Cayman Islands Travel Guide

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Shopping

George Town is a mecca for those in search of duty-free goods, and also offers numerous small boutiques. Local products such as jewelry made of caymanite (the island's semi-precious stone), hand-woven baskets, hats and fans, colorful paintings and underwater photographs make excellent souvenirs. Local foods, including tropical fruits, can be bought or sampled at the Farmers' Market Cooperative on Thomas Russell Avenue. The Tortuga Rum company specializes in rum and rum cake.

Increasingly Modern and sophisticated shopping centers offer North American and European fashion brands, furnishings and household goods. Many luxury goods and essential food products are duty--free but duty of up to 20% is charged on other items.

Note: Turtle products cannot be imported, even by persons in transit, into any country which has signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. This includes the USA, Canada and the UK. Caymanite cannot be taken out of the country in its raw form.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1700. During peak tourist season, many shops open later and also open on Sundays.

Currency

Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD; symbol CI$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of CI$100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

The Cayman Islands Dollar is tied to the US Dollar at a fixed rate of CI$1 = US$1.25 although bank charges for currency exchange may result in minor fluctuations.

Currency Exchange

US Dollars circulate freely and are the best currency to exchange.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

Major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs accepting Visa, MasterCard and cards with Cirrus affiliation are located at banks on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac.

Travelers Checks

Readily accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's checks in US Dollars.

Currency Restrictions

A maximum amount of Cayman Islands $15,000 can be brought into the Cayman Islands in cash form. There are no restrictions leaving the Cayman Islands, as a visitor, although if you have substantial amounts of money you may wish to make a disclosure notifying Customs to show all is above board.Â

Banking Hours

Mon-Thurs 0900-1600, Fri 0900-1630. Some banks are open on Saturday mornings. Hours may be shorter on Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

Exchange Rate