Destination Cayman Islands Travel Information
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For those tourists who literally want to "get away from it all," the sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are ecotourism gems with extremely limited development. The lures here are absolute peace and privacy, excellent birding and hiking trails, and more superb diving.
One more unique selling point for all three islands is the sheer number and variety of rental villas. Villa management companies can arrange everything for clients from island tours to dinner reservations. There’s something to be said for flying into George Town, renting a car, and driving up to a modern villa with pre-ordered groceries waiting in the fridge.
Seven Mile Beach and neighboring George Town make up the epicenter of Cayman tourism. Almost all of the major, full-service hotels front these shores, but because of the beach’s size and the island’s relatively low guestroom count, there’s never a noisy mob scene. And while Grand Cayman is often considered expensive on average, there are a host of mid-market hotels catering to divers, couples and families traveling on a budget
A new trend around town and among the finer hotels is a willingness to experiment with new cuisine that goes beyond the typical surf ’n turf platter. Lobster quesadillas or snapper parisienne, anyone? Cayman’s tourism officials are proudly extolling the wealth of new fusion menus and food festivals are now a regular part of the island’s roster of special events.
For authentic cuisine, visitors should try any local delicacy involving turtles. That might sound odd on an island known for protecting its indigenous wildlife, but the Turtle Farm in Grand Cayman has long been lauded for its sustained growth of the species. The facility has recently expanded to become a full fledged tourist attraction and educational center, and it’s an absolute must for parents traveling with their children.
Just south of the beach, George Town is a popular cruise ship port home to jewelry/perfume boutiques and some of the more well-known American chain restaurants. One special attraction is the Cayman Islands National Museum overlooking Hog Sty Bay. The beautifully restored Old Courts building is one of the island’s few remaining 19th century structures, and it has won preservation awards for the meticulous restoration. Inside, the museum collection contains over 2,000 artifacts including everything from a 14-ft. traditional handmade catboat to rare documents and coins left over from early settlers.
Island Idyll
Surrounding Grand Cayman are 159 recognized dive sites and 39 snorkel spots. Easily the most popular place for seeing Cayman’s denizens of the deep is Stingray City in the middle of North Sound. Every day, large catamarans take tourists to snorkel the crystal-clear waters and feed the stingrays. The friendly marine animals have been coming here for decades ever since fishermen started disposing of unwanted fish remnants caught at the nearby reef.
Across the sound, the beachy communities around Rum Point, Cayman Kai and Water Cay offer a relaxed counterpoint to the capital city’s diversions. Some locals say that first-time visitors to Cayman always book the large hotels on Seven Mile, while return visitors reserve rooms at the collection of intimate resorts around the Point. The wide-open beach area is much more rustic and naturally landscaped, with cheery outdoor barbecue restaurants, live music and funky clothing shops adding to the draw. Clients staying on Seven Mile can sail over for the day to chill out and hang with the locals, or hop on one of the popular charter boats in the late afternoon for a romantic sunset sail.
Little Cayman/Cayman Brac
Geographically, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are only 90 miles away by commuter plane from George Town. In a metaphysical sense, they might as well be on the other side of the earth. Both atolls exist at a pace one might best call glacial. Accommodations are extremely relaxed, consisting of colorful diving lodges and small efficient hotels located directly on the beach. Since there’s hardly anyone living on these little pieces of paradise—Little Cayman, for example, has around 200 inhabitants—the peace and quiet is almost overwhelming. Birding is growing in popularity with thousands of frigate birds, red-footed boobies and West Indian whistling ducks found gathering near the majestic 140-ft. cliffs on Brac—"Brac" being the Gaelic word for bluff. Also, the Department of Tourism offers summer packages for families to come for a week of picnics, games and watersports.
Diving is king in the sister islands and the wall dives are legendary. In Little Cayman, the 6,000-ft. plunge at Bloody Bay Wall was recognized by Jacques Cousteau as one of the five greatest dives on earth. Visibility can reach up to an amazing 150 ft., otherwise known as half a football field. Meanwhile, Cayman Brac offers more than 50 dive sites including a sunken 330-ft. Russian trawler sunk in 1996—the only diveable Russian warship in the world. For snorkelers, the best sites are off the north coast because they’re accessible from shore
General Sales Information
Marriage requirements: Non-residents must have marriage license, which is $200 from the Chief Secretary’s Office; proof of citizenship; proof of marital status; and Immigration Department pink entry slips.
Golf: 3
Gaming: No casinos
Destination Information
Official language: English
Government: United Kingdom overseas territory
Temperature: Averages 86ºF
Rainfall: 68 inches annually
Official currency: Cayman Islands dollar, but U.S. dollar is widely accepted
Entry requirements: Valid passport/birth certificate with photo I.D.
Departure tax: $12.50 (included in ticket)
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