Cayman Islands (KAY-muhn)

Cayman Islands Flag

Why visit the Cayman Islands?

Ideal island destination for the luxury traveler seeking a beach lovers, deep-sea fishing, diving, duty-free shopping (George Town), fine dining, glass-bottom boat tours, golf, horseback riding, low crime rate, friendly English-Speaking islanders, marine life, seclusion, snorkeling, sport fishing, and water sports. 

As the "Underwater Capital of the Caribbean", undoubtedly a premier diving destination! Underwater weddings, couples must have a proper Ceremony above water to make it legal.

Photo Credit: Bob Spicer/Pixabay 

At a Glance

• Souvenirs to Buy: Caymanite, collector coins, crochet goods, jewelry, paintings, pepper sauces, rum, sculptures, semi precious stones, sketches, and wood carvings. 
• Local Cuisine to Try: Turtle Stew (delicacy).
• Local Drink to Try: Buca Kiss (cocktail). Caybrew (beer). Cayman Lemonade. Jager Bomb (cocktail). Macabuca Punch. Mudslide (cocktail). White Tip Larger (beer).

History

• In 1503, during his fourth voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus discovered Grand Cayman's two sister islands, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
  
• In 1586, Sir Francis Drake changed the islands' names to "Caymanas".
  
• In 1670, Spain ceded the islands to the British under the Treaty of Madrid.
• In 1794, a group of ten merchant ships struck a reef and ran aground. Rescued by Caymanians it's rumored that one of the ships had a member of King George III England's family. Tales of "Wreck of Ten Sails". In appreciation and gratitude, King George III promised not to impose taxes. 
• In 1834, slavery was abolished. Most slaves were brought from Africa.
• In 1959, Cayman Islands got their first constitution.
  
• Until 1962, governed as part of Jamaica to become a Crown Colony.
• In 1994, Cayman Islands revised their constitution.
  
• On April 29, 2012, the well-known Royal Wedding of HRH Prince William of Wales & Miss Catherine Middleton reported an official gift from the island was the local stone of Caymanite.
  

Fun Facts

• Grand Cayman is the largest of the three coral islands; separated by easterly sister islands, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.
  
• Cayman Trough is a massive subterranean ridge that rises 8,000 ft from the seafloor and is the deepest part of the Caribbean. 
  
• Do not levy an income tax, capital gains tax, or estate and death tax.
• "Las Tortugas" (The Turtles) was named by Christopher Columbus considering how many were in the surrounding waters.
• Local stone, Caymanite occurs as a fine-grained or vug filling a variety of the mineral dolomite CaMg(CO₃)₂. It occurs as white to red and black filling in fossil molds, small cavities, and caves. It is used as a semi-precious stone.
  
• Considering there's no direct taxation, the Cayman Islands are a mecca for banking, with about 500 registered banks and trust companies, including more than 40 of the world's largest banks. Which is impressive given their size.
  
• Birthplace (Rum Point Club's Wreck Bar) of the popular cocktail Mudslide.

Photo Credit: Hans Schwarzkopf/Pixabay 

Special Holidays/Occasions

• Annual Events: (January) Cayman Cookout, Cayman Islands Cancer Society Stride Against Cancer Walk, (February) Agricultural Show, Coco Fest, Light Up the Night Breast Cancer Beach Walk, Mercuryman Triathlon, Super Bowl, (March) Cayman Islands Orchid Show, Rundown (April) Batabano Carnival Junior Parade, Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament, Kaibo Kitefest, Red Sky at Night, (May) Batabano Adult Parade, Cayman Carnival Batabano, Furball Gala, Taste of Cayman, (June) Flowers Sea Swim, (July) CayMAS Carnival, Summer Moonlight & Movies, (September) Oktoberfest, The Big Shave, (October) Cayman Cocktail Week, Cayman Restaurant Month, The Cayman Islands Breast Cancer Foundation Gala, (November) Cayman Islands Triathlon, Gimistory, MOvember,
  Pirates Week, TBC, Tree Lighting, (December) Cayman Islands Marathon, Christmas Evening Market, New Year’s Eve Fireworks, The Pink Ladies Annual Tea & Bazaar, and Walkers Cayman Islands Marathon.
• Holidays: New Year's Day, National Heroes' Day, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Easter, Discovery Day, Whitsunday, Queen's Birthday, Constitution Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

Good to Know

• A premier diving destination with 160 unique dive sites!
  
• Read Caribbean, written by James Michener 1989.
• Boasts a high standard of living, service, and amenities.
• Car Rental Drivers must be 21 and need a temporary Driver's License.
• Choose a weekday to best enjoy a golf non-crowded course.
• Cayman Carnival Batabano is a salute to Cayman's Turtling Heritage. Parades with music and dance for the Batabano tracks left in the sand by turtles dragging themselves onto the beach to nest.
• The island restricts the number of passengers visits per day.
• The famous Seven Mile Beach sustaining significant hurricane damage is currently only 6 miles long, now.
  
• Prevalent Diseases: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever and Zika Virus. 
• Little criminal activity.
• Traffic moves on left hand side of the road.
• Captain's Table (Cayman Brac) is a popular restaurant.
• The Turtle Farm is the world's only commercial green sea-turtle farm, housing more than 16,000 endangered sea turtles.
• Alexander Hotel (Cayman Brac) and Brac Reef Beach Resort (Cayman Brac) known for their outdoor bars.
• Legal drinking age is 18.
• Avoid open containers of alcohol in your car or any public area that isn't zoned for alcohol consumption.
• Halloween is a very popular event.
• There's been many rumors that a Pirate Treasure is buried in the caves on Cayman Brac.
• The USA, Canada, and the UK have signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, therefore it is illegal to buy turtle products and import them.
  

This international destination requires:

• A valid passport and one blank page for entry stamp.

Hurricane Season is June - November.

• Coolest Season: November - April
• Humid & Hottest: July - September
• Peak Season: December - April
  
• Shoulder Season: May - October

Your Must-See & Do

• Historical Sites: Camana Bay Observation Tower, Mission House, and Pedro St James National Historic Site.
• Museums: Cayman Maritime Treasure Museum, Caymon Island National Museum, Cayman Motor Museum, and National Gallery of the Cayman Islands.
• Popular Attractions:  Bioluminescent Bay, Black Pearl Skate Park, Bloody Bay Wall, Blowholes, Cayman Crystal Caves,  Cayman Ridge, Dart Family Park, East End, Hell,  George Town, Cayman Spirits Co Distillery, Cayman Turtle Farm, Dolphin Discovery, Jackson Point, Mastic Trail, National Trust for the Cayman Islands, Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, Rebecca's Cave, Red-Footed Booby Bird Nature Reserve, Seven Fathoms Rum,  Seven Mile Beach, South Hole Sound Lagoon, Stingray City, The Pirate Caves, and Wreck of the Ten Sails Historic Park.

Photo Credit: Heidi Kiss/Pixabay 

My industry designation earned as a Caribbean Specialist combined with our local connections with Cruise Lines, Tour Operators, Hotels, Resorts, Airlines, Villa Rental Companies, Adventure Travel providers and Limo companies will offer you Exclusive Benefits that you won't be able to achieve on your own. Such as: Complimentary Breakfast for Two Daily, Dining or Resort Credit, Spa Treatment, Airport Transfer, or other privileges. Even Room Upgrades, Early Check-In and Late Check-Out when available. 

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                                        All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Subject to change without notice.