|
General
Country: Cayman
Islands (CJ).
Nationality:
Caymanian(s).
Language:
English is the official language.
Capital: George
Town (on Grand Cayman).
Population:
47,862 (July 2008 est.).
Climate:
tropical marine; warm, rainy
summers (May to October) and
cool, relatively dry winters
(November to April).
Geography
Coastline: 160
km.
Geographic
coordinates: 19° 30' N, 80°
30' W.
Highest point:
The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m.
Location:
Caribbean, three-island group
(Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac,
Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea,
240 km south of Cuba and 268 km
northwest of Jamaica.
Size: Grand
Cayman: 13 km x 33 km, Little
Cayman: 3 km x 16 km, Cayman
Brac: 3 km x 19 km. 262 sq km
total.
Terrain:
low-lying limestone base
surrounded by coral reefs.
Tourist
Information
Activities:
Cayman is regarded as a
world-class SCUBA diving
destination. Wall, wreck, reef
and the famous Stingray City
diving excursions are conducted
daily by over 30 professional
diving organizations, giving you
plenty of chances to create
amazing underwater images.
Sportfishing is also big in
Cayman. Other watersports include
snorkelling, parasailing, board
sailing, and skiing. If you
are not into watersports, there
are many great sight-seeing
opportunities so be sure to bring
a camera so you can capture the
memories of your trip and create
great photo books to show your
friends and family.
Do not's: Be
prepared for conservative
attitudes among some islanders.
There is a strong Christian
tradition in the Cayman Islands
that occasionally manifests
itself in an unaccommodating
fashion. Don't buy any black
coral, it's an endangered
species.
Electricity:
Electrical current is 110 volts,
60Hz. American style two-pin
plugs are standard.
Entry
Requirements: All
visitors must have a valid
passport with following
exceptions: U.S., U.K. and
Canadian nationals who have proof
of identity and citizenship
(birth certificate and voter's
registration) plus a photo ID
(driver's license). Every visitor
is required to have a return
ticket. Visas are not required
for U.S., U.K., or Canadian
citizens..
Extension of
stay: .
Telephone: The
international: country code is
1-345.
Time: GMT-5.
Tourist Office:
Cayman Islands Department of
Tourism, George Town: +1 345 949
0623 or
www.caymanislands.ky.
Money
Cost of living:
Very high. The Cayman Islands are
one of the most expensive
countries in the Caribbean.
George Town is ranked number 61
of the most expensive places in
the world (Barbados 108, Tampa
Fla 235). Please inform us, if
you know a budget accommodation
for under US$ 100.
Credit cards:
Travelers' checks and major
credit cards are widely accepted
at most stores. ATMs accepting
MasterCard and Visa with Cirrus
affiliation are readily
available, particularly on Grand
Cayman; you usually have the
option of U.S. or Cayman dollars.
Currency:
Caymanian dollar (KYD). Caymanian
dollars per US dollar - 0.8496
(2006).
Tipping: Most
restaurants add a 10 % to 15 %
charge in lieu of tipping, so
check your bill carefully. Hotels
also often add a 10 % service
charge to your bill. Taxi drivers
expect a 10 % to 15 % tip.
Bartenders & Waitresses:
15-20% of the bill. Dive/Fishing
Boat Captain and Crew: $10-$20.
Bell Captain & Bellman: $1-$2
per bag. Hotel Courtesy Shuttle
Drivers: at least $1 or more per
person or $4-$5 per party.
Maids/Housekeepers: $1 or $2 per
day is adequate, usually left at
the end of your stay. Valet
Parking Attendants:
$1-$2.
Air
Transport
Airport: Owen
Roberts International Airport
(GCM). Cayman Brac Airport (CYB).
Little Cayman Airport
(LYB).
Departure Tax:
KYD 20.- or USD 25.-.
Flight Times:
The shortest connecting flight
time from New York is 5 hours and
40 minutes. Miami: 0.5 hours.
Atlanta: 1.5 hours. Newark: 3
hours. London: 10 hours.
Frankfurt: 10,5 hours.
National
Airline: Cayman Airways;
operates 3 Boeing 737-200's, 2
Boeing 737-300 jets, and 2 Twin
Otter aircraft from its base in
Grand Cayman with service to:
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman;
Miami, New York, Tampa, Orlando,
Houston and Chicago in the United
States; Havana, Cuba; Kingston
and Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Driving: On the
left site. A valid driver's
license is required. A seat belt
law is in effect which applies to
every person in the vehicle
including children.
Water
Transport
Ferry Terminal:
There is no ferry service between
the smaller, outlying islands of
the Caymans and the major hub of
Grand Cayman.
Ports and
harbors: Cayman Brac,
George Town.
Politics
Ethnic groups:
Mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%,
expatriates of various ethnic
groups 20%.
Government type:
British crown colony.
Legal system:
British common law and local
statutes.
Literacy: 98 %.
Political
Status: British Overseas
Territory.
Religions:
United Church (Presbyterian and
Congregational), Anglican,
Baptist, Church of God, other
Protestant, Roman Catholic.
Economy
Agriculture-products:
Vegetables, fruit; livestock;
turtle farming.
GDP per capita:
US$ 43,800 (2004 est.).
Industries:
Tourism, banking, insurance and
finance, construction,
construction materials,
furniture.
Natural
resources: Fish, climate
and beaches that foster tourism.
Unemployment
rate: 4.4 % (2004).
|
