Let's Explore Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands Travel Guide, Transportation, Accommodations, Food, Dishes, Hidden Attractions, and much more...

Cayman Islands at a glance

Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman make up the Cayman Islands. The small flat islands are the coral-encrusted tops of a mountain range. Around them, underwater slopes descend to the Cayman Trough, the deepest water in the Caribbean. Many visitors frequent the islands for diving as the islands are known as the Underwater Capital of the Caribbean. While the Cayman Islands name comes from the Carib word for crocodiles, there are no longer any crocodiles roaming around; however, the islands are home to a number of sea turtles, stingrays, and other aquatic wildlife.

Cayman Islands Do's

You will likely have a chance to try out your bargaining skills at some point in the Caribbean, mostly with beach vendors and at tourist markets. Most shops and produce markets have fixed prices.
Smoking is not regulated as carefully in the Cayman Islands as it is in most U.S. cities, so be aware of where you decide to sleep and eat.
Pay attention to dress code etiquette in the Cayman Islands, as it remains a “proper” British crown colony and its residents are often conservative in dress and manners.

Cayman Islands Dont's

Do not carry open containers of alcohol in your car or any public area that isn’t zoned for alcohol consumption. The police can fine you on the spot. Don’t even think about driving while intoxicated.
You don’t want to get inside a vehicle that is not licensed to transport tourists.
Don’t depend on local outlets there to have the drugs or medication you need.

Cayman Islands Quick Facts

Cayman Islands Fun Guides

Transportation in Cayman Islands

The best way to get around the Cayman Islands is by car. Rental agencies are located right across the street from the Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) on Grand Cayman, and taxis are available at the airport’s arrivals area. Fares from the airport to your hotel can vary widely based on your accommodation’s location; expect to pay at least $20 one-way.

By Taxi

Taxis are available at Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman. This information is available from the taxi dispatcher at the curb. During your stay, taxis are also readily available from all Cayman Islands resorts and from the taxi stand at the ship dock in George Town if you take a Cayman Island cruise.

By Bus

There are several public buses that run throughout the different districts. The bus terminal is on Edward Street, adjacent to the Public Library, in George Town. Daily services commence around 6 am and fares start at CI $1.50. Licensed buses have blue number plates and accept both US and Cayman Islands dollars. There are a few bus stops around the island, but buses can be flagged down from the side of the road.

By Plane

All three islands have their own airports with regular flights, but these can get expensive if you plan on hopping islands more than once. Flights to Cayman Brac land at Charles Kirkconnell International Airport (CYB), and flights to Little Cayman land at Edward Bodden Airfield (LYB). Both airports also fly to some other Caribbean islands, including Jamaica and the Bahamas.

By Rental Car

Renting a car during your stay in the Cayman Islands provides the most flexibility when it comes to transportation. Visitors can get a temporary divers license at any rental car counter or at the police station. Visitors applying for a temporary driver’s license in the Cayman Islands for the purposes of renting a car must be 21 years of age.

By Bicycle

Rental bikes are second in popularity to rental cars, especially on the smaller of the three Cayman Islands, where there is no public transportation system. You’ll find that many of the area hotels have bicycles available to rent; you can also find bike rentals near some of the larger attractions, such as Seven Mile Beach.

By Ferry

To get to either Cayman Brac or Little Cayman, private boat operators are available from Grand Cayman. Chartering a boat can get expensive, so it’s best to plan your island-hopping itinerary strategically. To plan a day trip, make reservations through your hotel concierge or the local marina.

Best Dishes in Cayman Islands

Traditional cuisine in the Cayman Islands has strong links to Jamaica, a nation that colonized the islands before the British. As the Caymans have been a British dependency since 1962, there are also British influences in the islands’ cooking. The chief ingredients are coconut, plantain, cassava, yams, rice, and peas. The spices are heavily influenced by Jamaica, and the soil is hospitable to fruits and vegetables like yellow squash, avocados, callaloo, cassava, calabash, pineapples, peppers, bananas, limes, lemons, mangoes, and grapefruit.

Heavy Cake (Cassava Cake) – Based on a 200-year-old recipe, this island cake is made of flour, eggs, shredded cassava, coconut milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and cornstarch.
Cracked Conch – Similar to conch fritters, it is made of fried conch and served with fennel and tartar sauce.
Fish Run-down – Another popular and traditional Cayman option, this slow-cooked stew features fresh fish or salt beef prepared with coconut milk and a selection of root vegetables like cassava and sweet potatoes plus green bananas, plantains, breadfruit, pumpkin, and dumplings.
Turtle Stew – Turtle stew is considered the national dish of Grand Cayman. It is similar to an American beef stew but includes turtle meat, cassava, potatoes, onions, and peppers.

