Grand Cayman
To
scuba divers and snorkelers, the Caymans are synonymous with
the world's best waters. Located 480 miles south of Miami, the
Caymans are easily accessible by air from all major gateways.
GRAND CAYMAN, the largest island, is a prosperous, cosmopolitan
place, long a haven for offshore investment. It's home to George
Town, the capital city and commercial center and West Bay Beach
(nick-named "Seven Mile Beach") which has extensive
hotel and condominium development and special appeal for joggers
and beachcombers.
George Town features interesting architecture, impressive public
buildings and monuments plus a new museum with souvenirs from
shipwrecks.
Other places of interest include the world-famous Cayman Turtle
Farm, Bodden Town, the first capital, with remnants of a rich
pirate history, an eerie Bat Cave, an underwater marine park,
Stingray City where you can pet giant rays and Hell, the town
where it's fun to have a letter postmarked.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
U.S. and Canadian citizens require proof of citizenship, a
valid photo ID & return ticket. Passports and return ticket
for all others and/or evidence of sufficient funds.
CURRENCY:
The Cayman Islands dollar is fixed to the US$ at US$1.00 CI$.80.
Travelers Cheques $.82. In shops the rate of exchange is CI$1.00
US$1.20. Credit cards and traveler's checks are generally
accepted. However, when US dollars are given for payment,
Cayman dollars are usually given back in change.
TAXES & SERVICE CHARGES:
Departure tax US$25.00 or CI$20.00 (Included in ticket price).
Room tax 10%. Service charge 10% on rooms. 10-15% on food
and beverage.
COUNTRY PROFILE
GEOGRAPHY:
The Cayman Islands is located 480 mls south of Miami, 180
mls northwest of Jamaica. Cayman Brac lies 81 mls & Little
Cayman lies 67.5 mls, respectively, northeast of Grand Cayman.
Grand Cayman and Little Cayman are both relatively flat with
rocky coastlines. The islands are surrounded by coral reefs.
Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman is a white sandy beach with
some small coves. Cayman Brac has a central bluff rising to
140 ft and falling sharply into the sea. The capital, George
Town, is located on Grand Cayman. The highest point on the
island is about 60 ft above sea level.
CLIMATE:
Average annual temperature, high-33 degrees C/92 degrees F:
low-19 degrees C/66 degrees F. Relative humidities, high-83
low-73%. Total rainfall 35.61. Approximate Sunrise/Sunset,
0600/1800.
LANGUAGE:
English.
DINING:
Restaurants available Local. Fast Food. Caribbean. International.
Gourmet. Chinese. Italian. Mexican. Southwestern USA. German.
Indian. Thai. English pubs. Dress code is casual. 15% is standard
for gratuities. Check your bill before paying. Some restaurants
and bars include gratuities; others do not.
NIGHTLIFE:
Entertainment available includes Discos. Live Music. Nightclubs.
Dinner/Dances. Cinemas. Theaters. Comedy Club. Café.
Occasionally gospel concerts & concerts by top reggae,
country & rock bands.
SHOPPING:
Locally produced items Treasure coins. Local Foods: Hot Sauce;
Rum Cakes & Fudges; Jams & Jellies; Jerk Sauce, etc.
Variety of local art at 5 local galleries. Thatch work. Caymanite
semi precious stone jewelry. Woodwork handmade birdhouses;
glassblown items; straw products (baskets, hats, etc). Approx.
30 40% off stateside prices for duty free items. Icoa Chocolates;
BB Rum Sauce. Local Beers & Liquors.
SPORTS:
Activities: Aerobics. Cycling. Deep-sea fishing. Golf. Gyms.
Jogging. Kayaking. Scuba Diving. Snorkeling. Tennis. Watersports.
Windsurfing.
Spectator Sports: Badminton. Basketball. Cricket. Field Hockey.
Rugby. Sailing. Scuba. Soccer. Softball. Squash. Volleyball.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
(2002) October 25-November 3: 26th Annual Pirates Week ’02.
TBA: Tourism Awareness Week.
