When was the last time you planned a relaxing getaway for yourself or your family? Do you recall it? No, you don’t. But it’s high time you should, and what’s better than the Cayman Islands?
A perfect tropical escape from your same old boring lifestyle. Cayman is a haven for people who love exotic beaches, international cuisine, and underwater adventures. Exploring such beauty is nothing but sheer pleasure.
And if you are wondering how much it costs to go to the Cayman Islands, well, this blog will give you all the particulars to plan a budget for your next trip to the Cayman Islands.
Before we dive deeper into the budget, let us give an overview of the paradisiacal Cayman.
The Cayman Islands — History and Geography
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History
This little paradise was discovered by Christopher Columbus on 10th May 1503, during his last voyage to the US. The Cayman Islands were named ‘Las Tortugas’ because a great number of turtles were to be seen on the Islands. But later, in 1586, Sir Francis Drake, the first English visitor, named the Islands “Cayman” after Caiman, a Neo-Taino nation’s nomenclature for “crocodile.”
The Islands have been associated with England ever since the Treaty of Madrid in 1670. Till 1962, the Cayman Islands were a Jamaican Dependency; after that, Jamaica became an independent entity. On the other hand, the Cayman Islands decided to be under British rulership. Currently, it is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom.
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Geography
Cayman comprises three islands: Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. George Town is the capital of the Cayman Islands which is 438 km to the south of Havana, Cuba, and 504 km northwest of Kingston, northeast of Costa Rica, north of Panama, and in the middle of Cuba and Central America.
The Islands are positioned on the Cayman Rise, which forms the northern margin of the Cayman Trough. The trough is believed to be the deepest point in the Caribbean Sea, separating North America and the Caribbean Plate.
Throughout the year, the Cayman Islands have a tropical-themed atmosphere. May to December is the wet season, while the dry season runs from January to April.
Must Visit Attractions of the Cayman Islands
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Seven Mile Beach
The Seven-Mile Beach is recalled for its natural beauty and is listed as the 4th Best Beach in the Caribbean by Trip Advisor. It’s a vast, crescent coral-sand beach located at the western end of the Grand Cayman Islands. You can find many extravagant hotels and resorts near this beach.
The most considerable charm of this place is its clear-blue waters and palm tree-lined coast.
Here, you can also opt for popular and world-class water-based activities such as snorkeling, best scuba diving, parasailing, paragliding, boat tours, surfing, and more.
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Stingray City
The second must-visit is Stingray City. It is a range of shallow sand bars covered by barrier reefs that’s home to a variety of fishes and especially Stingrays. Stingrays love to play with divers. Sometimes they pull them by their hair or masks, tickling them like dogs and wrapping themselves around their whole body.
It is an incredible experience to swim with the stingrays. You can even feed them squids (the favorite food of Stingrays) with your hands.
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Rum Point
The next stop is Rum Point – a perfect place to chill out! It is popularly recognized for its Mudslides; a traditional cocktail offered to everyone who visits this place. You can stop by the Wreck Bar and Grill at lunchtime to enjoy heavenly seafood dishes like Caybrew Fish and Chips and authentic Jerk Pork.
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Cayman Turtle Farm
Cayman Turtle Farm is a fantastic place to explore the Islands’ wildlife. Every year more than 200,000 visitors are hosted at this place. Moreover, many educational, cultural, and entertainment programs are organized here to enrich the experience of people.
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Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is a perfect example of nature. You can take a leisure walk throughout the luscious and vibrant garden. Sit back, and relax near the lake to watch the Grand Cayman Blue Iguana.
The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park has seven attractions: The Visitor’s Centre, The Floral Garden, Orchid Boardwalk, Xerophytic Garden, Heritage Garden, Woodland Trail, and the Children’s Garden (Under development).
This place is an excellent choice if you are touring with your family.
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Cayman Crystal Caves
If you want to explore a distinctive side of the Cayman Islands, then Crystal Caves is the perfect place for you. You get an opportunity to witness the beauty beneath the earth. It’s pure magic to see the caves surrounded by contorted stalactites and stalagmites crystal structures.
