Cayman Islands Travel Tips

Overview

The Cayman Islands are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the western Caribbean Sea compose of 3 islands namely Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. It is one of the leading tourist destination for underwater diving and the first largest financial centre in the world.

The three islands Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, are situated about 480 miles south of Miamin, 150 miles south of Cuba, and 180 miles northwest of Jamaica. The bigest of the three islands is Grand Cayman which has the area of 76 square miles, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are called "Sister Islands." This two islands are situated about 90 miles east of Grand Cayman with an area of 14 square miles and 10 square miles respectively. These three islands were formed by large corals heads covering submerged ice age peaks of western extensions of the Cuban Sierra Maestra range and are mostly flat. The Bluff on Cayman Brac, which rises to 42.6 miles above sea level which is the highest point of the island.

Currency
The Cayman Islands currency is in dollar (CI$), Canadian, U.S., and British currencies are accepted throughout the Cayman Islands, but if you exchange your U.S. dollars for Cayman Islands dollars you'll save money.

Business Hours
Normally, banks are open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 2:30pm, and Friday from 9am to 1pm and 2:30 to 4:30pm. Shops are usually open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

Telephone
Country code 345

Airport
Owen Roberts International Airport.

Capital City
George Town, Grand Cayman

Time
EST - 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-5 GMT).

Electricity
It's 110-volt AC (60 cycles)

Visas
For citizens of Canadian and US don't need visas or passports to enter Cayman Islands, only proof of citizenship is needed. EU, the UK or the Commonwealth, Israel and Japan citizens only need passports but not visas. Travelers from elsewhere may need visas as well as passports.

Weather
Average yearly temperature is 79° F. From May through October the average rainfall is 60 inches mostly in the rainy season,

Blessed with cooling tradewinds, the Cayman Islands enjoy a temperate climate year-round. July and August is the hottest months in where average temperatures top out at 85 to 90°; month of Februarr is the coolest month is where highs range from 72 to 86° and nighttime lows dip to the mid-60s to lower 70s.

During winter water temperatures drop during these months, ranging from 78 to 82°. Every summer, the waters warm to 82-86°, a balmy bath-like temperature that makes wetsuits strictly optional. Summer is the best diving conditions (warmest water, best visibility and calmest seas). In the evening a light sweater will be needed , or a waterproof windbreaker for boat trips.

Rainfall varies with the season, reaching its peak during hurricane season. Average rainfall is 46 inches annually; May and October (and September-November) are traditionally the wettest months. March and April is the driest time in Cayman Islands.

The Hurricanes deadly storms are officially a threat from June through November, although the greatest danger is during the later months, basically August through October. (September is the worst.)

Mid-December to mid-April (winter) is the peak tourist season, when rates are substantially higher and beaches and lodgings more crowded, it's best to go in the summer. There is more rain in summer, but it tends to come in downpours that clear as quickly as they arrive.

Do's and Don'ts

Do's

1. Do enjoy the Cayman Islands' high-quality drinking water, but don't waste it—it's precious.

2. Do be prepared for conservative attitudes among some islanders. There is a strong Christian tradition in the Cayman Islands that occasionally manifests itself in an unaccommodating fashion. In 1997, the Caymanian Ministry of Tourism refused to let passengers on a cruise ship chartered by a group of gay travelers go ashore.

3. Do expect a 10% hotel tax and a tax for changing traveler's checks.

4. Do brake for iguanas on Little Cayman: They have the right-of-way.

5. Do tip your divemaster or dive instructor—they're in the service industry.

6. Do drive to the top of the Bluff on Cayman Brac for a panoramic view of the island and the ocean.

7. Do walk along Seven Mile Beach early in the morning before it gets crowded.

Don'ts

1 .Don't buy any black coral. It's an endangered species, and buying jewelry or other items made from the coral only increases the likelihood that more will be harvested. Customs officials in many countries will confiscate such items if they're not accompanied by the proper permits. You should also avoid products made from sea turtles, which are also endangered.

2. Don't expect most shops or grocery stores to be open on Sunday.