CVOA has the best Cayman Island Villas

The Cayman Islands are among the friendliest and the safest islands in the Caribbean, accessible by a 70 minute flight from Miami. Famous worldwide for their diving, snorkeling and sport fishing in crystal clear waters and beautiful sun-kissed beaches, The Caymans offer something for everyone. Visitors will find a nature lover’s paradise with hiking in the island’s interior, birding and caving. The average year round temperature ranges from 75 degrees in winter to 85 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, with continuous cooling trade winds, perfect vacation weather! Shop to you drop in this duty-free destination. Unique locally crafted art and crafts, jewelry, perfume, designer-clothing, rum and more, are among the treasures you can bring home.

Visitors to The Cayman Islands will be greeted by friendly, outgoing Caymanians. Choose one of our many Cayman Island vacation rentals and store up a lifetime of memories on these beautiful peaceful islands!

The Cayman Islands consist of the islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, being a British overseas territory located in the western Caribbean Sea. The Cayman Islands are one of the leading tourist scuba diving destinations in the world and are a global offshore financial services centre.

Cayman Islands History

Christopher Columbus first sighted The Cayman Islands often referred to as "Cayman" by locals, on May 10, 1503 during his disastrous fourth and final voyage to the New World. He named them Las Tortugas after the many sea turtles there. Sir Francis Drake, the first recorded English visitor to the islands who landed there in 1586, named them the Cayman Islands after the Neo-Taino nations term (caiman) for crocodile (Zayas, 1914).

Isaac Bodden was born on Grand Cayman around 1700 and was the first recorded permanent inhabitant of the Cayman Islands. He was the grandson of the original settler named Bodden who was probably one of Oliver Cromwell's soldiers at the taking of Jamaica in 1655.

The islands, along with neighboring Jamaica, were seized and then relinquished under the Treaty of Madrid to England in 1670. First governed as a single colony with Jamaica, they became a separate British Overseas Territory and Jamaica became an independent commonwealth realm in 1962.

On September 11-12, 2004, Grand Cayman was hit by Hurricane Ivan which destroyed many buildings and damaged 70% of them. Ivan was the worst hurricane to hit the islands in 86 years disrupting communications, power and water for a period of time. Within two years however, Grand Cayman’s infrastructure was nearly returned to pre-Ivan levels due to its immediate undertaking of a major rebuilding process. More hurricane and tropical systems have affected the Cayman Islands than any other territory in the Atlantic basin, being hit or brushed every 2.23 years due to the nearness of the islands. Aided by thriving banking and tourism industries, the Cayman Islands presently experience one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean.

Tourism

Tourism makes up 70-75% of the yearly GDP of the Cayman Islands. Millions of tourists visit the islands annually with 99% visiting Grand Cayman. George Town serves as a major cruise ship port and depending on the number of ships in port, brings in 4,000 to 22,000 tourists a day, five days a week.

The world-famous Seven Mile Beach on which a number of the island's resorts and hotels are located, is one of Grand Cayman's (GCM) main attractions. Seven Mile Beach is regarded by many as one of the best beaches in the world. Pedro St. James Castle in BoddenTown and other historical sites in GCM also attract visitors. Little Cayman and Cayman Brac - The Sister Islands - also provide their own special charm.

Because of its crystal-clear waters and pristine walls, the Cayman Islands is regarded as one of the world's best SCUBA diving destinations. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are also first-class SCUBA dive destinations. Tourists can swim with stingrays at several snorkeling locations including the popular Stingray City, Grand Cayman. Particularly interesting to divers are two shipwrecks off the shores of Cayman Brac including the MV Keith Tibbetts.

Grand Cayman tourist attractions also include the 24-acre marine theme park Boatswain's Beach, also home of the Cayman Turtle Farm; the ironshore landscape of Hell; the Mastic Trail, a hiking trail through the forests in the centre of the island and the production of gourmet sea salt. A lighthouse and a few local museums draw tourists on Cayman Brac. Nature lovers, especially bird watchers in search of the island's Red-footed Booby population, are attracted by Little Cayman's wildlife.

Demographics and Economy

Although The Cayman Islands’ economy was once centered around the turtling industry, it began to disappear in the twentieth century. Tourism and financial services began to become the economic sustainers during the 1970s. The Cayman Islands' largest trading partner is the United States.

Caymanians enjoy the highest standard of living in the Caribbean with an average income of around $42,000. The Cayman Islands GDP per capita is the 8th highest in the world according to the CIA World Factbook. The islands print their own currency, the Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD). It is pegged to the U.S. dollar at a fixed rate of 1 KYD = 1.227 USD. Thus, the C.I. Dollar's rate of exchange with all other world countries is directly tied to the U.S. dollar's rate of exchange with those same countries.

Indirect taxation is the government's main source of income. An import tax of 20% is levied against goods imported into the islands. Tax on vehicles is charged on a sliding scale with the duty reaching 40% for expensive models. Baby formula, books, and cameras are the few goods which are exempt. Financial institutions that operate in the islands are charged a flat licensing fee by the government . Each tourist that arrives on the islands is also charged a small fee.

As of July 2006, the latest population estimate of the Cayman Islands was about 45,436. This represents a mix of more than 100 nationalities with about half the population being from Caymanian descent. Approximately 60% of the population is of mixed race, mostly mixed African-European. Of the remaining 40%, about half are of African descent and half are of European descent. Grand Cayman claims the vast majority of the population as residents. With about 2,000 residents, Cayman Brac is the second most populated, followed by Little Cayman with around 200 permanent residents. The Cayman Islands are almost entirely Christian, with large numbers of Anglicans and Presbyterians.

George Town is the capital and major city of the Cayman Islands, located on the south west coast of Grand Cayman.

