< Previous8WEL COME EDITOR Laura Munyard Durston CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jenny Gabruch Rick Hagopian Catherine MacGillivray Laura Munyard Durston Vicki Wheaton PHOTOGRAPHERS Jose Hernandez Josh Miller Stephen Clarke Photography Ben Phillips, Next Level Photography Taneos Ramsay Alvaro Serey Richard White Elizabeth Wyatt Archival images provided by: The Cayman Islands National Archive George Nowak, from the book ‘The People Time Forgot’ GRAPHIC DESIGN Beth Ormerod: Editorial Alexander Angel: Advertising Taneos Ramsay: Advertising William Walton: Advertising ISSUE 01, 2023 HEAD OF SALES Cheryl Birch-Gillies SALES TEAM Anne Kensington Cody Moore Brenda Rubes Eric Vincent CONTACT: Compass Media Ltd. PO Box 1365, Grand Cayman, KY1-1108, Cayman Islands. (345) 949-5111. Advertising For inquiries and space reservation, contact sales@compassmedia.ky. © 2023 Compass Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in all, or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. Published in the Cayman Islands annually by Compass Media Ltd.Make your dream holiday a reality HOLIDAY BLISSAMAZING RATESPRIVATE RETREATS Make the most of your holiday in a private villa – relax on the beach, or by the pool. The Cayman Villas team are here to assist you with all your holiday needs. Choose from over 70 gorgeous beach front villas and condos across Cayman. Perfect for family escapes or romantic getaways. We have a fantastic selection of holiday properties at a range of great rates to suit your budget. Visit our website to view more! 345.945.4144 | reservations@caymanvillas.com | www.caymanvillas.com | RELAX IN PARADISE10 WEL COME 12 WELCOME TO THE ISLANDS 13 ETIQUETTE TIPS 14 WELCOME MESSAGE FROM KENNETH BRYAN, MINISTER OF TOURISM 15 FAST FACTS 16 THE BEACH 18 BEST BEACHES IN GRAND CAYMAN 20 CANTER ON THE BEACH 22 SUNSET: THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH 26 JUMP IN 28 STINGRAY CITY & THE SANDBAR 30 SWIMMING & SNORKELLING 32 PLAY IN THE WAVES 34 BEST DIVE SITES 38 FISHING IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS CONTENT S 40 THE ISLANDS TIME FORGOT 42 CAYMAN’S HISTORY 43 TURTLING & SEAFARING 44 THATCHING 45 THE RISE OF CAYMAN’S FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR 46 CAYMAN ISLANDS MAP 48 CAYMAN ISLANDS NATIONAL MUSEUM 49 BOTANIC PARK SHOWS BEAUTY OF THE ISLAND 50 CAYMAN TURTLE CENTRE 51 BLUE IGUANAS 52 HISTORICAL SITES 54 CAYMANIAN COTTAGES 56 NATIONAL SYMBOLS11 WEL COME 58 VISIT THE SISTERS 60 SISTER ISLANDS: GETTING THERE 62 CAYMAN BRAC 64 LITTLE CAYMAN 66 BEST BEACHES ON THE SISTER ISLANDS 68 DIVING THE SISTERS 70 CAYMAN STYLE 72 NATIONAL GALLERY 73 GALLERIES HIGHLIGHT LOCAL ARTISTS 74 EAT LIKE A LOCAL 76 MUDSLIDES & MORE 77 CATCH OF THE DAY 78 CULINARY EVENTS 80 INTERNATIONAL FASHIONS BY LOCAL DESIGNERS 82 FESTIVAL FUN IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS 84 SOUNDS OF THE ISLANDS 86 CAYMAN RETAIL THERAPY 87 MR. ARTHUR’S 88 LOCAL LINGO 89 DIRECTORY 89 GETTING AROUND CAYMAN 90 VISITOR RESOURCES Cover Smith Barcadere, Grand Cayman IMAGE: Richard White, @visually_rich12 WEL COME SPARKLING AZURE WATERS, WHITE SAND BEACHES, swaying palm trees and warm, sunny climes. If it sounds like paradise – it is. Welcome to the Cayman Islands. Safe and friendly, the Cayman Islands is acclaimed for beautiful white sand beaches and spectacular diving – attracting visitors from around the globe. We invite you to take in such top attractions as Stingray City, Seven Mile Beach and the Cayman Turtle Centre – along with exploring Cayman’s rich and vibrant cultural community. Cayman is home to a world-class culinary scene, luxury shopping and a diverse array of festivals and entertainment options. The islands are also rich in heritage, with each district in Grand Cayman – West Bay, George Town, Bodden Town, North Side and East End – offering insight into the history and traditions of days gone by. Discover the Sister Islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, just a quick living, boasting natural attractions, spectacular diving and secluded beaches. With its unique sites, culture and attractions, combined with the warmth and genuine hospitality of the Caymanian people, the Cayman Islands is an inviting destination year-round. Our publishing team at Welcome to Cayman wishes you a warm and enjoyable stay. We look forward to seeing you again! WEL COME T O THE ISLANDS The Welcome Team13 WEL COME WELCOME ETIQUETTE TIPS IMA G E: R ich ard W hit e, @ vis ua lly _r ich WHILE ENJOYING THE GORGEOUS BEACHES and sunny climes of Cayman, locals appreciate when visitors observe the islands’ customs and etiquette. Decorum and manners go a long way, ensuring you don't unintentionally cause off ence. Observe the following tips to avoid making a faux pas: 1 Wear your swimwear only at beach, the pool and when participating in watersports. Put on a cover-up if you go into a restaurant, bar, a supermarket, or other public place. 