Discover the Island's Wild and Historic Side
Take a break from beach culture and resort living to discover a different side of Grand Cayman Island. Begin with a museum visit in downtown Georgetown, then head east to discover small coastal villages, a historic estate and a forest that holds secrets below. Here, the island's limestone foundations are riddled with caves formed over thousands of years and now decorated with intricate crystalline stalagmite and stalactite formations. On the surface, trails lead into native woodlands where brightly-colored parrots perch on branches adorned with exotic air plants. End the day at a local seaside cafe with a meal of fresh seafood and traditional island favorites.
Highlights
- Best for: Everyone, solos, couples and families looking for watersports and adventures from soft to rugged and stingray encounters
- Best season to visit: Year round
- Weather: Mid 70s in winter to high 80s in summer. The rainy season runs from May to October, but precipitation does not affect diving conditions
Things to Do
- Animal Interactions
- Board Sports
- Diving
- Hiking
- Paddle Sports
- Snorkeling
The Cayman Islands Information
Cultural Activities in The Cayman Islands Overview
The less-settled eastern end of Grand Cayman Island is the site for a range of historic and cultural sites, including botanical gardens, nature trails, caves and historic homes. These sites can be visited in half- or all-day trips from resorts on the island's west end.
Cultural Activities in The Cayman Islands Tips
Allow several hours take in the caves and forests on the island's eastern coast, and then head to Rum Point for lunch or a sunset dinner. Pirates once took refuge in these caves, and it's said that there is still treasure hidden in remote areas. Today, they are well-lit, with clearly marked walking paths.
Best Places for Cultural Activities in The Cayman Islands
The Cayman National Museum and National Gallery give insight into the island's history. Grand Cayman's oldest surviving estate home, Pedro St. James Castle, provides a glimpse of life in the 18th century. The Crystal Cave combines natural wonders with fascinating and lesser-known elements of the island's history.
What to Pack for Cultural Activities in The Cayman Islands
Bring walking shoes for treks into the forests and cave tours. Pack a tote with extra water bottles and a few snacks for the walking tours, and don't forget a camera for photos of the birds and iguanas.
Specials
Cayman Islands
Wyndham Reef Resort
Valid 8/12/23-11/3/23. Rate from $1,641 per person/double diver.
Book by 10/15/23.
From $1,641 per person double diver
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Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort and Spa
Island View from $2,089 per person/dble diver. Valid through 10/31/23.
Partial Ocean View from $2,219 per person/dble diver. Valid through 10/31/23.
Ocean/Pool View from $2,345 per person/dble diver. Valid through 10/31/23.
Book Online by 9/20/23 or Call 800.328.2288.
From $2,089 per person double diver
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Sunshine Suites Resort
Includes benefits at sister property located on Seven Mile Beach: charging privileges, use of beach, chairs, umbrellas, towels, concierge, pool treats, fitness center, workout studio, sauna, hot tub/steam room (based on avail at Hibiscus Spa), live music, weekly activities (soccer, corn hole, nature scavenger hunt, beach ball rally, water balloon toss, water drop relay, bocce ball tourney, trivia night, sand sculpture competition).
Studio Rates from $1,472 per person/dble diver. Valid through 10/31/23.
Deluxe Suites Rates from $1,575 per person/dble diver. Valid through 10/31/23.
One Bdrm Suite Rates from $1,575 per person/dble diver. Valid through 10/31/23.
Book Online by 9/20/23 or Call 800.328.2288.
From $1,472 per person double diver
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Ocean Cabanas
From $1,411 per person double dive
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Sunset House
Ocean View, Suite and Apartment Room upgrades and additional Diving Options available.
Valid through 12/15/23.
Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for Information/reservations.
From $1,979 per person double diver
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Little Cayman Beach Resort
Upgrade to Ocean Front room category available in shopping cart.
Rates from $2,095 per person/double diver 8/5/23-9/29/23.
Rates from $2395 per person/double diver 8/3/24-9/28/24.
Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for additional pricing/information.
From $2,095 per person double diver
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Ocean Cabanas
From $1,919 per person double dive
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Cayman Brac Beach Resort
Rates from $1795 per person/double diver 8/5/23-9/29/23.
Rates from $2095 per person/double diver 8/3/24-9/28/24.
Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for additional pricing/information.
From $1,795 per person double diver
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Compass Point Dive Resort
Valid 8/5/23-11/4/23. Rates from $1,485 per person/double diver.
