Transportation

1. Air

Most tourists arrive on the island by air through Miami, Atlanta or Houston and land at Owen Roberts International Airport situated on Grand Cayman Island.

All three Cayman Islands have some sort of landing strips. However, most of the air traffic on the island is routed through the Grand Cayman Airport. A number of major American carriers have daily as well weekly flights to the Grand Cayman airport.

The major airlines that operate in the Cayman Islands are:

Air Canada, Air Jamaica, Rollins Air, American Airlines Cargo, Northwest Airlines, Maya Island Air, Delta Airlines, American Trans Air, US Airways, British Airways, Cayman Airways, Continental, Cubana, Islena Airlines, and United Airlines, along with a number of other smaller airlines.

2. Bus

Daily bus services on the island usually operate from 6 am till 12 pm and greatly depend on the route and day of travel. While traveling, it is generally seen that the services offered are more regular and reliable between Seven Mile Beach and George Town than in other areas. The bus fares charged depend mainly on the route and vary around $1.75 to $3.50 per person.

Bus fares from George Town to West Bay: Sunday - Thursday, 6 am to 11 pm; Friday & Saturday, 6 am to midnight.

Frequency: Every 15 minutes

Fare: $1.75 each way.

George Town to Bodden Town: Sunday - Thursday, 6 am to 11 pm;

Friday & Saturday, 6 am to midnight.

Frequency: Every 30 minutes

Fare: $1.75 each way.

George Town to East End and North Side: Sunday - Thursday & Saturday, 6 am to 9 pm; Friday, 6 am to Midnight.

Frequency: Every hour

Fare: $2.32 each way.

All buses on the island are required to maintain standard fares and are required to display a fare table specifying standard government authorized fares.

3. Car

Renting a car is the most popular way to explore the beautiful and picturesque island. Grand Cayman has a number of car rental agencies. These include Ace Hertz, Thrifty, and Budget. You can also opt for Caribbean-based car rental operators such as Soto's 4x4 and Coconut Car Rentals. Most of these companies have their offices located at the airports. In order to hire a car, you are required to acquire a local driving permit that can be obtained from the police station or your car rental agency at a cost of $5.

Rates for renting a car on Grand Cayman may average to around $50. Cars available for hire include ordinary cars, SUV's, and minibuses. Depending on your choice and preference, you can also opt to hire a left hand drive or right hand drive vehicle.

4. Ferry

The Cayman Islands do not have any ferry service that connects all three islands. Even though there are no fixed or scheduled ferry services running between the islands, it is possible to hire boats that will transport you from one place to another. Boats can be hired from a number of private boat owners on all the islands.

The 7-mile trip between Cayman Brac and Little Cayman by boat will approximately take you as little as 20 minutes, and will probably cost you around $20. However, the trips from Grand Cayman are bound to take a little longer and are comparatively more expensive. It is recommended that you bargain hard while negotiating on a price. A ferry ride between North Sound and Rum Point on Grand Cayman will take around 40 minutes each way.

5. Ship

Ships in the Cayman Islands are usually used for transporting cargo and bulky goods that assist in imports and exports. The main ports and terminals are located at Cayman Brac and George Town. The islands also have a number of cruise liners that have been established in order to attract tourists. The beautiful island combined with its peaceful surroundings and picturesque beaches make it ideally suited for cruises. A number of cruises coming from other islands in the Caribbean also stop for a short period on this island.

6. Taxi

Taxis in the Cayman Islands are easily available and can be hired for touring the various destinations. The fares charged are fixed and are posted for passenger reference.

The taxi fares charged may also vary on the number of passengers, and amount of luggage. Taxis can be easily hailed at the Owen Roberts International Airport and at all major hotels and tourist centers. In George Town, taxis can be hailed at the taxi stand situated at the cruise ship dock. A sign with the current fares is posted at the dock.