Grand Cayman

A Caribbean diving mecca famous for Seven Mile Beach and Stingray City, with stingray encounters on shallow sandbars, wreck dives and a turtle center.

Grand Cayman is the main island of the Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean Sea south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica. It covers about 197 km² and is low and flat, with the capital, George Town, in the southwest. The Caymans are a world-renowned offshore financial center and diving destination, with underwater visibility often exceeding 30 m, and Seven Mile Beach on the west coast has repeatedly been named one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. The island divides into four areas: Seven Mile Beach and Camana Bay on the west coast are where resorts and restaurants cluster; the West Bay area has the Turtle Centre, Hell and the Kittiwake wreck; George Town has the cruise terminal, duty-free shops, the National Museum and the National Gallery; from the North Sound, boats take you to Stingray City to swim with stingrays, and the north coast has Rum Point, Starfish Point and departure points for night tours of the bioluminescent bay; while the east and south hold quieter natural and cultural sights such as Pedro St. James, the botanic park with its blue iguanas, the Crystal Caves, the Mastic Trail and the Wreck of the Ten Sail memorial. Climate: warm year-round, with the dry season (Dec–Apr) offering the calmest, sunniest and most comfortable weather; Jun–Nov is Atlantic hurricane season, with the highest risk in Aug–Oct. Getting there: Owen Roberts International Airport has flights to Miami, New York, Toronto, London and more. There is no railway and bus coverage is limited, so renting a car (driving is on the left) or taking taxis is recommended; boat operators provide transfers for North Sound and dive trips. Plan on 4–6 days, longer for keen divers. Note: prices in the Caymans are very high; the currency is the Cayman Islands dollar (pegged to the US dollar, which is widely accepted). Chinese passport holders usually need to apply for a Cayman visa in advance or hold a valid US, UK or Canadian visa, so check the latest rules before you travel. Fishing and touching coral are prohibited in marine protected areas.

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