2 Guide to Grand Cayman

2
Guide to Grand Cayman
GENERAL INFORMATION
Capital: George Town
Religion: Christian
Language: English
Area and population
The Cayman Islands constitutes three islands – Grand Cayman,
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman – all of which are the peaks of
underwater mountains situated to the south of Cuba in the Caribbean
Sea. The total area is 77 square miles and the population is estimated
at 60 000, of which half are Caymanian. The largest island is Grand
Cayman which is about 22 miles long and eight miles at its widest
point. The highest point on the Island is only 60 feet above sea level.
The area of Cayman Brac is 14 square miles and Little Cayman, 10
square miles. Between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica is the Cayman
Trough which is the deepest part of the Caribbean Sea at 4 miles
deep. South of Cayman is the Barlett Deep which is at a depth of over
18 000 feet. All three islands are surrounded by coral reefs which lie
at the top of dramatic walls and drop-offs close to the shore making
it a perfect location for diving and sport fishing.
Government
The Cayman Islands is a British dependency with a British Governor
appointed by the UK Government. The 15-member Legislative
Assembly and the Executive Council, elected by members, is
responsible for the daily administration of the country. The Governor
must normally take the advice of the council, except in matters of
defence, internal security, external affairs, police and civil service.
Airlines
The main scheduled airlines that fly into Grand Cayman are: Spirit,
Cayman Airways, Continental, Delta, Northwest, US Airways,
American Airlines, British Airways, Air Canada, Air Jamaica and
Atlantic Airlines Northwest. Cayman Airways operates daily flights
between Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands. Island Air offers
domestic and international charters and Cayman Helicopters also
offers charters.
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Climate
Temperatures are at their lowest in February, ranging from 60°– 86° F
maximum in July. The humidity is 68–92 per cent. Rainfall is seasonal
and varies over the islands. Eastern districts tend to be drier and
Cayman Brac has less rain than Grand Cayman. The rainy season
starts in May and the maximum rainfall is in September and October.
You can read a weather forecast in the local daily newspaper The
Caymanian Compass and on the website www.caycompass.com
Driving
Drive on the left and wear a seatbelt. You need a visitor’s driving licence
from a car rental agency or from the vehicle and driving licensing
department next to the central police station in George Town. Just
show your valid driving licence from your country of residence and
pay the fee.
Drugs
Zero tolerance. If you are found with a small quantity of marijuana
this is usually met with a fine of several hundred dollars. Possession
of cocaine, ecstasy etc has, in some cases, resulted in prison
sentences.
Money and banking
Banking hours are from 09.00–16.00 Monday to Thursday and until
16.40 on Fridays. The CI dollar is issued in CI$100, 50, 25, 10, 5
and 1 denominations and coins are 25, 10, 5 and 1 cent. US dollars
are accepted island wide, but expect your change in CI dollars. ATM
machines are available island wide.
Public transport
The main taxi rank is in the centre of George Town, but taxis can be
hailed on most of the busy roads. Taxi companies also act as tour
operators, so can show you around the island. The bus depot is next
to the library in central George Town. The bus route covers West Bay,
Seven Mile Beach, Bodden Town, North Side and East End areas.
There are five main routes, each marked with a different coloured
circle: West Bay to Turtle Farm – yellow; West Bay to Birch Tree Hill
– green; Bodden Town – blue; East End – red; North Side – orange
(extended on request to Rum Point). Call the Public Transport Hotline,
tel 345 945 5100 for the daily schedule.
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Radio and television
Cayman has 13 FM radio stations catering for all musical tastes. Radio
Cayman 1 (89.9 MHz in Grand Cayman and 93.9 MHz in the Sister
Islands) and Breeze FM (105.3 MHz in Grand Cayman and 91.9 MHz
in the Sister Islands) are government owned; Cayrock (96.5 MHz) –
classic and contemporary rock music; z99 (99.9 MHz) – top 40 music
24 hours a day; Vibe (98.9 MHz) local and reggae music; Spin (94.9
MHz) – rhythm and blues, calypso; Rooster (101.9 MHz) – country and
western; Hot (104.1 MHz) – reggae, soca and rhythm and blues; Kiss
(106.1 MHz) – golden oldies; 107.9 MHz broadcasts the government
weather information. Local television stations: CITN (Cayman Islands
Television Network); CCT (Cayman Christian Television) and Westar
TV US cable television is available island wide.
Telecommunications
Cable and Wireless and Digicel. Cable and Wireless internet hot
spots are located throughout the islands.
Time
Time is Eastern Standard Time and does not observe daylight saving.
Working and immigration
As these islands are very small, a strict immigration policy is in place
– anyone found overstaying or working without a permit is likely to
face deportation. To obtain a work permit you have to first find a job
Immigration Department, George Town
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and the company employing you will file for the work permit. The
Cayman Islands has more jobs than there are people on the islands to
fill the positions. Preference, of course, is given to Caymanians who
are properly qualified for the job.
