Cayman Islands

Description of Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands are located 90 miles south of Cuba. The group of islands is a favorite among divers as they have gorgeous coral reefs and waters that are outstandingly clear. The islands have become a popular tourist destination as there are many great beaches, resorts, and fine restaurants located in the area. Some of the popular local gifts from the area include logwood products and sea salt. 

Grand Cayman is the largest of the islands and is where most of the tourist facilities and population are located. The locals call the other 2 islands the sister islands and they are also popular with tourists. The 2 islands are Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The capital of the Cayman Islands is the city of George Town. 

Some of the other places that are often visited include 7 mile beach, Rum Point, Pedro St. James historic site, the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, Stingray City, and Boatswain’s Beach, all of which are located on Grand Cayman.

History 

During the 18^th and 19^th century the British colonized the Cayman islands from Jamaica. Jamaica administered the islands from the year 1863. When Jamaica became independent in 1962, the Cayman islands remained a British dependency.

The Cayman islands are a popular incorporation site because there is no direct taxation, which makes banking a popular industry on the islands. Additionally, tourism is important with most of the visitors to the islands coming from North America. Many of the visitors come from cruise ships and are only on the islands for a day. The residents of the island have one of the highest standards of living of the entire world. The islands are some of the richest of the world.

Climate

From May through October, which is the summer months, the weather is warm and rainy. From November through April, the islands make a great vacation spot as the winters are relatively dry. The islands were hit quite hard by Hurricane Ivan in the year 2004.

Shopping and Dining

Most of the shopping on the islands is on 7 mile beach and in George Town. Some of the things that are popular among shoppers are Caymanite, which is a semi-precious stone from the islands, and black coral which is found in a lot of jewelry on the islands. Rum cake from the Tortuga Rum Company is quite popular among visitors. There are also many tourist shops where you may purchase post cards, hats, t-shirts, etc. Cayman sea salt and logwood products are extremely popular gift items from the islands. You should avoid buying sea shells from the shop and comb the beaches instead as this is much more fun and also much cheaper.

There are many culinary influences from different regions found throughout the restaurants on the islands. Some of the local specialties include turtle, conch, and fish, are quite delicious and typically cost less as they are not imported. There are over 150 restaurants from which to choose, so you are sure to find something that you will enjoy while you are there.

You must try one of the local jerk stands in the area. Simply ask one of your taxi drivers to take you to their favorite.

Make sure that you budget for food while you are there as many of the restaurants are quite expensive. There are a few more casual options and on Friday nights you can enjoy free chicken wings from Rackams.

On the islands the cost of alcohol is quite high. You can expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $9 for drinks if you visit any clubs or bars. Liquor stores close by 7 and do not open on Sunday. If you are flying into the islands you can bring a bottle of spirits, 4 bottles of champagne or wine, or a 12 pack of beer. If you exceed these limits you will be taxed a substantial amount.

There are plenty of resorts and other places to stay when you visit the Cayman Islands. However, you should know that the islands cater to the wealthy, so the cost of staying here is not cheap. There are a few options that are a bit less expensive. All-inclusive resorts are not popular options for the islands. 

Some facts about Cayman Islands

Gallery of Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands video guide

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