George Town: Seven Mile Beach and the stingrays of Stingray City

The National Museum of the Cayman Islands, housed in one of the city's oldest buildings, tells the maritime history of the archipelago, from turtle fishing to today's commerce.

A few minutes away, Seven Mile Beach, which actually measures just over eight kilometers, lines resorts and white sand along the entire western coast of the island.

Offshore, a boat excursion takes you to Stingray City, a shallow area where entire families of rays approach swimmers, accustomed for decades to the presence of fishermen.

Returning toward the port in the evening, George Town's waterfront comes alive when large cruise ships dock for daily visits.

The name "Seven Mile Beach" persists by tradition even though modern measurements show it to be shorter than the name itself suggests: no one seems too interested in correcting it.

The rays of Stingray City approach swimmers because for generations local fishermen have cleaned their catch here, habituating them to human presence long before it became a tourist attraction.