Overview
The three Cayman Islands lure countless vacationers today for their clear waters and long sandy beaches, but they certainly weren’t as compelling in the days of Columbus, who discovered them in 1503. Extensive turtle colonies inspired Columbus to originally name the archipelago Las Tortuges (The Turtles). They were later called Caymanas because the numerous water iguanas living there were thought to be a species of crocodile. In addition to these rather feisty natives, the three islands – Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac – have long had even more dangerous residents: corsairs and pirates. The vacationer of the 21st However, those of the 20th century need not worry about all this, because what could be nicer than lying on the wide sandy beaches and observing tropical fish species in the crystal-clear waters frolicking on the coral reefs? The popular Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman in particular fully deserves its good reputation. See other countries in North America on payhelpcenter.
Getting there
Arriving by plane
There are no direct flights to the Cayman Islands from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Lufthansa (LH), Swiss International (LX) and Austrian Airlines (OS) offer flights via Miami, New York and Toronto in cooperation with United (UA), American Airlines (AA) and Air Canada (AC). Cayman Airways (KX), the national airline of the Cayman Islands, connects Grand Cayman with Chicago, Denver, Miami, New York, Tampa, Havana (Cuba) and Kingston (Jamaica), among others.
Flight times
Frankfurt/M. – Grand Cayman: 15 hrs 35 mins; Zurich – Grand Cayman: 14 hours 10 minutes; Vienna – Grand Cayman: 16 hours 15 minutes (shortest journey times, including time spent at intermediate stops).
Departure fee
$13; children under the age of 2 are excluded from this. There are no fees for inter-island flights.
Arrival by ship
Many cruise lines call at the port of Grand Cayman. Passenger ships operate between the Cayman Islands and North America, Mexico and Europe.
Cruise ships
Cruises to the Cayman Islands are offered by Phoenix from Nice (France), P&O Cruises from Southampton (Great Britain), Costa from Savona (Italy), Oceania Cruises from Barcelona (Spain).
Transportation
Traveling by plane
Cayman Airways (KX) and Island Air connect Grand Cayman with Cayman Brac and Little Cayman and Cayman Brac and Little Cayman multiple times daily.
Flight times
Grand Cayman – Little Cayman: 45 mins; Grand Cayman – Cayman Brac: 40 mins; Cayman Brac – Little Cayman: 15 mins
Traveling by car/bus
All the islands have well-developed road networks along the coasts. However, there are hardly any connecting roads through the interior of the island in the north-south direction. Grand Cayman has only one connecting road between north and south in the interior of the island, which runs near Ireland Bluff in the direction of Old Man Bay. Various roads on Cayman Brac end in the east of the island and are not connected in the north-south direction. Little Cayman has two north-south connecting roads only in the western part of the island, in the east only along the coast. Tolls: There are no toll roads in the Cayman Islands. Gas stations are everywhere.
Right-hand traffic/left-hand traffic
Left
Condition of the roads
The roads are in good condition.
Car rental
There are car rental companies at the airports and in some tourist locations. The minimum age for drivers is 21 years.
Taxi
Taxis are available everywhere. The taxi price is fixed per person and way. A standard fare applies for up to three passengers, and the fare increases for four or more passengers. Surcharges apply for extra luggage, night driving and often inclement weather.
Bicycle
Bicycles, mopeds and motorbikes can be rented from various providers. Helmets are compulsory.
Coach
Buses operate daily on Grand Cayman from 6 a.m.; from George Town they drive to the different regions of the island.
Regulations
Traffic regulations: – left-hand traffic; – seatbelt obligation; – Alcohol limit: 0.1 ‰. Be careful with buses: the doors open to the roadside. Speed limits: – urban: 40-48 km/h (25-30 mph); – extra-urban: 64 km/h (40 mph); – on major roads: 80 km/h (50 mph).
Documentation
In addition to the national driver’s license, a tourist driver’s license (Visitor’s Driving Permit) is required, which is issued by the rental car company for a fee of €6.50 (US$7.50).
Traveling by ship
There is no ferry service between the islands. Cayman Ferries offers ferry services on Grand Cayman Tuesday through Sunday several times a day from Camana Bay in the western part of the island to Kaibo Beach and Rumpoint in the north.