Best Accommodations in Cayman Islands

Accommodation options in Cayman generally fall into three categories: Large resorts, condominiums and villas, and guest houses/boutique hotels. Major resorts along Seven Mile Beach include the Ritz-Carlton, the Marriott Beach Resort, Westin Beach Resort, Kimpton Seafire, Sunshine Suites, Comfort Suites and the Margaritaville Resort. The Wyndham Reef Resort and Morritt’s Tortuga are located at the eastern end of Grand Cayman. There are numerous condominium complexes where units can be rented along Seven Mile Beach as well as along South Sound and in the Eastern Districts. Condo complexes are usually set in well-tended gardens with swimming pools and often tennis courts and gyms. Private villas can also be rented in various locations throughout the islands. There is a handful of intimate guest houses/bed and breakfasts and boutique-style hotels for those who prefer a more personal touch. Little Cayman and Cayman Brac also have some interesting options for accommodation. Camping is another option if you are on a budget and want to wake up to the sounds of the waves at your doorstep.

Cayman Islands Top Tourist Attractions

Seven Mile Beach is a long crescent of coral-sand beach on the western end of Grand Cayman island. Seven Mile Beach is known for its beauty, recently receiving the honor of “The Caribbean’s Best Beach” from Caribbean Travel and Life Magazine.

Cayman’s largest land-based tourist attraction, Cayman Turtle Center: Island Wildlife Encounter hosts more than 200,000 visitors each year. Educational, cultural and entertainment programs are consistently being created and updated to enhance the experience that can only be found at the island’s world-renowned attraction.

Situated on the north side of Grand Cayman, Starfish Point is paradise personified. Speckled with sea stars this beautiful stretch of beach is breathtakingly beautiful and perfect for snorkeling as it is surrounded by crystal clear water on all sides.

Cayman Islands Hidden Gems

Bloody Bay

Little Cayman has a population of less than 170, and nearly everyone who lives there is associated with diving in one way or another, and even among these connoisseurs, Bloody Bay is the island’s most wondrous dive. Supposedly named for numerous pirate battles, the bay is best known for the incredible underwater drop not far from shore: a nearly vertical wall of coral 300 meters down. While this impressive expanse would be enough to attract divers from around the world, the coral here doubles down on the natural wonder with its natural bioluminescence.

Wreck of the Ten Sail

A massive maritime collision may have led to the myth of a resort island’s strange financial status. The heroism of the Caymanians in rescuing the English sailors and passengers fueled a legend that lingers to this day. The story goes that one of the passengers rescued from the wrecked ships was a son of King George III. When the King learned of the island residents’ bravery, he decided to reward them by decreeing that the Cayman Islands would forever be free of taxation and war conscription. However, there is no record that any member of the royal family was on one of the ships or that the King ever issued such a decree. Yet the legend is commonly repeated to explain the islan

Hell

Poking out from its lush surroundings on Grand Cayman is a small patch no bigger than a soccer field of rough, black limestone formations referred to as Hell. Hell was created by salt and lime deposits over 24 million years, and the legend of its name’s origin is controversial. Some say locals believed the place was similar to Hell’s landscape. Others assert that British general hunting in the area exclaimed “Oh hell,” when he missed a shot near the area.

Cayman Islands Daily Costs

Budget: Less than $150

Accommodation:

Hotel or Hostel (single): $76
Double-occupancy room: $150

Food

Meals for one day: $20

All you can eat BBQ: $18

Transportation

Taxis, local buses, train: $11
Intercity: $17

Bus ride: $2.58
Taxi from airport: $25
Rental car: $49

Entertainment

Entrance tickets & shows: $20

Pedro St. James Castle entrance fee: $9.84
“Discover the East” Adventure Card: $16
Ticket to theater: $41
Sunset cruise: $40
Glass-bottom boat tour: $44
Snorkeling at Stingray City: $74

Alcohol

Drinks for one day: $7.38

Beer: $4.96

Mid-range: $150-300

Accommodation

Hotel or rental home (single): $182
Double-occupancy room: $365

Food

Meals for one day: $48

All you can eat BBQ: $18

Transportation

Taxis or Car rental: $24
Intercity: $43

Bus ride: $2.58
Taxi from airport: $25
Rental car: $49

Entertainment

Entrance tickets & shows: $50

Pedro St. James Castle entrance fee: $9.84
“Discover the East” Adventure Card: $16
Ticket to theater: $41
Sunset cruise: $40
Glass-bottom boat tour: $44
Snorkeling at Stingray City: $74

