Immerse yourself in the lush tropical beauty of the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park and captivate your senses.

Richly textured plants and flowers, soothing botanical aromas, the breathtaking beauty of flora and fauna, the sounds of fascinating wildlife, and examples of the Caymanian way of life in days gone by all give you a taste of Cayman's natural world and heritage.

Nestled off Frank Sound Road, heading toward North Side, this alluring 65 acre retreat is sure to calm, interest, fascinate and delight.

Woodland trail

Pass through the main visitors' centre and out into the courtyard, where you will locate the entrance for the woodland trail.

Wear sturdy shoes if you plan to hike through the trail - a wonderful way to view the island's interior. Crackling twigs under foot and the chirping of the park's myriad birds will likely be the only sounds as you make your way around the three-quarter-mile-long, meandering pathway, which will take at least 35 minutes to walk.

Of course, if your legs are not co-operative because of all that swimming earlier in the day, you can take a quick browse down the path and return and choose another area of the park to venture through.

Blue Iguana habitat

They're blue, they're dragon-like and can be seen roaming freely through the park. They are the Grand Cayman Blue Iguanas.

The reptiles' habitat in the park can be viewed by visitors as part of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands' captive breeding programme, which allows the iguanas to be re-introduced into the wild. Make sure to keep a look out for any free roaming blues along the trails.

Heritage garden

Have you ever imagined how Caymanians lived in days of yore? How they cooked, the types of homes they lived in, what they ate?

This is your chance to explore a traditional sand garden, complete with crops like cassava and sweet potatoes; medicinal plants such as cerasee and aloe vera; and fruit trees like Long mango, breadfruit, June plum and sweetsop.

Enjoy viewing the traditional Caymanian house, which has an outdoor kitchen, known as a caboose.

Colour garden

Wander over to the decorative and lush colour gardens, where vibrancy, bright hues and dramatic tropical plants will brighten up your day.

Here you will find a bougainvillea tree, adorned with beautiful lavender blooms. A different species from the regular bougainvillea, this will grow to 40 feet tall and is found nowhere else in Cayman.

Enjoy floral beauties such as purple queen, sky flower, blue plumbagos and striking red ixoras on your stroll around the garden.

Cycads, bird of paradise, banana trees and tall bamboo all add to the dramatic depth of the space.

Take a breath as you drink in the view from a gazebo in the garden of the lake with its picture-perfect lily pads and flowers.

Lake and wetland

Down by the lake and wetland, you van enjoy peace and tranquillity. Native birds can be spotted here, and lakeside benches provide the perfect spot for some quiet reflection.

Key facts

The park is open daily, October to March, 9am-5.30pm and April to September, 9.30am-6.30pm. Last admission is an hour before closing.

Facilities include restrooms, refreshments, a gift shop, public telephone. First Aid and a plant shop. Tel: 947 3558.