Cayman Brac
January X - Y, 2022
6 days/7 Nights
From $2750.00
Europe isn’t the only place in the world with dreamy sport climbing destinations, you know. For a mid-winter getaway with all the sun, sea and stone you need, look no farther than the Caribbean.
You might not have heard of Cayman Brac before, but only that’s part of the island’s charm. The quietest of the Cayman Islands, “The Brac” as it’s known locally is in all ways a hidden gem. Only nine miles long and home to less than two thousand people, Cayman Brac packs everything we’re looking for into a tiny little package. With enough climbing, views, snorkeling, diving and tropical relaxation to satisfy the most discerning of travelers, it’s a place that we’re sincerely hoping stays off climbers’ radars for just a little longer.
Cayman Brac is off the beaten path in the best way possible. Think of it as your own private island for a week, but with gourmet food and world-class climbing.
Climbing
Whether you climb 5.4 or 5.12, the crags of Cayman Brac have you covered. With everything from jugs and tufas to pockets, steeps and slabs, the island has it all.
Because of the unique formation of the stone on The Brac however, the bulk of the routes here are 5.9 and up. There are a good handful of quality routes for beginners, but feeling comfortable climbing 5.9-5.10 in the gym will make this trip a lot more fun. Don’t be intimidated by the grades though. Unlike the cracks of Yosemite or the tiny holds of Smith Rock, limestone tends to be a little - well, either more fun, more straightforward, or both.
Most of the crags are recently developed too, meaning new bolts, no slippery polished holds, and tons to explore, all with magnificent backdrops, warm weather, and short approaches.
Each day we’ll head out in small groups of up to five climbers, and we’ll make sure you’re paired with climbers and climbs that match your ability so you don’t have to worry about being held back or pushed too far.
Like all of our sport climbing retreats, this trip is a great opportunity to learn new skills, push your limits, work on your lead game, or just enjoy the ride.
Food & Accommodations
Island life is almost a philosophy sometimes, and it doesn’t feel like an exaggeration to say Cayman Brac might be one of the most laid-back places you’ll ever go. We love climbing, but we sure do like to relax and we hope you do too, because we are talking about a vacation to the tropics here.
With that in mind, we’ll be staying at the stunning Cayman Brac Beach Resort, our own little paradise for the week. Everything you need will be right at your fingertips, including spacious rooms with your choice of one or two beds, a restaurant and bar, swimming pool, and private, beautiful white sand beach.
We’ll make sure to head out to sample some of the island’s specialties for dinners, but we’ll start each day with breakfast at the hotel and pack plenty of snacks for lunch.
If swimming, lounging, a cocktail and a sea breeze don’t sound good to you, this one might not be quite your speed, but for the rest of us it’s pretty hard to beat.
Logistics
The Cayman Islands are located south of Cuba in the western Caribbean, and are part of the British West Indies. There are three Cayman Islands, with Grand Cayman, an international beach and dive destination, being the biggest and most developed. Cayman Brac isn’t the smallest (Little Cayman takes that title), but is considerably quieter, with no real cities and relatively few visitors except for climbers, divers, bird watchers and fishermen.
No visas are required for visiting the islands, and Grand Cayman’s Owen Roberts International Airport in the capitol of Georgetown can be reached with a nonstop flight from a number of American cities, including Houston, New York, Atlanta and Miami. From there a twenty-minute flight with Cayman Airways will get you to Cayman Brac, and we’ll pick you up there and provide transportation for everything while you’re on the island, including getting you back to the airport to head home.
Depending on where you’re coming from, if getting to Cayman Brac in a day seems tricky or you’d like to break up the trip with a night on Grand Cayman, you’ll find it a lovely place to visit. It is possible, however, to get there in a day, even from the Western US. Getting home is easy as you’ll be starting on Eastern Standard Time, and with an early flight you’ll have no problem getting just about anywhere in a day.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to The Brac
You get yourself to the Sir Captain Charles Kirkconnell International Airport on Cayman Brac and we’ll meet you there and get you to the hotel, where your only job will be to relax a little, go for a swim, and settle in before we kick things off with dinner.
