The Cayman Islands is made up of three islands – Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman – which are less than 1 hour and a half fight from Miami.

 

A popular choice for those seeking a luxury getaway or a family-friendly vacation. The beaches are first class and award-winning, offering everything one could wish for in a Caribbean vacation, with white powder beaches, turquoise blue warm waters, incredible visibility for diving and snorkeling, and safe and shallow shorelines for family fun. Accommodation is second to none on Grand Cayman, with many of the world’s finest resorts and spas finding a home here.

There is a multitude of activities to enjoy, whether you want to be under the water, gliding on top of the water or on dry land, with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to interact with stingrays, taking a bioluminescence tour, and visiting the Cayman Turtle Centre all up there among the most popular.

The islands of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac offer an array of activities and excursions to enjoy. Whether you want to be under the water, gliding on top of the water or on dry land, with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to interact with stingrays, taking a bioluminescence tour, and visiting the Cayman Turtle Centre all up there among the most popular. For a family-friendly day out, take a leisurely stroll through rare endemic plant species and local blue iguanas at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. Experience the utmost luxury with a couple’s massage at one of Grand Caymans award-winning spas and at night, dine at one of the many fine-dining restaurants featuring world-class chefs that can only be found in the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean.

The array of shops is impressive considering the size of Grand Cayman, especially if you are looking for duty-free jewellery, watches, cosmetics, perfumes and more. The restaurants offer wide appeal (with Cayman nicknamed the ‘culinary capital of the Caribbean’) and offer every type of culinary experience to suit all sorts of budgets.

The waters in the Cayman Islands remain some of the most highly acclaimed in the world. Home to more than 365 dive sites, featuring the Kittiwake wreck and Bloody Bay Wall, the pristine underwater environment continues to entice divers from around the globe to explore.

While most visitors will be staying on Grand Cayman, undoubtedly the liveliest and most cosmopolitan of the three islands, a trip to the sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman is well worth it, especially if you are looking for some peace and tranquility, to get up close with nature and away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Year-round warmth is a great descriptor of Cayman’s average daily temperature, but also of the day-to-day warmth of the people you will meet while vacationing in the Cayman Islands. ‘Caymankind’ spirit is ever-present in the local community, which is why so many people visit year after year.

Things To Do

Cayman Islands: Sister Islands Day Trips

While Grand Cayman might be your focus for your Cayman Islands vacation, the ‘sister’ islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are just a short flight away and offer fantastic day trips. Just a 30-minute flight from Grand Cayman, the mighty Cayman Brac combines peace and quiet with adventure, a unique and breathtakingly beautiful island

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Where To Eat

Best restaurants in Grand Cayman

The diversity of dining on Grand Cayman is stunning, all the way from great local food, to amazing seafood fresh off the boat to sophisticated bars and high-end Michelin inspired cuisine. You certainly won’t go wanting with so many culinary delights available on Grand Cayman. Below you will find some recommendations that will cover all tastes.

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Where To Stay

Best Family Resorts, Hotels & Villas in Grand Cayman

If you’re thinking about a family vacation to the Caribbean, Grand Cayman should be at the top of your list. There is so much to see and do in the Cayman Islands, kids will be entertained from dawn to dusk. Finding the perfect family-friendly resort that caters for all your needs and has all the right amenities can be a difficult task. To help with the planning here is a list of the best family resorts, hotels and villas in Grand Cayman.

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Style & Culture

A guide to shopping in Grand Cayman

Retail therapy has never been so much fun! Grand Cayman’s stores are brimming full with gorgeous clothing and accessories for him, her and the kiddies, as well as beautiful jewellery shops that stock stunning ranges of all of your favourite jewellery lines. Read on to discover the stores that we highly recommend and deserve a

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Real Estate

Turn your dream vacation into your dream home in the Cayman Islands

Written by James Bovell, Broker/Owner, RE/MAX Cayman Islands.  For almost all of us, 2020 was a very challenging year and for many of us, our lives have changed tremendously. We’ve had to cancel our much-anticipated tropical vacations, transition to either a full or part-time work from home environment and may also be re-evaluating our current

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Destination Wedding

Three amazing Grand Cayman wedding venues

The Cayman Islands are the perfect location for a honeymoon and to get married. With gorgeous romantic locations island-wide, for you and your loved one to discover. It’s also the perfect location in which to get married – bring your friends and family and let Grand Cayman’s restaurants cater to your needs with professionalism and passion. Here are three of the best Grand Cayman wedding venues…

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Best time to visit the Cayman Islands

It’s warm in the Cayman Islands all year round! The temperature rarely drops below 70°F or gets hotter than 90°F, making Grand Cayman the perfect destination for a vacation. The wettest months are around September; the driest around March. Between May and October, the winds are generally from east to south; from November/December to April, the winds switch from the northeast to northwest. These ‘Christmas Breezes’ as they are known, are welcomed by the islanders as a refreshing change from the summer heat. Hurricane season runs from 1st June to 30th November. 