During the visit, you will get a 90-minute tour. The guide gives you all the knowledge about different plants, animals, and the geology of the Crystal Caves.
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Cayman Craft Market
Cayman Craft Market is an eternal place for people who love crafts. You will get to see some of the most amazing handmade goods, paintings, pottery, and Caribbean Jewelry sold by local artisans. And do you know what’s the most incredible part? Some of these local artisans even customize the orders for you!
Now that you are familiar with enough places to look around, we will tell you how to get to the Cayman Islands.
Cost of Trip to the Cayman Islands
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How to Reach the Cayman Islands?
Generally, the flights’ prices depend on the dates, although for solo travelers, the approximate charges for the first class flights are between $376 to $755, for a family, it would be $1504 to $3020, and for couples, it would be $752 to $1510.
Please mark that the rates mentioned above are average prices, which vary according to the on and off-season or when you find great deals on flights. Additionally, the rates also fluctuate based on your location.
American Airways, Jet Blue, British Airways, West Jet, Southwest, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, and Air Canada are some international airlines flying to the Cayman Islands. Please note that some airlines fly only during the peak season, i.e., December to April.
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Stay in the Cayman Islands
The average accommodation price of a hotel for a single person would be CI$152, and for a standard double occupancy room, it would be CI$304.
If you are planning a lavish stay, then for an individual or a couple, the per night cost will range between $102 to $206 (4 or 5-star hotel room) or $560 to $1,120 per night for a preferred vacation rental.
For a family, the accommodation will be somewhere around $204 to $412 per night (double occupancy) for a 4 or 5-star hotel room or $784 to $1,680 per night for a rented place.
Please note that the prices of vacation rentals may alter by location, dates, size, and luxury of the place.
Sometimes it’s hard to hunt down a deal that offers luxurious stays at a minimal cost. But the Ticket Sanner checks all the boxes for people planning to explore Cayman.
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How Much Does it Cost to Enjoy Activities in the Cayman Islands?
To enjoy activities for an individual would typically be around CI$42. This includes admission tickets to museums, day tours, attractions, and other sightseeing places.
The expenditure for other adventures are listed below –
- Sunset Cruise: CI$33
- Snorkeling at the Stingray City: CI$62
- Ticket to the Theater: CI$34
- Glass Bottom Boat Tour: CI$37
- Pedro St. James Castle Entry Fees: CI$8.20
- “Discover the East” Adventure Card: CI$13
- Wine and Dine in the Cayman Island
Food expenses in the Cayman Islands can differ because of many aspects. Still, on average, it’s CI$40 on a daily basis. A basic meal while dining out costs around CI$16 per person. Usually, breakfast prices are a little lesser than lunch and dinner
When dine-in, the prices are much higher than those of street food and fast food.
For booze lovers, the cost of alcoholic beverages in the Cayman Islands is around CI$15 per day. The price for beer would be near CI$ 4.13.
But if we were to recommend a one-stop solution for your shopping needs, then Shopright is the place for you! They offer everything starting from food, liquor, and souvenirs to beauty products and whatnot!
Clubbing the above-given evaluation will give you an idea of the Cayman Islands vacation cost.
Cost of a trip to the Cayman Islands: Tour Packages
Below is the break-down of the Cayman Islands trip cost –
- Average Daily Cost: CI$216
- For a Week (One Person): CI$1,514
- For Two Weeks (One Person): CI$3,027
- For a Month (One Person): CI$6,487
- For a Week (Couple): CI$3,027
- For Two Weeks (Couple): CI$6,055
- For a Month (Couple): CI$12,974
Our advice to you?
Go explore Cayman. It has got everything for everyone.
Hopefully, this blog was insightful and gave you all the information you need in order to start planning a trip to the Cayman Islands. But, before you start loading your stuff in the suitcases, make sure you take enough days to research all the places you can visit.
You have many fantastic places to explore and delicious delicacies to taste. Altogether, it’s a unique experience you don’t want to miss! And don’t worry if it is your first time in Cayman; the Caymanians are very friendly, polite, and ready to help.