A WINTER GETAWAY AT THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

The Cayman Islands are one of the Caribbean Sea’s gems for people looking to getaway from the cold winter of the North.  About ninety miles south of Cuba the Grand Cayman Island is the largest and most visited of all the Islands. The other Islands called Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, are better known by the locals as the Sister Islands. They are the country of the islands.

Most visitors to the Cayman Islands usually arrive by cruise ships which have popular ports on the Islands. Some of the tourists spend their time exploring Georgetown. Most vacationers to the Cayman come for scuba diving or for the beautifuul white sands, turquoise waters, and exclusive hotels of Seven Mile Beach.

The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory. GeorgeTown is the capital which has only 20,000 people. It is one of the most sought after destinations in the Caribbean.

Grand Cayman Island Places of Interest:

George Town – the islands’ capital city, the largest settlement, and the hub of commerce and tourism. It is also the location of the main ferry port. Its population is approximately  20,000 inhabitants with as many as 10,000 to 15,000 thousand additional cruise ship visitors and tourists on busy days. George Town has a small, historical downtown area with a number of attractions, shopping areas, and restaurants within a few minutes’ walk from the ferry port.

Seven Mile Beach – a long stretch of white sand beach, calm turquoise waters, and exclusive luxury hotels. There are also shops and restaurants across the street. The beach itself is public and can be accessed through marked “public beach access” paths if you are not staying at one of the hotels.

West Bay – The region north of George Town on the west side of the island. Home to many Caymanian residents as well as popular tourist attractions like the Turtle Farm and the Dolphin Discovery.

Bodden Town – A smaller settlement on the south side of the island.

East End – The farthest east region of the island. Sparsely populated and home to a few resorts.

North Side – The north shore of the island, west of Frank Sound Road. Home to beachside cottage mansions, a few resorts and restaurants, and a few tourist destinations including Rum Point and Starfish point.

If You Drive:

The Cayman Islands drive on the Left side of the road just like in the UK. If you drive you must try and remember that you look to the right but you drive on the LEFT. Many foreigners get confused about driving in the Cayman Islands and some have even had fender benders while on vacation.

Another tip is that Pedestrians may find it confusing that they are honked at by passersby frequently while walking. At the Cayman Islands it is a normal occurence. While there are designated bus stops, busses (that look like small vans) are usually just flagged down by pedestrians walking along the road. So the traffic that passes by and the horn honking is simply a “heads up” local notification that a bus is approaching, in case you were looking for a ride.