Georgetown Cayman. Guide to the Cayman Islands. What to see in the vicinity of Georgetown

The liner sailed to the Cayman Islands, like the others, early in the morning, but unlike Jamaica or the Bahamas, all liners anchor in the bay, and not at the pier, and from there passengers are disembarked by small boats. I thought it was a long and inconvenient procedure, but overall there was no queue.

Not only passenger ships, but also cargo ships stand up like this here.

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The exit from the liner was the first or zero deck

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Vessel name

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Handsome, fell in love with cruises, although before that he was indifferent to them

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I entered the city five minutes later, after disembarking from the liner. Georgetown felt more like the US than the neighboring islands, few blacks, cleaner and quieter (safer). The capital of the state has a population of 27 thousand people, which is two times less than my Torzhok.

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The area near the port is landscaped, but overall the city is quite good.

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If you go deeper into literally one intersection, then administrative buildings begin

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Everyone parks carefully, no one gets on the pedestrian part of the road

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What is usually scarce on poor islands are monuments

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Sailors. The sign says something about tradition, but you can’t read it, it’s very small.

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Here you can fantasize about how a girl holds the world in her hands, but at the same time leaves the restaurant without paying the bill :)

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Peace Memorial, which will soon turn 100 years old. The watch is still cool.

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A little secret, if you want to go to the beaches or ride around the island cheaply, leave this square. If you land at the port, you can pay twice as much for services or just stand in line to leave. Here buses or taxis drive empty and in the same directions.

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Boat sculpture

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The islands are famous for the fact that there is a lot of money from different people and companies. One of the reasons why everything on the island is quite good and comfortable.

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Park, funny, small. And this is his sign

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All you can do here is sit in the shade if it’s hot and move on

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I didn’t have a specific goal and I was just walking, although everyone else was rushing either to the beach or shopping. I was just walking around not knowing the city and decided to find a place to go online

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Bright and beautiful graffiti

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There are many turns, but it’s hard to get lost

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I'll add some colors for brightness

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Sports car hidden behind a tarpaulin

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Boat on the rocks, good composition near the house

The largest city in the country, whose history began in the 10th century. Over such a long period, Georgetown was repeatedly conquered; it was a colony of the Dutch, and later belonged to the French and British. Such a rich history is reflected in the unique architecture and a large number of monuments that have been carefully preserved to this day.

The central part of the city is literally surrounded by green spaces; there are several zoological gardens, you can stroll along the boulevards and see several buildings from the 19th century. The main attraction of the central area remains the Seawall Dam, which was built during Dutch times. Today, the area around the dam serves as a favorite vacation spot for townspeople and vacationers. In the mornings, people come here for a jog, and in the evenings you can see couples leisurely strolling along the canals. Near the dam, several sports complexes, a solarium and beauty salons were opened, as well as swimming areas.

Among the religious attractions, it is worth highlighting St. George's Cathedral, which was built at the end of the 19th century. The height of the bell tower is 40 meters, the cathedral was recognized as one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world. The interior design of the halls also deserves attention and admiration; the best craftsmen worked on it. Opposite the shrine is the beautiful Company Path Gardens. Another beautiful architectural structure is the Parliament House, built in 1834, surrounded by several administrative buildings. There is also an ancient church named after St. Andrew. On the opposite square is the largest market, which locals call Starbock. Copyright www.site

The city has many amazing architectural monuments, one of the most impressive is the Hu Kongsi House. This beautiful house was built in 1851 for members of the Hu clan. Today, the restored building houses a very interesting museum, the exhibition of which is dedicated to the history of clan communities. Among its exhibits are the most beautiful paintings, figurines carved from wood and stone. For more than a hundred years, the ancient house managed to preserve many elements of the luxurious original interior, which in themselves are priceless museum exhibits.

The most important historical symbol of the city is Fort Cornwallis. It was built in the early 19th century to protect the coast from pirates. For more than 200 years, the fort has retained its majestic and impregnable appearance. During the tour, its visitors will be able to look into the most hidden corners of the defensive structure. Old prison cells have been preserved here, as well as barracks and warehouses where ammunition was previously stored. The oldest Christian chapel on the island has also been preserved on the territory of the fort; now part of the halls of the huge fort is occupied by the Military Museum.

