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Holidayco.co.uk specialises in cheap Cayman Islands holidays, package holidays and late deals to a huge number of destinations. Find out more about the Cayman Islands in our guide below.
Holidays in the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands Main Guide | Places to visit | Things to do
The Cayman Islands are located in the Caribbean Sea about halfway between Cuba and Honduras. The islands were first colonised by the British in the 18 th and 19 th Centuries.
There are three islands; Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, and various uninhabited islets. The islands are surrounded by coral reefs and a coral wall. There is a regular air service between the three islands but no regular boat service. It is possible to charter a boat to move between the islands.
Summer lasts from May to October and is warm, with temperatures routinely reaching 29 °C. Summer is the rainy season, but the rain comes in short heavy showers rather than lengthy downpours. Winter (November through to April) is still fairly warm, with an average daily high of 24 °C
Cayman Islands Facts At A Glance
Area: 262 square km.
Climate: Tropical with warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Population: 44.3 Thousand
Languages: English
Currency: Cayman Islands Dollar, US Dollar
Time Zone: 5 Hours behind GMT
International Dialling Code: +1 345
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Places to visit
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three islands. The island
is small enough (45km long and about 6km wide) to get about by bicycle, though
car, motorcycle and scooter hire is plentiful and driving is a pleasant experience.
Taxis are also plentiful and there is a minibus service which can be erratic.
The capital of the Cayman Islands, George Town, is located on Grand Cayman.
George Town is a very modern city with air-conditioned hotels and high-rise
buildings. It is an important commercial centre – the fifth largest in
the world. Many of George Town’s offices would not look out of place
in London or New York, yet the town retains a characteristically Caribbean
character. The port at George Town caters to large numbers of cruise ship passengers
and has excellent shopping facilities.
There are several resorts along Seven-Mile Beach. Here and in George Town
itself the culture is very British. Farther afield things become more noticeably
Caribbean, but many British values prevail. Politeness is respected, and it
is important to dress appropriately. Bathing costumes are fine for the beach
(though going topless or nude is not), but inland visitors are expected to
dress properly.
This is not to say that the Caymans are inhabited by strait-laced and dour
killjoys. During the annual Pirate Week (just after Easter) on Cayman Brac
the locals don eyepatches and parrots and engage in joyous mayhem to the accompaniment
of fireworks and music. No less riotous is Batabano, a festival weekend held
around Easter on Grand Cayman.
Cayman Brac, measuring 16km by 2km, lies about 150km northeast
of Grand Cayman. It is a very relaxing and tranquil place with beautiful scenery
and spectacular wildlife including rare parrots. While much of the island is
wilderness, there are some settlements and resorts. The bluff that gives the
island its name (‘Brac’ is a Gaelic word) is popular with cavers
who explore the caves where according to legend pirates hid their loot. Nobody
ever finds treasure, though.
Little Cayman is only very slightly smaller than Cayman
Brac, but is very sparsely populated. The island is mainly famous for the wall
at Bloody Bay, which drops straight down for a kilometre and a half. Jackson’s
Point is also popular as a dive location. Little Cayman is small and low-lying
with many swampy areas. It has a nature reserve with a large population of
red-footed boobies and frigate birds.
Things to do
Diving is very popular in the Cayman Islands, which are world-famous for wall
diving on the spectacular coral formations off the coast. The sea around the
islands is full of wildlife including rays, parrotfish and turtles. If you
want to get up close and personal with the local wildlife, you can go snorkling
with rays at Stingray City is a popular activity.
On land there is also plenty of wildlife to see. Each of the islands has nature
reserves where many species of birds make their homes. The National Trust publishes
walking tour guides fore the George Town and Central Bay West areas. The botanic
park features an impressive array of orchids and other local plants as well
as iguanas. There is an education trail through the park which you can take
in at your own pace.
The National Museum in George Town is housed in a 19 th-Century building and
is dedicated to the history and culture of the islands as well as the local
flora and fauna. Or if you prefer, while you’re in the paradise-like
Caymans, you could always visit Hell. Hell is located in the northwest of Grand
Cayman. The monstrous formations of black rock in the area are said to look
like Hell. There is an intriguing souvenir shop/post office (painted bright
red of course). Not far from Hell is the Cayman Turtle Farm.
If you go at the right time of year (June) you can compete in the annual fishing
tournament, which has large cash prizes on offer. In April, there is a large
arts festival showcasing local talent.
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