TRANSPORTATION:
Driving is on the left hand side of the road. Rentals available
include Cars, vans, jeeps, mopeds & bicycles. Temporary
license/permit requirements Visitors can obtain a valid drivers
license from the police station or the car rental agency upon
presentation of a valid drivers license and payment of US$7.50
or CI$6.00. Local services Taxis, unmetered, fixed fares for
most trips. Tour buses. Cayman Airways and Island Air fly
between Cayman Brac. Island Air to Little Cayman only. Seat
belt law is in effect.
MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS:
A special license may be granted by the Governor for non resident
couples. Proof of identity, a passport or birth certificate,
the Cayman Islands embarkation/disembarkation cards are required.
Also certified copies or original divorce decrees or death
certificates if applicable. Fees are CI$150.00 plus a $10.00
postage stamp (Stamp Duty).
MEDICAL FACILITIES:
Air ambulance. Diving recompression chamber. Emergency dental
facilities. 24 hour pharmaceutical services. 24-hour casualty
department. Government Hospital, Chrissie Tomlinson Hospital
& private medical centers with specialists on call. Faith
Hospital on Cayman Brac. Resident Nurse on Little Cayman.
What To Do & See
Tour Grand Cayman: Get to know the island
with a native who can tell you all the legends and inside
information about colorful people and places, past and present.
You'll quickly feel comfortable enough to venture out on your
own.
The Cayman Turtle Farm: This is the only
commercial turtle farm in the world and its tanks are teeming
with turtles in every stage of life from the 2-3 inch hatchlings
to 100 year-old, 600 pound patriarchs. The farm also plays
a role in protection of the species by raising and releasing
many endangered green sea turtles into local waters each year.
Go to Hell! This small settlement is known
for its blackened and jagged rock formations. There are a
few shops, a post office, and the famous Club Inferno. Sending
postcards from Hell to your friends is a favorite activity.
Scuba Diving: Hands down one of the best
places to dive in the world, with a staggering 160 charted
sites, the Grand Caymans have won many scuba and snorkeling
awards including Scuba Diving magazine's People's Choice Awards
for: Best Overall Diving in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac;
Best Fish Life in Little Cayman; Best Visibility in Cayman
Brac; Healthiest Marine Environment in Little Cayman; Best
Wreck Diving in Cayman Brac; Best Wall Diving in Little Cayman,
Cayman Brac, and Grand Cayman; and Best Advanced Diving in
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman! In addition to the acclaimed
walls and reefs, said to rival Australia's Great Barrier Reef,
divers and snorkelers should visit Stingray City. Dozens of
friendly stingrays swim around you, gently feeding from squid
in the palm of your hand.
Cruise the North Sound: Cruise this pristine
bay on the northwest end of Grand Cayman whose shores harbor
flora and fauna of extensive variety and breathtaking beauty.
Have lunch on the boat and stop off at highlight spots around
the Sound!
The National Museum: This worthy establishment
dedicates itself to preserving and researching all aspects
of Caymanian heritage. In 1990, following years of planning
and artifact conservation, the museum opened to the public
for the first time in the historic 19th-century Old Courts
Building.
Golfing: Grand Cayman is home to 2 championship
golf courses. The course at Safehaven is an 18-hole championship
course with fabulous views of the surrounding landscape. Britannia,
a course at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman, can function as
either a 9-hole championship course, an 18-hole executive
course, or an 18-hole Cayman Ball course.
Atlantis Submarine: On Seven Mile Beach,
you'll find the cutting-edge and comfortable Atlantis Submarine,
offering non-scuba divers a chance to view the unparalleled
beauty of the Cayman seas. Choose between a 100-foot dive
or, if you're more daring, the 1,000-foot dive for an unforgettable
and rare experience of a lifetime!
Glass Bottom Boat Tours: For the tame of
heart, glass bottom boats offer a glimpse of the renowned
Cayman undersea world from a gentle, above-board perspective.
View historic shipwrecks, coral reefs, and exotic species
in the comfort of an air-conditioned cabin.
