Nestled in the calm, turquoise waters of the western Caribbean, lies the peaceful British Overseas Territory known as the Cayman Islands. Consisting of three islands just 480 miles south of Miami, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman remain a little piece of paradise. Snorkeler at Stingray City Blessed with sun-kissed beaches and waters teeming with fish flecked with gold, the Cayman Islands offers some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. The Cayman Islands are situated in the Caribbean, 290km (180 miles) northwest of Jamaica, and comprise Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. Cayman's beaches are renowned to be among the best in the world, in particular Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman. The abundance of fish, marine life and spectacular coral reefs which can be found in the surrounding waters makes the Cayman Islands an ideal destination for diving enthusiasts. Grand Cayman is the main tourist destination and its capital, George Town, is today one of the leading commercial centres in the Caribbean region. The gingerbread-style buildings lining George Town's harbor front are prime examples of traditional Caymanian architecture. Cayman Brac, northeast of Grand Cayman, is a much smaller island, about 19km (12 miles) long and about 1.6 km (1 mile) wide. The area is riddled with caves and dozens of wrecks for divers to explore. It provided the basis for Robert Louis Stevenson's famous novel Treasure Island. Eleven km (7 miles) southeast of Cayman Brac, the tiny island of Little Cayman is best known as a sanctuary for wild birds and iguanas. It is also known as the world's best location for bone fishing. The food and restaurants in the Cayman Islands are excellent, in particular the variety of local fish specialties. The Cayman Turtle Farm, one of Grand Cayman's tourist attractions, now undertakes strict conservation measures. The Cayman Islands have a fairly limited number of nightclubs, which sometimes feature international acts. Tiger Grouper Cayman These islands that were home to pirates in the 17th century are now virtually crime-free, and a wonderful place to vacation or holiday, with scores of restaurants, fine hotels and excellent shopping. There is still Pirate Week to celebrate the swashbuckling past, but the island's financial affairs are now conducted by more than 500 banks and 30,000 companies registered there. Read more in our Cayman Islands Guide. Capital: George Town Population: 33,600 Island Size: 22 miles long and up to 8 miles wide in areas; 76 square miles. Electric Current: 110 volts. Climate: Average yearly temperature is 79° F. Average rainfall is 60 inches mostly in the rainy season, May through October. Transportation Getting There: Served by Air Jamaica, American Airlines, British Airways, Cayman Airways, Delta, Northwest Airlines, and US Airways. Cayman Airways and Island Air fly to Little Cayman and Cayman Brac from Grand Cayman. Airport: Owen Roberts International Airport. Driving: On the left - valid driver's license required. A seat belt law is in effect which applies to every person in the vehicle including children. Local Transportation: If you stay on Seven Mile Beach you probably will not need more than a couple of taxi rides. Taxi rates are regulated by the government. Rental cars are available and a permit is US$5.00. Bikes are rentable too. * Official Cayman Islands Site * Cayman Islands Online http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Cayman_Islands/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:03:00 EST Location Grand Cayman, the largest of the three Cayman Islands, lies 480 miles south of Miami. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are 89 miles to the north east of Grand Cayman. The island country consists of Grand Cayman, largest and most populous of the trio; and the Sister Islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which lie approximately 89 miles east-northeast of Grand Cayman and are separated from each other by a channel about seven miles wide. The island country consists of Grand Cayman, largest and most populous of the trio; and the Sister Islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which lie approximately 89 miles east-northeast of Grand Cayman and are separated from each other by a channel about seven miles wide. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Cayman_Islands/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:03:00 EST Average yearly temperature is 79° F. Average rainfall is 60 inches mostly in the rainy season, May through October. Blessed with cooling tradewinds, the Cayman Islands enjoy a temperate climate year-round. The hottest months are July and August when average temperatures top out at 85 to 90°; the coolest month is February, when highs range from 72 to 86° and nighttime lows dip to the mid-60s to lower 70s. Water temperatures drop during the winter months, ranging from 78 to 82°. During the summer, the waters warm to 82-86°, a balmy bath-like temperature that makes wetsuits strictly optional. The best diving conditions are in the summer (warmest water, best visibility and calmest seas). No matter when you go, a light sweater may be needed in the evenings, or a waterproof windbreaker for boat trips. Rainfall varies with the season, reaching its peak during hurricane season. Average rainfall is 46 inches annually; May and October (and September-November) are traditionally the wettest months. The driest times are March and April. Mention weather and the Caribbean in the same sentence and, quite predictably, the topic of hurricanes arises. These deadly storms are officially a threat from June through November, although the greatest danger is during the later months, basically August through October. (September is the worst.) Hurricanes are defined as revolving storms with wind speeds of 75 mph or greater. These counter-clockwise storms begin as waves off the west coast of Africa and work their way across the Atlantic, some eventually gaining strength and becoming tropical depressions (under 40 mph) or tropical storms (40-74 mph). Excellent warning systems keep islands posted on the possibility of oncoming storms. Radio Cayman (105.3 and 89.9) broadcasts current storm reports in the islands. Given that mid-December to mid-April (winter) is the peak tourist season, when rates are substantially higher and beaches and lodgings more crowded, it's best to go in the summer. There is more rain in summer, but it tends to come in downpours that clear as quickly as they arrive. Nervous Nellies will tell you that this is hurricane season, but the chances that you'll get swept up in the big one are slim. Even so, it's best to keep an eye on the weather reports in the days before your arrival. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/weather/Cayman_Islands/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:03:00 EST Driving is on the left-hand side of the road in The Cayman Islands. Driving in Grand Cayman is easy and safe, get used to driving on the left side of the road. To make your island excursion even easier some rental companies (Avis) offer cars with the steering wheel on the left or right side of the vehicle. All you have to do is ask. A provisional driving permit is required in order to legally drive in the Cayman Islands. One will be issued when you rent a vehicle and will be valid for 6 months or until you depart the Cayman Islands, which ever comes first. You can drive form one end of Grand Cayman to the other in less than one hour - with no stops along the way! The road system is one of the best in the Caribbean, most major roads are lit at night and 95% plus of the roads are paved. The few roads not paved are the newly developed private and secondary roads. During the "busy season" - the winter months, cars should be reserved several months in advance - especially Christmas, Spring Break and Easter weekend. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/car_rentals/Cayman_Islands/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:03:00 EST Restaurants and Dining: http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/restaurants/Cayman_Islands/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:03:00 EST