For lovers of walks in Georgetown, the Little India area remains one of their favorite vacation spots. On the main street of this area you can see a lot of beautiful old buildings, the ground floors of which now house very interesting shops. There are many jewelry shops here where you can buy gold jewelry at the most attractive prices, and this area is also famous for its specialized tea and spice stores. Here you can also visit several excellent Indian restaurants.

Fans of walks in picturesque places will definitely enjoy the Botanical Garden; it was founded back in 1884. Now the garden area is about 29 hectares, and hundreds of plant species are represented on its territory. The picturesque garden is a favorite vacation spot among the indigenous people; there are many sports fields and cozy recreation areas on its territory. The main inhabitants of the botanical garden are long-tailed macaques. They are very dexterous, so vacationers need to carefully monitor their personal belongings and, if possible, not take especially valuable items and accessories with them on walks. It is also worth remembering that you cannot feed animals in the garden, as this will result in a large fine.

George Town - capital of the Cayman Islands

Tuesday 08 November 2011 - Port of George Town in the Cayman Islands and we dock in the British Overseas Territory of the West Indies, in the Caribbean.

History has not preserved for us the names of the original inhabitants of the Cayman Islands. The first European to see the shores of these low islands was Christopher Columbus, who in 1503 encountered entire schools of sea turtles in the waters between Jamaica and Cuba, which served as the source of the first name of the modern group of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman - Las Tortugas (Turtles) islands).

By the time of Francis Drake, who officially discovered Grand Cayman in 1586, the islands were already known as Caymanas (the Carib word for "crocodile"). Over the next century, the islands were used only by pirates and turtle hunters, and there was no permanent population until the 1660s, when several British army deserters fled here from Jamaica. In 1670, the islands became the property of the British crown, falling under the jurisdiction of the Jamaican administration.

Video visit of the islands:

Grand Cayman- the largest of the three Cayman Islands, on which the capital, Georgetown, is located. Area - 196 km².

It is an elevated reef, the highest point of which is 24 m above sea level. The island does not have natural sources of fresh water in the form of lakes, rivers, etc., so drinking water is obtained by desalination of sea water. The absence of rivers on Grand Cayman explains the exceptional transparency of the sea water washing the shores of the island.

Grand Cayman suffered significant damage from Tropical Storm Ivan, which lasted from September 11 to 12, 2004. Up to 80% of all structures on the island were destroyed.

A significant portion of Grand Cayman's population lives on the west coast of the island, where the city of George Town and the Cayman International Airport are located. Owen Roberts.

The island's economy is largely dependent on tourism, which accounts for up to 75% of the island's GDP. There are a large number of hotels on Grand Cayman Island. The coastal waters are rich in fish and reefs, making diving very popular.

In the West Bay district there is a farm for breeding green sea turtles, the meat of which is highly prized abroad. The Hell Limestone Formation is also located in this county.

One of the popular places on the island is the city of Stingray City, named after the stingray. This is due to the fact that a large number of individuals of this species of stingray live in the shallows located near the city.

Where is Georgetown Cruise Port?

The Cayman Islands are a British overseas territory in the Caribbean, and Grand Cayman is one of the most visited by cruise ships in the world. There is no cruise pier in the island's capital, Georgetown, so cruise ships are anchored and passengers are transported ashore by boats (tenders). Shallow waters and reefs prevent large ships from mooring at coastal piers.

Routes, excursions, transport in the port of Georgetown

It is convenient to get around the island by taxi or minibus. Getting into a taxi costs $10, waiting is about $0.65 per minute. You can also rent a car.

At the pier, many local tour companies offer various options for tours around the island. Prices start from $20. We recommend Captain Marvins, Native Way Watersports and discountexcursions.com. The most popular excursion on the island is the stingray excursion. Cost from $30. Note! Grand Cayman sometimes has rough seas and disembarkation is not possible. Therefore, we advise you not to pay for the tour you are interested in in advance; it is better to just book it.

What to see in the vicinity of Georgetown

The most popular place among tourists is Turtle Farms. It is located 12 km from the port. Entrance - $18, swimming with turtles - $45. You can get there by minibus for $2.5 or by tourist taxi for $5. The minibus stop is located a block away on the square near the library.

In the eastern part of the island, in the town of Savannah, is located Pedro St. James Castle, which is one of the oldest defensive structures in the Caribbean. Open daily, from 9.00 to 17.00, ticket price for adults is $8, for children - $4.

