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Nestled away amidst calm, aqua-colored waters of the Western Caribbean, sits the peaceful British Overseas Territory known as the Cayman Islands. Consisting of only three islands less than 500 miles south of Miami, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman are known by many as “little pieces of paradise.” The push to preserve its marine ecosystem have resulted in some of the most pristine waters for snorkelers and scuba divers, who enjoy visibilities of up to 150 feet. The tropical climate, luxurious accommodations, and amenities continue to make the Cayman Islands an exceptional vacation destination for individuals and for families with children.
Located in the Caribbean Sea, the Cayman Islands comprise a three-island group of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. The Cayman Islands are located 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica. The Caymans occupy about 100 square miles in total. The population of less than 50,000 people is comprised of half Caymanians; the other half of its populations have immigrated to the Cayman Islands or are of other birth nationality.
The Cayman Islands were dependencies of Jamaica until 1959, when they became a unit territory within the Federation of the West Indies. In 1962, upon the dissolution of the Federation, the Cayman Islands became a British dependency. A new constitution approved in 1972 provided for a greater degree of autonomy for Caymanians.
The beaches of the Cayman Islands, most notably Seven Miles Beach on Grand Cayman, are world renowned luxurious tourist destinations and considered by some to be the most attractive in the Caribbean. Crystal clear waters and an abundance of dive sites contribute to the popularity of the Caymans, which is a marshy and tropical land and home to rare and endangered flora and wildlife. Each year, the Cayman Islands attract over a million tourists. Although the Caymans enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world, 90 per cent of all consumer goods and foods must to be imported to the islands. The main attraction and the biggest industry in the Cayman Islands, however, is not tourism. Corporate finance dominates the economy, in large part to the fact that there are no taxes whatsoever in the Cayman Islands and the government does not require businesses to submit reports. There are over 600 banking institutions with combined assets surpassing $500 billion, an active stock exchange, and the local registration of some 50,000 offshore companies because of the lack of regulation. The relative economic stability contributes to relatively lower rates of crime and a safe and easy-going atmosphere, which makes it inviting for tourists and fuels the tourism industry.
Grand Cayman
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Every person arriving in the Cayman Islands is required to produce for inspection by an immigration officer a passport or some other valid document establishing their identity and nationality or place of permanent residence. This should be valid beyond the date of their return ticket, and a return ticket may be required for presentation upon arrival. Persons from certain countries will also be required to possess a valid visa for the Cayman Islands. Lengths of stay are granted for a period up to six months. Since immigration policies change frequently and without prior notice, all travelers are advised to verify The Cayman Island's current immigration requirements with the local authorities prior to leaving home. For more details, visit the Cayman Islands Department of Immigration.
The Cayman Islands has a long list of prohibited and restricted items allowed as imports or exports. Travelers carrying more than $10,000 into the Cayman Islands are allowed to do so, but must declare the amount with Customs before arriving. For more details on Customs prohibitions and restrictions, visit the Cayman Islands Customs Department.
Most visitors to the Cayman Islands do not need special vaccinations before entering the country. However, travelers over age one must provide a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate, if they are coming from infected areas. All travelers are advised to ensure that their routine vaccines are current before traveling to the Cayman Islands to help avoid infection.
As the CDC often recommends, travelers to the Caribbean are encouraged to take an anti-diarrheal medication with them when visiting one of the islands. In most areas, the water in the Cayman Islands is safe to drink and the food is cooked with low risk of disease or illness.
On Grand Cayman, there are approximately ten medical facilities including the 124-bed Cayman Islands Hospital, other clinics, and one animal hospital. There are also eye care and other smaller, specialty clinics and pharmacies. On Cayman Brac, the Cayman Brac Hospital & Health Services treats patients, while on Little Cayman, medical services are provided at Little Cayman Health Services.
It is recommended that all tourists purchase a travel insurance policy that will cover theft, loss, accidents, and medical emergencies. If you plan to participate in adventure sports such as scuba diving while on vacation, please verify that your policy will cover you for these events. All necessary prescriptions along with a letter from your physician detailing your medical condition and the medication being carried with you should accompany all visitors to the Cayman Islands.
Owens Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman lies virtually in George Town. The airstrip was opened in 1953. Airlines that fly to Grand Cayman Island from the U.S. include American Airlines, US Airways, Delta, and Continental. Air Canada has regular scheduled service as well as British Airways. Travelers should consider the length of the flight, mandatory stopovers, and price, when selecting an airline carrier.
Yachts and other sailboats also make their way to the Cayman Islands regularly and year-round, although many seafaring visitors arrive by cruise ship. As one of the most important and popular ports in the region, George Town has two major docking terminals where thousands of cruise ship passengers are tendered to the achored cruise ships each day. The Grand Cayman is a popular destination for both summer and winter cruises, as it has a close proximity to the United States than several other Caribbean islands. Some of the major cruise lines that dock at Grand Cayman (the only cruise port) include Carnival, Princess, Disney Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Costa Cruises.
Small aircrafts are the fastest method of island-hopping; visitors can hire a flight, while experienced aviators can charter their own planes. Island Air offers scheduled daily inter-island flights.
Seafaring types may be disappointed to learn that there are no inter-island ferries, but there are private boats available for charter.
On Grand Cayman, taxis are abundant, and drivers tend to be knowledgeable and friendly. A public bus system also services Grand Cayman which is both efficient and affordable, and buses run an impressive number of routes. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman do not have public transportation due to their small size. Rental cars, however, are available on all of the islands for vacationers who feel up to braving the islands’ roadways. Many car rental agencies also rent out bikes and mopeds (permit required), convenient alternatives for exploring out-of-the-way sights. Please remember that in the Cayman Islands, driving is on the left, and you must be at least 21 years of age to rent a car.