Day 2: Climbing Day #1
We’ll start the day with breakfast and some ocean views before we load up and head out to climb. Thanks to the island’s size, all of our destinations are just a few minutes’ drive away, and most have approaches that are nice and short as well. Depending on the group’s skill levels and goals, we may visit multiple different crags before converging again for dinner.
Day 3: Climbing Day #2
We’ll once again start the day right with some breakfast before we head out in small groups for the day to climb. We’ll spend the day on the rock and come back to town in time for a little downtime before heading out to sample some local Caribbean cuisine at one of the island’s best restaurants.
Day 4: Rest Day
Because you’ll want to give your arms a break, you’ll be free to take a day to explore on your own, lay on the beach, or go check out the Cayman Islands’ main attraction with some diving or snorkeling. The staff at the resort are experts at arranging whatever excursions you’re after, and have all the gear and instruction you’ll need to make it happen (plus we think the local sea turtles will be excited to see you). We’re also going to give you the night to yourself with no group dinners planned, just to make sure you don’t get tired of our company. Dinner will be available at the resort, or you can go for a short walk to another local spot.
Day 5: Climbing Day #3
Hopefully after a day of relaxation you’ll be ready for another day of climbing in paradise, so we’ll once again have some breakfast and head out for the day. Depending on the weather and conditions, we may even be able to climb on some of the island’s famous sea cliffs, rappelling in to climb back up from the water.
Day 6: Climbing Day #4
We’ll once again start with breakfast and this will be our last climbing day of the trip. It will also be our last dinner, and Chef Robert assures us he’ll make it a special one.
Day 7: Heading Home
Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, and you’ll have to go home. A short ride from the resort to the airport should have you on a morning flight out and on your way.
What’s Included
Airport transfers to and from the Sir Captain Charles Kirkconnell International Airport in Cayman Brac upon arrival and departure
Transportation to and from all climbing and cultural outings
Six nights’ accommodation at the Cayman Brac Beach Resort
Daily breakfasts, lunches, and snacks
Fantastic dinners of our favorite local foods
Delicious local wine, beer or spirits with every meal
Gratuities for hotel and restaurant services
Instruction and guiding
Complimentary Now!Climbing and She Moves Mountains hats and t-shirts
Guides
Chris Wright
IFMGA Mountain Guide / AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Chris has climbed, guided, skied and eaten his way across the globe. Winner of the 2020 Piolet d’Or for the first ascent of 7041m Link Sar in Pakistan, he is always hunting for the perfect rock climbing vacation to provide sun and fun to offset cold nights in snowy mountains. His hardest send so far is 7c+ (5.13a), but he’s just as excited about soaking up some sun as he is about finding the perfect 8a.
Lizzy VanPatten
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor / Apprentice Rock Guide
In only six short years of climbing, Lizzy has managed to amass an impressive resume. In addition to being the founder and owner of She Moves Mountains, America’s leader in climbing instruction for women, she’s also found time to make the first ascent of the hardest trad route put up by a woman in Oregon, a fearsome 5.13. When she’s not climbing cracks or helping others achieve their dreams, she’s likely dreaming of the beach.
Guides
Angel Robledo
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor / Brac Local
Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Angel left Brazil in 2005 to discover the world and discovered herself. She has since climbed around the planet and has traveled through more than 60 countries, but found Cayman Brac the perfect to place to live. As co-owner of the local guide service, Rock Iguana Ltd, she has promoted and helped develop rock climbing in the Cayman Islands, and hopes that one day Cayman Brac will be recognized as the truly amazing climbing destination that it is.
David Verhoeven
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor / Brac Local
David grew up in Grand Cayman with a love of the outdoors, and since then he has climbed in Thailand, Cuba, Morocco, Greece, Spain, Scotland, and the US. After his discovery of the world-class rock climbing that the Brac has to offer, he founded Rock Iguana Ltd, the local guide service, and aims to shine a light on Cayman Brac as an international sport climbing destination and develop this uniquely beautiful little patch of rock.
This trip is offered in collaboration with our friends at She Moves Mountains. We figured they’re great at getting women into the outdoors, so why not collaborate for some trips where everyone’s invited? Read more about She Moves Mountains here.
