Cayman Islands

Key facts

• Region: The Caribbean
• Sovereignty: Non-sovereign territory administered by United Kingdom
• Capital: George Town, on Grand Cayman
• Currency: Cayman Islands dollar (KYD)
• Languages: English
• Main airport: GCM — Owen Roberts International Airport, serving George Town
• Best time to visit: December to April, the dry season; the Cayman Islands sit largely outside the main hurricane belt

Overview

The Cayman Islands is a three-island British territory in the western Caribbean, south of Cuba and west of Jamaica. Grand Cayman is by far the largest and most developed, with the finance industry and the bulk of tourism. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are much smaller, quieter and diver-oriented.

Airports

Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) on Grand Cayman, just outside George Town, is the main gateway and has direct flights from a number of US and Canadian cities. Charles Kirkconnell International Airport (CYB) serves Cayman Brac and Edward Bodden Airfield (LYB) serves Little Cayman. The two Sister Islands are reached by short inter-island flights on Cayman Airways from Grand Cayman, and Cayman Brac also handles some regional flights.

Main cities

George Town is the capital, on Grand Cayman's west coast, and contains the cruise port, financial district and main shopping. West Bay lies to the north of George Town and is the largest district by population; Bodden Town, the former capital, and East End lie further along the south and east coasts. On Cayman Brac the main settlements are Stake Bay and West End, while Little Cayman's population is concentrated in Blossom Village.

Places to go

Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman is the island's principal beach, running north from George Town. Just offshore is Stingray City, a shallow sandbar where southern stingrays gather. Rum Point and Starfish Point are on the north side, Smith Cove is a small rocky-sand swimming spot, and the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park and Mastic Reserve protect native forest. On Cayman Brac the Bluff and its parrot reserve rise along the length of the island, and Little Cayman is known for the Bloody Bay Wall dive site and the small Owen Island.

Getting there

Cheapest cached round-trip fare into Cayman Islands, refreshed every 6 hours:

Where to stay

Practical information

Frequently asked