The Cayman Islands boast some of the most luxurious hotels in the Caribbean, including all-inclusive resorts, vacation rentals, and timeshare condominiums–totaling nearly 250 options in all. Several resorts in the Cayman Islands make it easy to book accomodations and scuba excursions in one location. There are a few local lodges, approximately 13 bed & breakfast inns, and a couple of Eco Resorts. About 90% of accomodations are located along Seven Mile beach, and there is a 10% government tax on all accommodations plus a 10% hotel service charge and a 15% gratutity on any sales assigned to your room. Camping is not offered on the Cayman Islands.
In ports such as George Town, liveaboard opportunities also welcome scuba divers who wish to stay close to the sea.
Boatswain Beach, the historical site where Christopher Columbus first landed, is one of the highlights for tourists. Nature lovers will enjoy a visit to the Cayman Island Turtle Farm or visiting the Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Park. Regardless of how tourists schedule their leisure time, the one overall highlight of the Cayman islands is the feeling of luxury. Coupled with the progressive push for conservation, the island’s pristine conditions make the overall atmosphere relaxing and rejuvenating, wherever you visit.
Visitors to the Cayman Islands will be delighted with the activities offered both at hotels and by the tourism department of the country. Activities such as trips to the museums and botanical gardens, beach bumming, sailing, plenty of water sports such as kayaking, horseback riding and hiking are some of the many activities that are generally honeymooner and family-friendly.
There is no shortage of places to dine out in the Cayman Islands, and a similar range of choices when it comes to selecting the type of foods you want to eat. From fast food joints to well-known franchises to waterfront dining, visitors have the opportunity to eat on the go or to make dining the experience of the day. From contemporary Italian to Cuban style cafes, dining in the Caymans is like traveling the world. While casual is the mode of dress during the day, many tourists and locals will dress up to eat out at night. Expect meal prices to be on-par or slightly higher than most other Caribbean islands.
Night life is abundant on Grand Cayman. From sports bars to tapa restaurants, night clubs and luaus, and even a cultural theatre and dinner spectaculars with limbo dancers and fire eaters, there is no lack of things to do after the sun goes down. While the majority of nightclubs, bars, and hotel events are located along Seven Mile Beach, there are also vibrant night activities in George Town and a few other spots around the island.
In George Town, there are several duty-free shops–which are perfect for buying larger ticket items, such as digital cameras or precious stones and diamonds. Other items such as clothing, for example, are priced as high or higher than in the U.S., making them less desirable for some tourists. The waterfront areas are lined with shops, and jewelry is one of the top picks of shoppers in the Cayman Islands.
Although there are marked dive sites around the Cayman Islands, diving opportunities are much denser off the coast of Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman’s West coast. With water temperatures mostly in the 70s and 80s, the dive season is year round. Tropical wetsuits are often worn in the winter or for longer dives. Types of diving in the Cayman Islands include reef diving, wreck diving, wall diving, lagoon diving, and big fish/pelagic diving. Several operators in the Cayman islands also offer diving for special needs divers, as well as training on how to accomodate divers with special needs. Animal encounters and close-up views are visible from the waters surrounding the islands such as glimpses of: green and hawksbill turtles, tropical fish, moray eels, sting rays, and a rainbow of corals.
With more than 365 known and marked dive sites, the Cayman Islands offer scuba divers plenty of opportunities for underwater exploration. Nearly half of the dive sites along Seven Mile Beach and one at Old Man Bay are accessible by shore, while the majority of others are accessible by boat. Visibility in the Cayman’s waters is generally excelent, stretching up to 150 feet. Most dives are accessed from only a few meters deep to more than 25 meters, with maximum depths of 45 meters. Currents are generally low to medium off of Seven Mile Island, but can be medium to strong in other areas of the Cayman Islands.
In Grand Cayman’s shallow waters, Stingray City is a popular dive site, accessible from only 12 meters deep. Of Grand Cayman’s many other sites (most of which are named), some of the most popular include Devil’s Grotto, a maze-like, swim through experience, Hammerhead Hole, where there’s a good chance to catch a hammerhead, the Oro Verde shipwreck, and Black Rock, a canyon dive. Surrounding Grand Cayman completely are the spectacular dive attractions of two wall systems. One is a 60 foot drop off for lazy afternoon shallow dives, while the second drop off falls deeply into the abyss.
Moorings for public use have been installed by the Department of Environment to prevent anchor damage to coral reefs. Divers are advised to tie to a mooring buoy instead of anchoring whenever possible.
There are more than 40 dive operators in the Cayman Islands. The vast majority are located on Grand Cayman and near the Seven Mile Beach area.
A recompression chamber is available in the Cayman Islands, and it is located at the George Town Hospital in Grand Cayman. Inquire locally if Hyperbaric services are available on Cayman Brac. Cayman Hyperbaric Services has a team of approximately 30 qualified operators and attendants, and is available 24/7. However, divers are advised to discuss, finalize, and agree upon an Emergency Assistance Plan, which includes a listing of all local medical emergency contact numbers, prior to beginning any dive. If and when a diving emergency arises, divers are strongly urged to follow any agreed upon plan.
Conservation efforts in the Cayman islands are considered very progressive and include national reserves and parks, the Cayman Sea Sense program, Turtle Farm and its living tag program, stingray studies, lionfish eradication, and the world’s first zero-carbon resort utilizing entirely solar and wind power.