Magazines
Key to Cayman, www.keytocayman.com
Horizons, the magazine of Cayman Airways is published bi-monthly
and is an excellent, up-to-date guide to the Cayman Islands.
Grand Cayman, edited by David Legge, is a very glossy quarterly
magazine. It has a very high standard of articles and photography,
and is a showcase of excellence in the Cayman Islands. It also is the
Hello, OK and Tatler of the Cayman Islands, with society pictures
covering all the glittering parties and dinners and charity events.
Emergency phone numbers
Police/fire/ambulance: 911
Dentist: 945 4388
Decompression Chamber: 555
Hyperbolic Chamber: 949 2989
Red Cross: 949 6785
Taxis
AAA Yellow Cab: 444 4444
Ace Taxi & Tour Service: 777 7777
Charlie’s Super Cab & Tours: 888 8888
Taxi Service & Tours: 949 5702
Government phone numbers
Administrative building: 949 7900
Customs: 949 2473
Immigration: 949 8344
Port Authority: 949 2055
Post Office: 949 2474
Library: 949 5159
Tourism: 949 0623
Directory Enquiries: 411
Chamber of Commerce: 949 8090
Cayman Airways: 949 2311
Cayman Islands Tourist Board: www.caymanislands.ky or www.divecayman.ky
Car hire
Go to Avis, avisgcm@
candw.ky, whose offices
are right across from
the airport for Honda
Civics, the fabulous
convertible PT Cruiser
or a Jeep.
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Convertible PT Cruiser from Avis
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Grand Cayman
Bodden Town Guard House Park
East End Lighthouse Park
Fort George
Governor Michael Gore Bird Sanctuary
Heritage Beach (East End)
Mastic Reserve and Mastic Trail
Miss Izzy’s School House
Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
Salina Reserve
Trust House
Mission House
Watlers Cemetery
Mission House, Bodden Town
Cayman Brac
Cayman Brac Parrot Reserve and Nature Trail
Little Cayman
Booby Pond Nature Reserve
Guide to grand Cayman
The National Trust of the Caymans
Founded in 1987 by the National Trust for the Cayman Islands Law,
this is responsible for the preservation of the natural, maritime and
historic heritage of the Cayman Islands. The Trust’s properties and
sites include:
Female Blue Iguana
Lake at Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
If you manage to visit all these attractions, then you will have properly
experienced the heritage of the Cayman Islands. You can pick up a map
and start your tour or visit their website www.caymannationaltrust.org,
tel 949 0121, email: ntrust@candw.ky.
You can also become a member of the Trust if you live on the island
or live abroad and are interested in the Cayman’s heritage. The Trust
depends on the support of its members, their membership fees and
donations.
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Main areas of Grand Cayman
WEST BAY
Starting south of the Governor’s residence, West Bay is one of the
oldest and most characterful areas. It has been inhabited for over
200 years and so has much charm and character. Boggy Sand Road
(turn left at the fourway stop) is a mixture of traditional architecture
and multimillion-dollar homes. There are cottages here that were
fishermen’s cottages and date back to 1910. Places to visit here
are Boatswain’s Beach, the Turtle Farm, Morgan’s Harbour, Hell,
Hell Post Office and Barkers National Park which covers 276 acres
of low lying coast and wetland and 865 acres of protected marine
habitat with coral reefs and offshore habitats for marine turtles and
lobster. The seagrass beds encourage conch and small turtles. Green
and loggerhead sea turtles find nesting sites on Barkers’ completely
unspoilt beaches. Local and migratory birds find nesting and feeding
grounds inland. A walking tour of the wetlands is a must as it is very
peaceful. The beaches are great for kite surfing and lessons can be
organised here.
Shell stall
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Church and Town Hall, West Bay
GEORGE TOWN
George Town is home to 500 banks and 300 insurance companies,
not to mention lawyers, accountants and hedge fund companies, so
business is brisk. Harbour Drive, the road along the waterfront is a
tourist’s haven. There is a National Trust walking tour of George Town
that takes you around the oldest buildings. These include the ruins
of Fort George (1739), the National Museum (1833) at the Harbour,
the Peace Memorial (1919), Elmslie Memorial Church (1922), and
the Library and Post Office (1939). Heroes’ Square is flanked by the
clean white lines of the Law Courts and Government Building and
has beautiful fountains in the centre as well as the James Bodden
statue, the Mariners’ Memorial – a beautiful sculpture of two men at
sea; and black marble plaques listing the names of national heroes.
Also worth looking at, situated down the road on the side of the Law
Courts, is John Broad’s mural depicting 500 years of Cayman history.
It is a beautifully painted mural on 500 tiles organised into pictures
of the main milestones in Cayman’s history. Contact the Tourist Board
for the latest times of walks around George Town organised by the
National Trust when you can learn more history and the reasons
behind road names.
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George Town Harbour
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Margaritaville, Breezes and shops on George Town waterfront
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Cruise ships
Fort George
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