2 Topless sunbathing is deemed indecent. 3 Address your hosts, servers and others with a pleasant “good morning”, “good aft ernoon” or “good evening” before engaging in conversation or making a request. “Good night” is oft en used as a greeting as well as a farewell. 4 Tipping is the norm, starting at 15%, with many establishments including the gratuity in the bill. 5 Smoking is prohibited in indoor locations and in restaurant outdoor eating areas. Please be considerate of others if you choose to smoke outside. 6 Th e legal age for consuming or buying alcohol is 18. 7 Drugs are illegal, including cannabis – known locally as ganja or weed. 8 If listening to music on the beach, ensure not to play it too loud. 9 Don’t lift starfi sh, stingrays, or – for that matter – any other marine life out of the sea. It is traumatising and could kill them. Always take a taxi, bus, or travel with a designated driver if you are drinking alcoholic beverages and moving from one place to another. It is customary to address island people in a formal manner with the prefi x of Mr. or Ms before their fi rst name, especially if the person is your senior. For example, Mr. John or Ms Eve. 11 1014 WEL COME Welcome Message from Hon. Kenneth Bryan, MP Minister for Tourism and Transport It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Cayman Islands. We have so many amazing adventures in store for you. I am eager for you to experience our unique attractions like Stingray City, Bioluminescent Bay, and the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, all of which will captivate you. Immerse yourself in the heritage of our people by strolling through historical sites such as Pedro St. James, the Mission House, and the Cayman Islands National Museum. Airways, to explore one of the many caves of Cayman Brac. In Little Cayman, an abundance of sea life awaits you at the world-renowned Bloody Bay Wall. The Cayman Islands are known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean with over 150 restaurants offering a delectable array of cuisines which caters to all tastes and price points. We are also the home of the Caribbean’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant and with 10 Wine Spectator-rated restaurants, why not indulge? Depending on what time of year you venture here, you can experience the Cayman Cookout ( January), Taste of Cayman Food & Wine Festival (April) and Restaurant Month and Cocktail Week (October). You won’t want to miss these amazing epicurean events. If you’re in the mood to dance and have some fun, the national festivals Cayman Carnival Batabano and Pirates Fest are sure to excite you with colourful revelry. Once you discover what our islands have on offer, you will want to come back again and again, and I look forward to welcoming you. See you again soon! Caymankind regards, Hon. Kenneth Bryan, MP Minister for Tourism & Transport15 WEL COME WELCOME Three islands The Cayman Islands is comprised of Grand Cayman, which is the largest isle, with Cayman Brac 89 miles to the northeast and The names Often, the Cayman Islands is referred to simply as Cayman, Language Time Capital Population Around half of the population is made up of expatriate workers, who according to the same data source, were comprised of 162 Government Geography Situated southwest of Miami, south of Cuba and northwest Cayman is approximately 22 miles long and eight miles wide Climate & hurricanes The temperature is coolest in the winter months ranging from 60 F to 80 F, rising steeply to the 90s F in the summer, along the Cayman Compass FAST FACTS Business hours Media The Cayman Compass is the nation’s newspaper of record and is published weekly on Fridays, with regular updates online at InsideOut and the annual medical directory Cayman Health Caymanian Times is another Internet The Cayman Islands has good internet connection with many Medical services There are three hospitals in Grand Cayman: Cayman Islands which has its main campus in East End and is building a Water As there is little fresh water on any of the three Cayman Islands, Religion The people of the Cayman Islands are predominantly Christian, 1 WEL COMETHE CAYMAN ISLANDS IS home to a spectacular array of sun-kissed beaches. With soft white sand and inviting blue waters, visitors will delight in sinking their toes in the sand. Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman is the most popular beach destination – but there are plenty more to explore. Some are low-key retreats off ering secluded sand time while others are ideal for swinging in a hammock, with a cool cocktail in hand. So, sit back, relax and enjoy some well-deserved beach time. THE Next >