Getting to the Cayman Islands

Several airlines offer non-stop flights to Grand Cayman from the United States and United Kingdom. Owen Roberts International on Grand Cayman is the main airport for international flights. Cayman Brac also has its own hub, Charles Kirkconnell Airport. Meanwhile, Little Cayman is served by daily inter-island flights. Cayman Airways and Cayman Express provide inter-island flights between Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.

Immigration Matters

Nationals of United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom and most countries within the British Commonwealth do not require visas to enter the Cayman Islands.

Transportation

Friendly cab services are at your beck and call from Grand Cayman resorts, Owen Roberts International Airport and the ship dock in George Town. There are also several reputable rental car companies available, allowing you to pick up your vehicle at the airport or at several locations around the islands. You’ll find a few public bus stops in the busier districts too, but these buses can be flagged down from anywhere along the side of the road as well.

Phone Calls

The best way to make cheap, local calls is to buy a prepaid local SIM card from either of the two main telecommunications providers – Flow or Digicel. They have retail outlets dotted all over Grand Cayman. Your phone will need to be unlocked in order to use it, however. Both telecoms providers offer plans and deals, which include varying degrees of data, to cover you for the duration of your stay, whether your stay is a day or a month.

Free Wi-Fi Zones

Free wifi can be found across Grand Cayman, at a variety of places, such as at Camana Bay, at restaurants, bars and cafés. Ask your concierge for the wifi code at your accommodation – you might get it for free or you might have to pay, depending on the accommodation and your package.

Religious Services

The Cayman Islands are well populated by churches, in fact, we have more than 200, welcoming visitors at their services as well as their regular parishioners. They cover all denominations, including Anglican, Catholic, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Jewish and Methodist.

Tax and Tipping

The Cayman Islands are deemed to be tax neutral, which means there are no direct taxes on the individual (such as income or property) or on the company (corporate). There is no value added tax (VAT) payable on goods and services as there is in the UK, nor is there any sales tax as there is in the US. However, stay over visitors are charged a Tourist Accommodation Charge and most imports are subject.

Currency

The islands have their own currency, the Cayman Islands dollar, but the US dollar is widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, bars and shops with CI$1.00 equalling US$1.25. The US dollar equals CI$.80. If you pay in US dollars, change is always given in local currency. 

Banking & ATMs

ATMs are easily found all across the Cayman Islands, either in the foyers of banks or at our local supermarkets. ATMs can also be found at Camana Bay.

Medical Facilities

Cayman Islands residents benefit from excellent medical facilities that cater to a wide range of health issues. As well as a wide selection pf private doctors and dentists, we also have four main hospitals.

George Town Hospital

Tel (345) 949 8600 | www.hsa.ky

This is Cayman’s central hospital located in George Town, and is run by the Health Services Authority, a Statutory Authority of the Cayman Islands Government. The hospital has a walk-in clinic for patients as well as an Accident & Emergency department and a dentistry department. It also possesses a pharmacy, radiology unit, surgical facility, public health facility, laboratory and maternity unit, among many other services.

CTMH Doctors Hospital  

Tel: (345) 945 6066 | www.doctorshospitalcayman.com

Also located in George Town, this is a privately-run hospital that has a wide range of services on offer, including family practice and primary care, laboratory services, radiology, urgent care, orthopedic care and specific men’s and women’s healthcare.

Health City Cayman Islands

Tel: (345) 640 4040 | www.healthcitycaymanislands.com

This private hospital is located in East End and offers a wide range of diagnostic, surgical and therapeutic services. Their physicians offer a strong selection of specialities, including cardiology, orthopedics, endocrinology, medical oncology, pediatrics and neurology.

Faith Hospital, Cayman Brac

Tel: (345) 948 2243 | www.hsa.ky/faith-hospital

This is a community hospital also run by the Government’s Health Services Authority, offering general medicine, emergency medical services and a pharmacy, among other services, on Cayman Brac.

Map of Cayman Islands

Explore Cayman Islands and plan your perfect Caribbean adventure

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Stingray City

Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands

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Cayman Crystal Caves

69 North Side Rd, Old Man Bay, Cayman Islands

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Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park

Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, North Side, Cayman Islands

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Rum Point

Rum Point, Cayman Islands

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Kaibo Marina and restaurant

Kaibo . Restaurant . Beach Bar . Marina, Water Cay Road, Rum Point, Cayman Islands

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Starfish Point

Starfish Point, Water Cay Road, Cayman Islands

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The Falls Steakhouse

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