Cayman Map

It may seem obvious at times, but not always. After all, how complicated can directions be in a compact, 20 miles by 9 miles island destination, Grand Cayman, that is, in the end, bounded by the sea on all sides? The answer is twofold: Directions can be very confusing, especially in tightly packed neighborhoods like West Bay; and a tourist map offers a lot more information than simple road routes. To see what we mean, read our top 10 reasons why tourists need a map

There are several places where you can get a tourist map in the Cayman Islands. One of the best places to start is at the Owen Roberts International Airport, where you can pick up a free map at the tourism kiosk. You can also get a map from your hotel or resort, as many properties have them available for guests. Additionally, the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism has a visitor center located in George Town, where you can get maps, brochures, and other information about the islands. Finally, many tour operators and car rental companies also provide maps to their customers.

10 Reasons To Get A Tourist Map

Your GPS directory will not work here

Your GPS directory will not work here

In London or NYC or other major metro areas, your telephone app or car GPS is simple and easy to use, unerringly guiding you to the nearest facility you seek. Your GPS app will not work here in Cayman, however. Get a map.

Directions

Directions

We don't mean the simple process of trying to remember the instruction, for example, to "take the second left after a right turn at the stoplight". Rather, a visitor needs to figure out what it means when someone instructs you to "turn right at the tree just after the old Ebanks house" -- especially when said tree was removed years ago and the "old Ebanks house" is now a civic centre.

Unraveling the spider's web

Unraveling the spider's web

While older and smaller areas like Bodden Town and North Side are relatively simple to navigate, essentially laid out along the single main road, places like George Town and especially West Bay are another matter entirely. Tortured warrens of tiny streets, little lanes, quick cul de sacs and hidden drives, intersecting, doubling back, snaking amongst and around mangroves, watercourses and other landscape features create a labyrinth, full of surprises and unexpected delights. A map, however, will stop you disappearing forever into an impenetrable maze.

Gaining a sense of size

Gaining a sense of size

Each of the three Cayman Islands is tiny, but their history and traditions are enormous, and that means significant sites (oh … and "sights") are compacted into a tightly condensed area and easy to miss. A map will detail exactly where to find these things.

Grasping time and distance

Grasping time and distance

Five miles or 10 miles may not sound like much to a visitor from Canada's vast Midwest, but Cayman's winding roads, tightly packed geography and diverse topography will quickly bewilder the unsuspecting tourist. A map will unravel the mysteries and enable accurate estimates of arrival and departure times.

Planning an itinerary

Planning an itinerary

If you know what you want to see, a map will help you plan the most efficient way to see it -- and that does not always accord with the opinion of, let's say, old-timers intimate with the history of each farm, field and family in the islands.

Gaining a sense of what you CANNOT see or visit

Gaining a sense of what you CANNOT see or visit

Vast swathes of Grand Cayman's interior, and most of Little Cayman, for that matter, are unconnected by roads or even a trail. Yet this near-trackless bush contains fresh-water lenses, rare and startling wildlife, swamps, eerie rock formations, enveloping silence, long-abandoned settlements and even a few family farms. The map can tell you all about Cayman's inaccessible pleasures.

Owning a handy list of emergency numbers and services

Owning a handy list of emergency numbers and services

Most maps list fire, police, ambulance, medical and even auto services, designating not just locations of said services, but also listing telephone numbers. It's a very handy tool, saving panic and dismay should the unthinkable occur.

Look at the ads

Look at the ads

Most tourist maps are sponsored by a variety of commercial organisations – from restaurants to water-sports operators, to taxi services and even bottle shops. Addresses and phone numbers are included, adding up to a quick and valuable resource when you need something fast.

Plan your retirement

Plan your retirement!

And after days of touring and delighting in the sun and sports and relaxation, you will finally wonder about the best location for the purchase of your holiday/retirement home. That trusty map will tell you what is available, what is close by, what is far away and even what realtor you might want to call.

This article has been collaboratively crafted with the assistance of AI-driven insights and meticulously curated by Fevi Yu, our  SEO Content Manager and Web Administrator. It has undergone rigorous editing and fact-checking by a Destination Editor-At-Large, who is also a resident of the Cayman Islands. Should you have any inquiries, require clarifications, or seek additional information, we invite you to contact us at [email protected]