Fishing: A plethora of fishing operations
offers anglers everything from deep-sea outings to shallow
water fishing. "Million Dollar Month" attracts folks
from across the world to compete in one of the world's largest
Big Fish contests, angling for Blue and White Marlin, Sail
Fish, Wahoo, Yellowfish Tuna, Rainbow Runners, and Mahi-Mahi.
Botanical Gardens: Opened in the early 1990s
by Queen Elizabeth II, these gardens offer visitors leisurely
strolls through delicate and spectacular floral displays.
Included are cacti, thatch palm, air plants, and orchids.
Wander the lush trails or relax in a garden gazebo.
Bird-Watching: The Caymans shelter a stunning
array of bird life - more than 200 species including Egrets,
Rails, Sandpipers, Woodpeckers, Flycatchers, Kingbirds, Herons,
and Moorhens. Birding is best done in the mornings and afternoons,
when the greatest variety of species is out feeding. For choice
viewing, head to the Governor Michael Gore Bird Sanctuary,
set on 3½ acres of pristine wetland on Grand Cayman.
There is also a rare parrot reserve on Cayman Brac and several
nesting colonies on Little Cayman.
Dining
From romantic gourmet to zesty local fare, scores of restaurants
on Grand Cayman afford visitors a lavish variety of dining
opportunities. There is something for everyone, with an emphasis
on seafood specialties. Sunday brunch specials are popular
at locations throughout the island and, during the peak season,
reservations are a good idea.
Gourmet: Benjamin's Roof boasts an exotic
menu with the likes of blackened alligator tail and Angels
on Horseback (oysters wrapped in bacon, topped with garlic
butter). It's primarily a seafood restaurant, although meat-lovers
are not neglected. Diners are greeted by Conan the Macaw,
live piano music, and a forest of potted plants. West Bay
Road, Grand Cayman
Highly Recommended: Ottmar's is a quiet,
elegant restaurant styled after a West Indian great house.
Mahogany furniture, chandeliers, and a fountain create the
setting for excellent service and inventive international
fare, including favorites like the French pepper steak flamed
in cognac and doused with green peppercorn sauce and crème
frêche. Grand Cayman
Local Flair: The Wharf is a longtime favorite
with locals and tourists alike, in great part for the perfect
sunset views that accompany every meal. Another popular feature
is the bar, which is open for happy hour every night before
dinner. Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
Romantic: Ristorante Pappagallo, nestled
deep in a secluded bird sanctuary, serves inventive Italian
cuisine with a touch of Caribbean flavor mixed in. The extensive
wine list features many fine vintages. Pappagallo is also
a landmark of architectural design encompassing more than
100,000 palm leaves that make up its thatched roof. West Bay,
Grand Cayman
Nightlife
Grand Cayman has a small but engaging variety of nighttime
entertainment. Although strict laws close down the bars and
clubs at 1:00am on weekdays and at midnight on Saturdays,
there is still plenty to do so long as you get an early start.
Visitors should consult the local papers for current entertainment
listings, but there is always something fun going on at the
resorts. Top local bands regularly appear at The Planet Nightclub
and other venues.
The Planet and Sharkey's: These clubs attract
a younger crowd along Seven Mile Beach for disco music played
by DJs, as well as live performances. Sharkey's claims Grand
Cayman's best happy hour on weekends from 8:00pm until 9:30pm,
and Sharkaoke rules the house on Wednesday nights.
The Barefoot Man Band: Here's a must-see!
Thrilling visitors for more than 20 years, Barefoot Man rocks
the house with festive calypso beats, gentle reggae rhythms,
catchy lyrics, and tender ballads. So popular is Barefoot
Man that he even appeared in the Tom Cruise movie The Firm.
Barefoot Man now holds court at Rum Point.
The Harquail Theatre: Located on West Bay
Road, this is the venue for cultural events, including stage
productions and plays by West Indian playwrights. Also featured
are drama and comedy by Caribbean performers and other special
exhibitions and concerts.
Prospect Playhouse: This Red Bay stage presents
year-round regular performances of comedy, drama, and musicals
by the Cayman Drama Society.