Alcohol

Drinks for one day: $18

Beer: $4.96

High-end (Luxury): More than $300

Accommodation

Resort or hotel (single): $414
Double-occupancy room: $829

Food

Meals for one day: $109

All you can eat BBQ: $18

Transportation

Car Rentals or private driver: $42
Intercity: $110

Bus ride: $2.58
Taxi from airport: $25
Rental car: $49

Entertainment

Entrance tickets & shows: $114

Pedro St. James Castle entrance fee: $9.84
“Discover the East” Adventure Card: $16
Ticket to theater: $41
Sunset cruise: $40
Glass-bottom boat tour: $44
Snorkeling at Stingray City: $74

Alcohol

Drinks for one day: $38

Beer: $4.96

Cayman Islands Money-Saving Tips

Choose the right time of year – You’ll generally get better deals by traveling over the summer or fall — if you’re willing to live with a little risk. (Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.) Hotel rates are almost always lower during this wetter time of year. If you’re worried about hurricanes, consider staying on one of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao), which are outside the main hurricane belt.
Haggle – In many parts of the Caribbean, bargaining for a better deal is an essential part of everyday life. While you may not be able to negotiate much in a big duty-free store or a supermarket, where prices are generally fixed, there are plenty of open-air markets.
Don’t overtip – In some restaurants, a service charge will automatically be added to your bill; if so, you don’t need to leave an additional tip (unless you wish to further reward an exemplary waiter or waitress). Some resorts and hotels also add a service charge onto your bill to cover tips for various members of the staff.
Use public transportation – Many Caribbean islands have local public bus systems — usually small, colorful vans that serve the major routes and towns across the island. Fares on these vans tend to be extremely inexpensive.
Eat where the locals do – You’ll almost always find cheaper, more genuine local meals away from the hotels and touristy restaurants. Look for fish fry-ups on the beach or little roadside snackettes.

Useful Websites & Apps

Hotel booking – Booking.com via InteleTravel
Tours & activities – Viator or Shore Excursions Group
Ferry tickets & schedule – Cayman Ferries
Bus Schedule – Cayman Resident

10 Cool Facts About Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands aren’t islands The Cayman Islands aren’t islands at all, they’re part of a mountain called the Cayman Ridge, which rises more than 7,500m – or the size of a very large mountain in the Himalayas – from the ocean floor.
A diverse community There are more than 100 nationalities living in harmony in the Cayman Islands.
You can walk the entire length of Seven Mile Beach Did you know that this world-famous and award-winning beach isn’t actually seven miles long? Measurements of the stunning stretch of sand put the beach at around five and three-quarter miles in length.
Real buried treasure There’s supposedly a treasure on our islands that Neil Walkers, Henry Morgan, and Edward Blackbeard left behind when the pirates occupied Cayman Island in the 18th century.
Cayman is the culinary capital of the Caribbean There are over 200 restaurants in Grand Cayman and eating out is a daily activity. Choose from a local Caymanian café serving cuisine such as conch fritters and fresh seafood or sophisticated French, Italian, Japanese, and even Australian cuisine.
Cayman Islands is not the original name Christopher Columbus had a good year in the Cayman Islands in 1503. He stumbled upon the islands and named Cayman “Las Tortugas,” Spanish for the turtles he saw all around.
The mudslide cocktail was invented in the Cayman Islands The Wreck Bar and Grill at Rum Point is reported to be the place where the delicious mudslide cocktail was invented back in the 70s. The story goes that a customer at the bar asked for a White Russian. The barman asked what was in a White Russian, so the customer told him: vodka, Kahlua, and cream. The barman didn’t have any real cream but he did have Irish cream, which he used instead and so, the mudslide was born.
New Crystal Caves Cayman Crystal Caves, a relatively new tourist attraction in the Cayman Islands, are natural caves that have only been recently discovered and cleared for transit.
There is a dive site for every day of the year The Cayman Islands are widely recognized as the birthplace of recreational diving in the Caribbean, and a top choice for diving holidays. With more than 40 dive operations and 365 dive sites, people from all over the world choose to dive in the Cayman Islands for the warm, calm waters, 98+ ft of visibility, stunning reefs, and an incredible variety of marine life.
Some of the rarest species in the world are found in the Cayman Islands The varied flora and fauna in the Cayman Islands make the destination a haven for nature-lovers, but Cayman is home to some incredibly rare species; the blue iguana which was saved from almost total extinction by an extensive breeding program, and the rarest orchid in the world, the endemic Ghost Orchid. The red-footed booby colony on Little Cayman is the largest breeding colony of these birds in the western hemisphere. You might also be interested to know that the only native land mammals of the Cayman Islands are bats. There’s also the buffy flower bat, which is only found in the Caribbean and drinks nectar from flowers like a hummingbird.

Travel Insurance

When planning for your trip to Cayman Islands, don’t forget about travel insurance! You never know what might happen and it’s better to be safe than sorry.