Valid 11/5/23-12/30/23. Rates from $1,900 per person/double diver.
Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for additional pricing/information.
From $1,485 per person double diver
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Cayman Islands
Compass Point Dive Resort
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Cayman Islands
Cayman Brac Beach Resort
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Cayman Islands
Sunset House
Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for additional Information.
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Cayman Islands
Ocean Cabanas
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Cayman Islands
Cayman Brac Beach Resort
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Cayman Islands
Little Cayman Beach Resort
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Cayman Islands
Compass Point Dive Resort
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Cayman Islands
Little Cayman Beach Resort
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Resorts
Cayman Islands
Sunshine Suites Resort
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Cayman Islands
Sunset House
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Cayman Islands
Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort and Spa
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Cayman Islands
Ocean Cabanas
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Cayman Islands
Wyndham Reef Resort
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Cayman Islands
Cayman Brac Beach Resort
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Cayman Islands
Compass Point Dive Resort
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Cayman Islands
Little Cayman Beach Resort
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Passport and/or Visa Requirements
A valid passport is required for entry with one available page for entry stamps. No Visas are required for U.S. and Canadian citizens. Check the entry and exit requirements here.
Immunizations
Vaccinations are not required for entering the Cayman Islands if you're coming from the U.S., Britain, or Canada. Please check with your doctor or visit the Center for Disease Control's website here for more information.
Culture and Customs
For almost as long as it has been a mecca for divers, Grand Cayman island has also served as an international hub of finance and banking. This has provided the island with one of the highest standards of living in the region. Upscale shops, galleries and modern office buildings line the streets of downtown George Town, while West Bay Road is lined by high-end beachfront resorts and the gateway facades of new residential developments. But these islands aren't just for the international elite. Not far from five-star dining, one can purchase a meal of jerk chicken and peas'n rice from a beachside shanty, or savor a cold draft and a game of dominoes with a crew of fishermen and dive masters. At trip to the island's eastern shore, or the palm-fringed shores of Rum Point is like stepping back in time, while a flight to the Sister Islands is a different world entirely. Social climbing on Cayman Brac means inviting someone to join you for a walk up the Bluff Road for panoramic island views from Deadman's Point. On even quieter Little Cayman, nightlife might involve a tumbler full of rum and a beachside hammock under the stars.
Electricity, Phone and Internet Access
Electrical current is 110 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style two-pin plugs are standard and adapters aren't needed for U.S. and Canadian appliances.
Phone service is provided by Cable & Wireless. Check with your provider to see what rates apply or you will be subject to roaming charges.
There are many public WiFi hot spots on Grand Cayman and most hotels offer WiFi.
Water Quality
Cayman water supplies piped water to the Seven Mile Beach and West Bay areas of Grand Cayman and is safe to drink by World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Cayman Brac supplies desalinated salt water and Little Cayman has its own water system. If you are unsure of the water quality, bottled water is also available for purchase.
Language & Currency
English is the official language. The local currency, is the Caymanian dollar, but the U.S. Dollar is used interchangeably. Credit cards are widely accepted. The Cayman Dollar is represented as CI and offers denominations o f $100, $50, $25, $10, $5, $1 and coins of 25 cents, 10 cents, 5 cents and 1 cent. Check the current exchange rate here.
Time
The Cayman Islands are on Eastern Standard Time (EST) and do not observe Daylight Savings Time. The Caymans are 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-5 GMT).
Location, Size and Population
The Cayman Islands are comprised of 3 islands and are a British Overseas Territory located in the Western Caribbean. They are located South of Cuba and Northwest of Jamaica. Grand Cayman, the largest of the three Cayman Islands, lies in the far Western Caribbean, 480 miles south of Miami and occupies 76 square miles. The sister islands of Cayman Brac (14 square miles) and Little Cayman (10 square miles) are 89 miles to the northeast of Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman is approximately 22 miles long and 8 miles at its widest point. Cayman Brac is 12 miles long and just over a mile wide and has the most dramatic topography of the trio. Little Cayman, only 10 miles long and a mile wide, is flat, reaching a maximum elevation of 40 ft. The three islands are limestone outcroppings, the tops of a submarine mountain range called the Cayman Ridge, which extends west southwest for the Sierra Maestra range off the southeast part of Cuba to the Misteriosa Bank near Belize. The population of the Cayman Islands is 60,764 (2016).