In the north-west of the island, 13 km from the port, there is an array of jagged rocks - Hell. There are such formations on other islands, but only here they thought of making a whole attraction out of it. They opened souvenir shops, a post office, and hung posters with diabolical content. Here you can take a photo with the devil, buy a T-shirt with the inscription “I"ll see you in Hell” and send home a letter from Hell. You can get there by minibus for $2.

Georgetown Shopping and Cuisine

Popular local dishes include seafood ceviche, turtle steaks (despite the disappearance of turtles) and fried plantains. A lot of fruit is grown on the island. Homemade sweets are popular on the island. National drinks include tea and coffee, local beer, rum and various cocktails.

Georgetown has a huge number of duty-free shops, selling literally everything from emeralds to Cuban cigars and modern electronics. There are many tourist shops where you can buy T-shirts, hats, postcards and more. A popular souvenir is a variety of products made from green turtle shells. Shops are open from Monday to Thursday, from 09.00 to 12.00 and from 13.30 to 17.00. On weekends, many stores operate according to their own schedule. Duty free shops are usually open until midnight. There is no sales season in the Cayman Islands, and bargaining is not accepted here, even in the markets.

Currency of Georgetown

The official currency is the Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD). In the Cayman Islands, US dollars are accepted as payment in all establishments and shops. Credit cards are also accepted almost everywhere, and finding an ATM in the city is not difficult.

Where to stay before and after your cruise?

For a port stop before a cruise, try Airbnb, where you can rent a full-fledged apartment for the price of a hotel room. By registering using our link you will receive coupon for 2100 rub. for your first stay from RUB 4,500!

And its shape resembles a huge claw. The area of ​​the island is 197 square meters. km. In its southwestern part is the capital-port, and the largest city of the Caymans -. The northwestern part of the territory is decorated with the picturesque North Sound lagoon. Along the west coast stretches one of the best beaches in the world - Seven Mile Beach. The interior of the island is filled with swamps and dense mango trees.

Grand Cayman is made up of five districts:

1. West Bay;
2.George Town;
3. Bodden Town;
4. North Side;
5. East End.

The population of the island is 52.1 thousand people. Most of the population lives on the west coast and in the capital.

In 2004, Tropical Storm Ivan hit the island and lasted two days. Grand Cayman suffered total damage. The island's structures were destroyed by 80%.

The most favorable time of stay is December-April. Clear weather, minimal precipitation, warm sea water off the coast.

Money

US dollars are also accepted almost everywhere. Currency exchange for tourists is not difficult. Payment using credit cards is possible in almost every hotel, restaurant, and store. However, in some small establishments it is not possible to use credit cards. The situation is gradually changing for the better, the island's monetary circulation is improving.

Where to stay

Hotels on the island are quite expensive. In a 5* hotel the daily rate starts from approximately $300, in a 4* hotel - from $200, respectively, in a 2-3* hotel - $200. During the period April-December, the cost of accommodation may increase by 50%, the remaining months the cost is reduced by 20-35%.

There are a large number of restaurants on the island, but any of them can be expensive. This also applies to fast food restaurants.

The island delights tourists with a wide variety of Duty free shops and a wide range of goods: from jewelry to beach accessories, from sophisticated equipment to Cuban cigars.

Transport on Grand Cayman

Buses

Licensed bus service starts at 6 am. They are easily identified by their blue license plates. Buses operate 9 routes. Each route, depending on the direction, is designated by a specific number;

Taxi

Hotels on the island do not provide transportation for guests, so taxis should be used. The fare is fixed and goes to any area of ​​the island. Taxi ranks are located near each hotel, as well as in George Town near the port area;

Car rental

Car rental is available to persons over 21 years of age, subject to obtaining a temporary driver's license at the police station or at a rental agency. Driving on the island is on the left and wearing a seat belt is mandatory.

What to see

Perhaps the most famous and popular attraction of Grand Cayman is the so-called "Stingray City". Sometimes it is also called Stingray Bay. This place is located in a bay in the north of the central part of the island.

Here, in the warm shallow waters, guides have been feeding stingrays for many years in order to bring curious tourists here. As soon as you hear the noise of boat engines, hundreds of stingrays come here, and tourists have the opportunity to swim and dive with them, and of course, feed them directly from their hands.

Also, while staying on the island, tourists usually visit National Museum Cayman Islands and Maritime Treasure Museum from Havana, Miami, and New York

By steamer

George Town attracts a large number of cruise ships, which anchor near the port and transport tourists ashore in small passenger boats.