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National Flag
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Facts about Cayman Islands
Airport
Owen Roberts International (GCM) | Annual Rainfall
51 inches | Area
Grand Cayman 76 sq miles
Cayman Brac 14 sq miles
Little Cayman 10 sq miles
| Area Code
345 | Banks
Monday - Thursday 9 am to 4 pm/4.30pm on Fridays
| Beaches
All beaches are public to the high water mark | Capital City
George Town
| Co-ordinates
19 30' N, 80 30' W | Currency
CI$, US$ widely accepted
| Departure Tax
US$25
| Dimensions
Grand Cayman 22mi x 8mi
Cayman Brac 12mi x 1mi
Little Cayman 10mi x 1mi | Dress
Swim wear on the beach only, casual sportwear during the day, more elegant at night, evenings can be cool. Nudity illegal | Driving
On the left
| Electricity
110 volt/60 cycle
| Exchange Rate
CI$ 1.80 - US$1.00
| Highest Point
East End, Grand Cayman (60 feet)
Bluff, Cayman Brac (140 ft)
| Language
English
| Medical
Emergency 911, hospital, hyperbaric chamber, ambulance plane
| Population
46 600 | Public Transport
Bus service runs from 6am to midnight | Shopping
Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm | Taxis
Taxis are not metered, check rates in advance | Telecommunications
Phone cards, internet access, cellular
| Temperature
80F (29C) | Time
Eastern Standard | Tipping
Restaurants 15% usually included, taxis 10-15%
| Water
Potable - desalination
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History
Christopher Columbus first sighted the Cayman Islands on 10 May 1503, at which time he named them Las Tortugas after seeing the vast number of sea turtles swimming amongst the islands. Sir Francis Drake was the first Englishman to arrive in 1586, and he named them the Cayman Islands after the Neo-Taino name 'caiman' for crocodile. The islands, along with Jamaica, were captured and ceded to England in 1670. They were governed with Jamaica as a single colony until 1962, at which time the Cayman Islands became a separate British Overseas Territory and Jamaica gained independence. The Cayman Islands are known for having experienced the most hurricane strikes in recorded history. The Cayman Islands have one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean.
Geography
The Cayman Islands are the peaks of the Cayman Trench, which stands 8000 feet above the sea floor. The islands lie in the centre of the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba and west of Jamaica. Grand Cayman, the largest, together with Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, were formed by large coral heads covering submerged ice age peaks of western extensions of the Cuban Sierra Maestra range. The islands are generally flat with an exception being The Bluff, located on Cayman Brac. Bird life on the islands includes the Cayman Brac Parrot, native only to Cayman Brac, and the Grand Cayman Parrot, which is native only to Grand Cayman. The endangered Blue Iguana is found only on Grand Cayman. There are also agouti and Booby Birds on Cayman Brac.
Economy
Initially, the economy of the Cayman Islands was driven by turtling. In the 1970s, this was overtaken by tourism and financial services, with the United States being the largest trading partner of the islands. Caymanians enjoy the highest standard of living in the Caribbean, and according to the CIA World Factbook, the Cayman Islands ranks 8th in the world. The government's primary source of income is indirect taxation from which few things are exempt, combined with licensing fees for financial institutions and work permit fees.
Religion
The islands are almost exclusively Christian, with large number of Presbyterians and Catholics.
Language
The official language is English, and the islands enjoy a high literacy rate.
Sport
The Cayman Islands are the scuba diving capital of the world, and offer anything from full certification courses to one-day experiences for novices. Outstanding snorkeling experiences are a close second. Caving is also fast growing in popularity.
Entry Requirements
Visitors to the islands require a valid passport which must be valid for at least six months after date of return. Citizens of some countries require a visa to visit the Cayman Islands, and should obtain these from a British Consulate or High Commission Office. Entry is granted for up to six months. There are daily flights to Grand Cayman from Miami, and frequent inter-island service with Cayman Airways Express between Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. There are also regular flights from Toronto, London, Jamaica, Atlanta and Newark. |
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The Travel Shop It's open 24/7. Get the best deals on flights, hotels and cruises. But that's not all. Buy brand name luggage, shoes, watches and sporting equipment and clothing, surfing gear and swimsuits. It's all available in The Travel Shop. Rum Punch Probably the best known rum cocktail in the world. An easy way to remember the recipe: one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak! Check out more rum recipes here! Caribbean Wedding? What could be more romantic than a tropical wedding on a white sand beach fringed with palm trees? Find Wedding Requirements and Wedding Planners for each of the islands.
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