Cayman Islands Tourist Information

The Cayman Islands offer fine white sand beaches and the clear aquamarine waters of the Caribbean Sea. Here you'll find world renowned diving and snorkeling, as well as luxurious resorts, modern facilities and the highest standard of living in the Caribbean !

The 3 lush tropical islands total just 100 square miles in area. The Cayman Islands have an attractive mix of Caribbean charm and American efficiency. Year round warm weather, great duty-free shopping, international banking, and the courtesy and charm of the island's residents offer the very best of all worlds. The Cayman Islands are safe, relaxing, tranquil and home to some of the friendliest people in the entire Caribbean. The islands have a rich history and celebrate their traditions with some wonderfully colorful local festivals.

Grand Cayman, the largest of the three Cayman Islands, lies 150 miles south of Cuba and 180 miles northeast of Jamaica. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are 89 miles to the north east of Grand Cayman. The Cayman Islands are emergent peaks of the submarine Cayman Ridge which extends from the Cuban Sierra Maestra Range to the Misteriosa Banks off Honduras. The islands were formed by living corals that gradually capped the mountain peaks. The deepest spot in the Caribbean sea lies in the Cayman Trench just off Cayman Brac and is over 4 miles deep at it's deepest point.

The Cayman Islands enjoy "summer" like weather year round. Lying between the latitudes of 19° and 20° North, in the far Western Caribbean, the islands are warm year round, but are tempered by cooling trade winds. Temperatures reach highs of 85º - 90º F during the summer months of July and August. Relative humidity varies from 68% to 92%. Temperatures are coolest during February, ranging from 72º - 86º F during the day and 64º - 72º F at night. The Sea temperature ranges from 78º - 82º F in the winter months and from 82º - 86º F in the summer. The rainy season starts in May and lasts through October, with May and October usually the rainiest months. December through April is dry season, with February and March being the driest months of the year. Average annual rainfall is estimated at 46 inches.

The Cayman Islands remain on Eastern Standard Time all year round - we do NOT change to daylight savings time in the summer.

All visitors travelling to the Cayman Islands from or via the USA will be required to present a valid passport and must have a return airline ticket when they arrive on the island, or they will be denied entry to the country! You cannot enter the Cayman Islands on a one-way ticket unless you are a resident of the island. Some nationalities will be required to obtain a visitor visa in order to enter the Cayman Islands. If you have questions regarding entry requirements, please contact the Cayman Tourism Department at 345-949-0623.

The local currency is the Cayman Islands dollar. It is equivalent to US $1.25. This is a fixed exchange rate and does not change. American currency is generally accepted as are all major credit cards. Banking hours are 9 am to 2:30 PM Monday through Thursday, and 9 am to 1 PM, and 2 PM to 4:30 PM on Friday. The departure tax when leaving The Cayman Islands is US $12.50.

There are Cayman National Bank ATM's at several locations on Seven Mile Beach and in George Town, plus one at the airport and one in Savannah. These accept cards displaying the Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus or Plus logos, and can be used to withdraw cash in US or CI dollars and to check the balance of your overseas accounts. Note that you must have a PIN code for your card in order to use these ATM machines.

While many of the hotels add a 5-10% service charge and many restaurants automatically add a 10-15% service charge, some do not. Please examine your bill or check to see if the service charge has been added. Feel free to reward those who serve you with any added tip that you feel is appropriate.

Electrical current is the same as in the USA and Canada: 110 volts, 60 cycle. George Town, Seven Mile Beach, and West Bay are connected to a central supply of desalinated water. Some of the more remote hotels on Little Cayman or Cayman Brac rely on rainwater or bottled water. Bottled drinking water is available at all supermarkets and convenience stores.

The George Town Hospital on Grand Cayman and Faith Hospital on Cayman Brac are equipped to deal with most emergencies. The Government of The Cayman Islands has recently completed the expansion of its main hospital into a large Health Services Complex located in George Town, Grand Cayman. It boasts modern equipment and facilities, in addition to an increased number of highly trained personnel. A 24 hour hyperbaric decompression chamber is available for divers and an air ambulance service for other emergencies. The telephone number is (345) 949-8600. There is also a private hospital currently under construction and a number of other private facilities that offer a variety of professional medical services.

On Cayman Brac, there is the government hospital, Faith Hospital. The number is (345) 948-2243/2245. There is a small clinic on Little Cayman that can be reached at (345) 948-1051.

Visitors should remember that the Cayman Islands remains a "proper" British Crown Colony and our people are conservative by nature. Also note that the Cayman Islands Government strictly prohibits all forms of public nudity so please do not wear bathing suits or scanty beach wear beyond the beach or cruise ship - and cover up when in public areas elsewhere. Neat, casual and comfortable tropical attire are appropriate throughout the country. Visitors will want to bring smart casual wear for evenings out at our restaurants. When attending church services, "Sunday dress" is appropriate - shorts and T-shirts are not considered acceptable, especially for ladies. However, ties are not expected!

Beach vendors are not permitted in the Cayman Islands! Have you ever had anyone bother you or try to sell you a tshirt or some tacky trinkets while you relax on the beach or enjoy the pool area of your resort? Well, that won't happen here - unlike some other destinations in the Caribbean, we respect your privacy and leave you alone so you can enjoy your vacation!

The legal drinking age in the Cayman Islands is 18 years old.

A current official health certificate for your pet plus a completed application form for the importation of dogs and cats to The Cayman Islands are needed to obtain an import permit.