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HISTORy IN A NuTSHELL
Reputably discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503, the Cayman Islands were found by chance as Columbus was blown off course while heading for Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and named ‘Las Tortugas’ after the plentiful supply of turtles found here. Soon after, we were named ‘Caymanas’ after the marine crocodile which lived in the islands, the name eventually evolving into the Cayman Islands. The first settlers arrived in 1658 but it wasn’t until the early 18th century that they arrived in any great numbers.
The islands were handed over by Spain to Great Britain in 1670 and have remained under the British Crown ever since. The Cayman Islands have a Governor appointed by the queen and an elected Legislative Assembly representing all parts of the islands.
WHERE WE ARE
The Cayman Islands - Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman - lie 150 miles south of Cuba and 480 miles from Miami. Grand Cayman covers about 76 square miles and is around 22 miles long. Cayman Brac, some 90 miles northeast of Grand Cayman, is 12 miles long, while Little Cayman, five miles west of Cayman Brac, covers 10 square miles
DELIGHTFuL DISTRICTS
The islands had a population of 63,415 collectively (as at the end of 2017). Grand Cayman is split geographically into the districts of George Town, West Bay, Bodden Town, North Side and East End and there are the Sister Islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. George Town, located on Grand Cayman,
is the capital of the islands and is home to the government. History and heritage abound in George Town, along with many businesses, shops and restaurants. It is the first port of call
for thousands of cruise ship visitors who arrive daily. Camana Bay is located further along award-winning Seven Mile Beach, towards West Bay. It’s a bustling town where people live, work, shop, eat and play, all in one unique location.
A HISTORy OF HARD WORK
Early Caymanians were masters of the sea, catching turtles, fishing, excelling in ship-building and rope-making. Today it
is a vibrant tourism industry and a highly sophisticated and professional financial services industry which give residents one of the highest standards of living in the world. Visitors come for the sun, award-winning beaches, world class diving and superb food, while major financial institutions have made Cayman one of the largest financial centres in the world. Real estate sales and new developments contribute to the island’s wealth, coupled with a strong retail sector. Cayman’s expanding world class health services attract people worldwide as well.
MONEy MATTERS
The islands have their own currency, the Cayman Islands dollar, but the US dollar is widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, bars and shops with CI$1.00 equalling US$1.25. The US dollar equals CI$.80. If you pay in US dollars, change is always given in local currency. ATMs can be found all over the islands.
NATIONAL SyMBOLS
Cayman’s national symbols are the Grand Cayman Parrot, the Silver Thatch Palm, an important natural resource for early settlers, and the Wild Banana Orchid. The coat of arms consists of a shield, a crested helm and the motto ‘He hath founded it upon the seas’. Our flag is navy blue with the Union Flag in the upper left corner and the coat of arms in a white circle.
WONDERFuL WEATHER
It’s warm in the Cayman Islands all year round! The temperature rarely drops below 70°F or gets hotter than 90°F, making it a perfect climate for a vacation. The wettest months are around September; the driest around March. Between May and October the winds are generally from east to south; from November/December to April, the winds switch from the northeast to northwest. These ‘Christmas Breezes’ as they are known, are welcomed by the islanders as a refreshing change from the summer heat. Hurricane season runs from 1st June to 30th November.
About Cayman
All About
Cayman
20 | destination Cayman 2019
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Beautiful Seven Mile Beach