183&h=1311&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=2400 2400w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/Grand_Cayman_Map_ExploreCayman24_2023-12-06-205650_ovfn.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.7183&h=541&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=992 992w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/Grand_Cayman_Map_ExploreCayman24_2023-12-06-205650_ovfn.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.7183&h=1083&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1984 1984w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/Grand_Cayman_Map_ExploreCayman24_2023-12-06-205650_ovfn.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.7183&h=1625&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&usm=20&w=2976 2976w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/Grand_Cayman_Map_ExploreCayman24_2023-12-06-205650_ovfn.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.7183&h=419&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=768 768w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/Grand_Cayman_Map_ExploreCayman24_2023-12-06-205650_ovfn.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.7183&h=839&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1536 1536w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/Grand_Cayman_Map_ExploreCayman24_2023-12-06-205650_ovfn.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.7183&h=1258&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&usm=20&w=2304 2304w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/Grand_Cayman_Map_ExploreCayman24_2023-12-06-205650_ovfn.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.7183&h=314&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=576 576w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/Grand_Cayman_Map_ExploreCayman24_2023-12-06-205650_ovfn.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.7183&h=629&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&w=1152 1152w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/Grand_Cayman_Map_ExploreCayman24_2023-12-06-205650_ovfn.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.7183&h=944&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&usm=20&w=1728 1728w)
There are no rivers on any of the islands. The coasts are largely protected by offshore reefs and in some places by a mangrove fringe that sometimes extends into inland swamps.
The Islands are located on the tectonic boundary between the North American and Caribbean plates. The tectonic plates in Cayman’s region are in continuous lateral movement against each other. This movement, with the Caribbean plate travelling in an eastward direction and the North American plate moving west, limits the size of earthquakes.
Top Tip!
For getting the most out of your time in the Cayman Islands, continue using ExploreCayman.com to find and save on your accommodations, restaurants, activities, excursions and more!