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The Cayman Islands: Stingrays, Shipwrecks, and Tax-Free Sunsets

By eSIMVu Team •
January 29, 2026 • 5 min read • Destination Insights

Cayman Islands

An aerial view of Cayman Islands

Source: explorecayman.com

When you hear "Cayman Islands," you probably think of one of two things: a hidden bank account in a John Grisham novel, or a cruise ship port. And while both are technically part of the story, they miss the point entirely.

The Cayman Islands—a British Overseas Territory comprised of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman—is the most sophisticated destination in the Caribbean. It manages to balance the high-end gloss of Miami with the rugged, barefoot soul of a desert island. It is a place where you can eat a Michelin-quality meal in a suit, and then drive 20 minutes to eat fish fry in your swimsuit on a plastic chair.

If you are ready to explore the "Culinary Capital of the Caribbean," here is your guide to the trio of islands.

1. Grand Cayman: The Main Event

This is the heartbeat. Grand Cayman is where the planes land, the commerce happens, and the famous Seven Mile Beach is located.

  • The Beach: Let’s get technical—it’s actually closer to 5.5 miles long, but who is counting? This is frequently voted one of the best beaches in the world. The water is gin-clear, and the sand is coral-white. The best part? The entire coastline is public. Even if a Ritz-Carlton sits on the sand, you have the legal right to walk the shoreline in front of it.
  • Stingray City: It sounds like a tourist trap, but it is one of the few animal encounters in the world that lives up to the hype. It is a sandbar in the North Sound where dozens of wild southern stingrays congregate. You stand in waist-deep water while these massive, gentle "puppies of the sea" brush against your legs waiting for squid snacks.
  • The Wrecks: For divers, the USS Kittiwake is a bucket-list site. It’s a former submarine rescue ship sunk on purpose to create an artificial reef. It sits shallow enough that even snorkelers can see the bridge from the surface.

2. Little Cayman: The Diver’s Holy Grail

If Grand Cayman is the city, Little Cayman is the escape. With a permanent population of fewer than 200 people, iguanas outnumber humans here.

  • Bloody Bay Wall: This is the reason divers fly here. It is an underwater cliff that starts at 20 feet and plunges vertically to 1,000 feet deep. The feeling of floating over the abyss, staring at a vertical wall of neon sponges and coral, is vertigo-inducing in the best way.
  • A diver underwater at Bloody Bay Wall
  • Source- Cayman Islands
  • The Vibe: There are no traffic lights. There is one grocery store. You rent a bicycle or a scooter, and your biggest obstacle on the road will be the Rock Iguanas sunning themselves on the asphalt.

3. Cayman Brac: The Rugged Sibling

"The Brac" is named after the "Bluff"—a limestone ridge that rises steadily along the length of the island until it drops 140 feet straight into the ocean at the eastern tip.

  • Adventure: This is the island for rock climbers and hikers. The lighthouse view at the top of the Bluff offers a panoramic look at the cobalt blue ocean crashing against the cliffs.
  • The Russian Destroyer: Divers can explore the MV Captain Keith Tibbetts, a Soviet-era warship sunk off the coast. It’s the only diveable Soviet vessel in the Western Hemisphere.

4. Practical Tips: Avoiding the "Tourist" Mistakes

The "British" Driving Rules As a British territory, you drive on the left. However, most rental cars are American imports, meaning the steering wheel is also on the left. This can be disorienting.

  • Tip: When you turn at an intersection, repeat the mantra "Left, Left, Left" to avoid drifting into the right lane out of habit.

The "Roaming" Trap (And How to Fix It) The Cayman Islands is highly developed, but mobile data for visitors can be shockingly expensive.

  • The Problem: Because it is a British territory, many US carriers classify it as "International" rather than "North American," meaning your domestic plan likely won’t work without hefty fees ($10/day or pay-per-MB). Conversely, UK travelers often find it excluded from "Roam Like Home" EU bundles.
  • The Fix: To navigate the island without a massive bill, purchase an eSIM data plan before you fly.
  • Why? An eSIM (digital SIM) allows you to connect to local networks (like Flow or Digicel) instantly. You will need data to use Google Maps to find the hidden entrance to Spotts Beach (to see wild turtles) or to check the cruise ship schedule so you can avoid George Town when it's crowded. It is the cheapest and most reliable way to stay online.

Money Matters

  • Currency: The Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD).
  • The Peg: It is fixed to the US Dollar at a rate of $1 KYD = $1.25 USD.
  • The Trick: You can pay in USD everywhere, but you will get change in KYD. Because of the exchange rate, things often look cheaper than they are. If a burger is $20 KYD, that is $25 USD. Do the math before you swipe.

5. The Culinary Scene

You cannot leave without eating.

  • Fine Dining: Blue by Eric Ripert at the Ritz-Carlton is the Caribbean’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant. It is seafood treated as art.
  • Local Eats: Go to the Heritage Kitchen in West Bay for grouper cooked in coconut milk and peppers.

Why Go Now?

The Cayman Islands offers a rare safety net in travel. It is clean, the infrastructure is First World, and the water is safe to drink from the tap. But beneath that polished surface, there is still a wild heart beating at the edge of the drop-off. Whether you are swimming with rays or climbing the Bluff, you are engaging with an ocean that feels vast, ancient, and alive.