	CVOA has the best Cayman Island Villas The Cayman Islands are among the friendliest and the safest islands in the Caribbean, accessible by a 70 minute flight from Miami. Famous worldwide for their diving, snorkeling and sport fishing in crystal clear waters and beautiful sun-kissed beaches, The Caymans offer something for everyone. Visitors will find a nature lover’s paradise with hiking in the island’s interior, birding and caving. The average year round temperature ranges from 75 degrees in winter to 85 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, with continuous cooling trade winds, perfect vacation weather! Shop to you drop in this duty-free destination. Unique locally crafted art and crafts, jewelry, perfume, designer-clothing, rum and more, are among the treasures you can bring home. Visitors to The Cayman Islands will be greeted by friendly, outgoing Caymanians. Choose one of our many Cayman Island vacation rentals and store up a lifetime of memories on these beautiful peaceful islands! The Cayman Islands consist of the islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, being a British overseas territory located in the western Caribbean Sea. The Cayman Islands are one of the leading tourist scuba diving destinations in the world and are a global offshore financial services centre. Cayman Islands History Christopher Columbus first sighted The Cayman Islands often referred to as "Cayman" by locals, on May 10, 1503 during his disastrous fourth and final voyage to the New World. He named them Las Tortugas after the many sea turtles there. Sir Francis Drake, the first recorded English visitor to the islands who landed there in 1586, named them the Cayman Islands after the Neo-Taino nations term (caiman) for crocodile (Zayas, 1914). Isaac Bodden was born on Grand Cayman around 1700 and was the first recorded permanent inhabitant of the Cayman Islands. He was the grandson of the original settler named Bodden who was probably one of Oliver Cromwell's soldiers at the taking of Jamaica in 1655. The islands, along with neighboring Jamaica, were seized and then relinquished under the Treaty of Madrid to England in 1670. First governed as a single colony with Jamaica, they became a separate British Overseas Territory and Jamaica became an independent commonwealth realm in 1962. On September 11-12, 2004, Grand Cayman was hit by Hurricane Ivan which destroyed many buildings and damaged 70% of them. Ivan was the worst hurricane to hit the islands in 86 years disrupting communications, power and water for a period of time. Within two years however, Grand Cayman’s infrastructure was nearly returned to pre-Ivan levels due to its immediate undertaking of a major rebuilding process. More hurricane and tropical systems have affected the Cayman Islands than any other territory in the Atlantic basin, being hit or brushed every 2.23 years due to the nearness of the islands. Aided by thriving banking and tourism industries, the Cayman Islands presently experience one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean. Tourism Tourism makes up 70-75% of the yearly GDP of the Cayman Islands. Millions of tourists visit the islands annually with 99% visiting Grand Cayman. George Town serves as a major cruise ship port and depending on the number of ships in port, brings in 4,000 to 22,000 tourists a day, five days a week. The world-famous Seven Mile Beach on which a number of the island's resorts and hotels are located, is one of Grand Cayman's (GCM) main attractions. Seven Mile Beach is regarded by many as one of the best beaches in the world. Pedro St. James Castle in BoddenTown and other historical sites in GCM also attract visitors. Little Cayman and Cayman Brac - The Sister Islands - also provide their own special charm. Because of its crystal-clear waters and pristine walls, the Cayman Islands is regarded as one of the world's best SCUBA diving destinations. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are also first-class SCUBA dive destinations. Tourists can swim with stingrays at several snorkeling locations including the popular Stingray City, Grand Cayman. Particularly interesting to divers are two shipwrecks off the shores of Cayman Brac including the MV Keith Tibbetts. Grand Cayman tourist attractions also include the 24-acre marine theme park Boatswain's Beach, also home of the Cayman Turtle Farm; the ironshore landscape of Hell; the Mastic Trail, a hiking trail through the forests in the centre of the island and the production of gourmet sea salt. A lighthouse and a few local museums draw tourists on Cayman Brac. Nature lovers, especially bird watchers in search of the island's Red-footed Booby population, are attracted by Little Cayman's wildlife. Demographics and Economy Although The Cayman Islands’ economy was once centered around the turtling industry, it began to disappear in the twentieth century. Tourism and financial services began to become the economic sustainers during the 1970s. The Cayman Islands' largest trading partner is the United States. Caymanians enjoy the highest standard of living in the Caribbean with an average income of around $42,000. The Cayman Islands GDP per capita is the 8th highest in the world according to the CIA World Factbook. The islands print their own currency, the Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD). It is pegged to the U.S. dollar at a fixed rate of 1 KYD = 1.227 USD. Thus, the C.I. Dollar's rate of exchange with all other world countries is directly tied to the U.S. dollar's rate of exchange with those same countries. Indirect taxation is the government's main source of income. An import tax of 20% is levied against goods imported into the islands. Tax on vehicles is charged on a sliding scale with the duty reaching 40% for expensive models. Baby formula, books, and cameras are the few goods which are exempt. Financial institutions that operate in the islands are charged a flat licensing fee by the government . Each tourist that arrives on the islands is also charged a small fee. As of July 2006, the latest population estimate of the Cayman Islands was about 45,436. This represents a mix of more than 100 nationalities with about half the population being from Caymanian descent. Approximately 60% of the population is of mixed race, mostly mixed African-European. Of the remaining 40%, about half are of African descent and half are of European descent. Grand Cayman claims the vast majority of the population as residents. With about 2,000 residents, Cayman Brac is the second most populated, followed by Little Cayman with around 200 permanent residents. The Cayman Islands are almost entirely Christian, with large numbers of Anglicans and Presbyterians. George Town is the capital and major city of the Cayman Islands, located on the south west coast of Grand Cayman.