Cayman Islands – An Abbreviated Travel Guide

The Cayman Islands is one of the world’s top destinations for people who want to enjoy some tropical fun with the sea and the sun. For those not very familiar with this three-island jewel in the Caribbean, the following is some kind of a short travel guide and notes.

The island-nation is a territory governed by Great Britain after having been colonized by the British from Jamaica in the 18th and 19th centuries. They were administered by Jamaica until 1962 (when Jamaica became independent) and the Cayman Islands remained as British dependents.

3 islands

The Cayman Islands is composed of three islands (Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac) 90 miles south of Cuba. The largest, Grand Cayman, is home to most of the population and tourist facilities. The capital, George Town, is located there.

The two islands are also tourist destinations. The beautiful coral reefs and clear waters around the islands are favorite destinations for divers. The beaches, the resorts and the fine restaurants are the favorites of tourists.

Climate

The general climate is tropical where there are warm rainy summers in May to October and cool, relatively dry winters in November to April. The total land area (low-lying limestone base) of the three islands is 262 square kilometers.

The main airport is the Owen Roberts International Airport near George Town on Grand Cayman. It is about a 65-minute flight from Miami, Florida. It is served by many international airlines connected to destinations in the Caribbean, North and Central America and Europe.

Economics

The Cayman Islands inhabitants enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and have one of the highest standards of living in the world. 90% of the islands’ food and consumer goods are imported.

In addition to banking (there is no direct taxation, making them a favorite incorporation site), tourism is a big industry, aimed at the luxury market and catering to North American visitors. They are the one of the richest islands, not only in the Caribbean but also in the world.

Food

The Cayman cuisine has many influences. Local specialties of fish, turtle, and conch are not that expensive because they are not imported. For the gourmet or just plain food lover, there is always a good find in the Cayman Islands. The reason? More than 150 restaurants to choose from.

From the traditional Caymanian seafood to Caribbean cuisine all the way to Thai food and Italian specialties, there is a restaurant that can cater to the wishes of your tongue.
Expect, however, some steep dollars for those high-end menus.

Of course, there is always a good meal to be had at around $20 to $30 per person.

Drinks

Alcohol is very expensive on the islands, even from the liquor stores. They can be twice as much as you pay at stores in the U.S.

Typical bar drinks range from $4 to $7 Caymanian dollars.

Accommodations

There is always an ample supply of accommodations at the Cayman Islands, although they can be relatively expensive even at the two smaller islands. Cost of food and drinks can be high, but many visitors stay at condominiums with kitchen facilities buying their own provisions.

All in all, everything is pretty good in Cayman Islands. Paradise is perfect, right?