Overview Of The Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory which comprises of 3 stunningly beautiful islands. The Cayman Islands are located in the western Caribbean Sea and are the peaks of a massive underwater ridge, known as the Cayman Ridge. The islands lie south of Cuba and west of Jamaica.
The Cayman Islands consists of three small islands surrounded by tropical coral reefs. Grand Cayman is the largest of the three islands with an area of 76 sq miles and is also the most developed island. Unspoilt and unhurried, Grand Cayman's two "Sister Islands", Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, are about 90 miles north-east of Grand Cayman and have areas of 14.7 and 11.0 sq miles respectively and are ideal for nature lovers or for those seeking a more relaxing and tranquil vacation to the Cayman Islands. Deservedly, the trio is world-renowned for its stunning powdery white sandy beaches and world-class scuba diving.
Little Cayman is the smallest and least populated of the Caymans. Little Cayman is also the most tranquil and offers solitude to its visitors. The island is the most ideal place to explore on foot as it is the flattest of the 3 islands.
All three islands are mostly flat and are surrounded by a coral reef making it one of the best places in the world for diving and snorkelling. One notable exception to this is The Bluff on Cayman Brac's eastern part, which rises to 141 ft above sea level, the highest point on the islands.
Compared to its sister islands, Cayman Brac has a more rugged terrain with a sweeping lime-stone bluff, caves and several hiking trails. Its natural beauty and breath-taking scenery make it the ideal place to explore.
Useful Information
CAPITAL : George Town, Grand Cayman
LANGUAGE : The official language of the Cayman Islands is English, spoken with an accent reflecting the British Isles. Jamaican patois is also widespread.
Driving: Driving is on the left-hand side of the road.
TIME DIFFERENCE : GMT/UTC - 5 hours. The Cayman Islands lie within the Eastern Standard Time Zone, five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time.
CURRENCY : CI Dollar (CI$), but the US Dollar is widely accepted and has fixed exchange rate. 1 Cayman Dollar – 1.2 US Dollar
VOLTAGE : 110 volts with two-pronged plugs.
Temperature Guide
With an average year-round temperature range of about 75° F in winter to about 85° F in the summer, the Cayman Islands boast some of the finest tropical weather in the world. The dry season lasts from November to April, while the rainy season runs mid-May through October. August to October are prime Hurricane months. The islands’ unique Hurricane Guarantee covers any cancellations made prior to arrival and offers compensation if vacation time is cut short because of inclement weather.
| Month | Temp °C | Temp °F | Rainfall(mm) | Rainfall(in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25 | 77 | 90 | 3.5 |
| February | 25 | 77 | 60 | 2.4 |
| March | 26 | 79 | 20 | 0.8 |
| April | 27 | 81 | 40 | 1.6 |
| May | 27 | 81 | 100 | 3.9 |
| June | 28 | 82 | 140 | 5.5 |
| July | 28 | 82 | 90 | 3.5 |
| August | 28 | 82 | 120 | 4.7 |
| September | 28 | 82 | 130 | 5.1 |
| October | 27 | 81 | 220 | 8.7 |
| November | 27 | 81 | 120 | 4.7 |
| December | 25 | 77 | 90 | 3.5 |