And if for once we took a trip to these little-known, if not unknown, countries, which are these regions or even countries that we almost never hear about, that welcome only a few visitors, at least the French, and where we wonder what we can see there or do.
Today we are going to the Caribbean with an island that we only know by name because it is one of the first ever tax havens in the world. That is, the Cayman Islands
Where are the Cayman Islands and what do they look like?
The Cayman Islands (or Cayman Islands) are a group of three islands called Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, located in the Caribbean Sea, 250 km south of the coast of Cuba and barely more than the islands of Jamaica.
Of all, Grand Cayman (196 km²; population 75,000) is the largest, most populous and westernmost of the islands of the archipelago. It is 120 km southwest of Little Cayman (26 km²; population 160) and 145 km southwest of Cayman Brac (36 km²; population 2,000).
If the small archipelago is known worldwide as a “tax haven”, in the category of sea and beach postcards, the Cayman Islands are among the places that come closest to what we imagine in the Caribbean. The beautiful scenery with the addition of underwater fauna has become one of the attractions of the archipelago to the extent that it attracts a large number of North American and British visitors or stopover passengers.
What to see in the Cayman Islands?
On Grand Cayman
Boddentown
This city on the south coast was once the capital of the island. We can still see the remains of its walls, the beautiful “Mission House” residence and the old cannons.
George Town
It is the capital of Cayman. Between banks, off-shore companies, luxury yachts, the small town of 40,000 inhabitants has also developed a tourism industry with numerous rides.
In addition to shopping, you can also take boat trips (and even a submarine) or visit two small museums in the city.
Seven Mile Beach
This is a beautiful and long (normal given the name) beach between the capital and West Bay. There are a number of large hotels, bars and restaurants. You can practice diving there.
West Bay
At the northwestern tip of Grand Cayman, the place is famous for its limestone formations called “Hell”, beaches and especially for the nesting turtles that are abundant there.
On the other islands
Cayman Brac
It is the easternmost island of the archipelago. It is primarily a “nature” destination where you can enjoy beaches, scuba diving, fishing, hiking, climbing, caving or even discovering a parrot sanctuary.
Little Cayman
The smallest of the three Cayman Islands has a world-class reputation for diving with its fifty sites. You can also practice kayaking and bird watching here.
Convenience in the Cayman Islands
Formalities
As part of a tourist trip, the French, EU citizens and many other nationalities do not require a visa, even on arrival on a cruise. However, a passport valid for 6 months after the date of return and a return ticket are required.
Health and safety
Like most Caribbean islands, the Caymans don’t really present any health problems. So, nothing specific, other than just bringing insect repellent for personal comfort rather than disease protection.
In terms of safety, there is moderate local crime on Caïmas, but less than many islands in the region. With a little common sense and caution, most of the time no problems will arise.
Currency and budget
The Caymanian dollar has been the local currency since 1972, when it replaced the previously existing Jamaican dollar. It has a constant exchange rate with the US dollar, 1 CI$ = 1.22 USD.
Although you can exchange money on site or withdraw from ATMs for Cayman dollars, a good solution is to arrive already with US dollars, which you will then use throughout your stay, especially since the US dollar is used by everyone and for almost everything.
When it comes to on-site planning budget, as you might expect, staying in Cayman is expensive. In addition to the fact that the expected tourists are more likely to be “high contributions” or cruise passengers, almost all current products are imported and subject to high taxes. At best, expect $150/day per person.
Getting there
Although the three islands of the archipelago are small, each has its own airport.
Logically, it is Grand Cayman that monopolizes the most traffic with flights to/from especially London and especially the United States, through which many fly. The others, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, primarily have service to or between Grand Cayman.
Otherwise, there are no ferry lines to the Cayman Islands, including the three islands in between. In short, you can only get there by plane, cruise ship, cargo ship or private sailboat.
On the place
The islands aren’t very big, so opt to travel by bus or, if you want to be more independent, on two wheels, rather than renting a car, which in the end risks proving to be only moderately useful. Otherwise, taxis are also available.
Accommodations
As you might expect, accommodation in the Cayman Islands is primarily intended for customers with a certain income. So whether it’s hotels, renting villas or apartments, we’re rather on top with the prices that go with it…
Local time
Cayman Islands is UTC-5. Compared to mainland France, it is therefore 6 hours shorter in winter and 7 hours shorter in summer.
To be understood
English is the official language of the Cayman Islands, although for a large part of the population it is more like a creole, as found elsewhere such as Jamaica or Belize.
In addition to English, Spanish is also spoken by about 10% of the population, especially from Central America and more specifically from Honduras, which represents the archipelago’s first Latin American contingent. As for French, it is lacking; So you might as well know to understand.
A thing to know
Bring an electrical adapter for your equipment and French outlets. Here we are indeed on 120 V (60 Hz) with “American” plugs (officially types A and B).
Tropical climate typical for this area
The Cayman Islands have a warm and humid maritime tropical climate. This is characterized by a rainy season that lasts from May to the end of October and a dry season for the rest of the time.
The average temperature here is between 25 and 30 °C year-round, although it is somewhat muggy during the rainy season, especially from August to October, when it rains the most. The archipelago also experiences cyclones between late June and November, which is also the least favorable period for exploring the archipelago.
> Information: www.visitcaymanislands.com