Planning a trip to Little Cayman
Visitor Information
Little Cayman is too small to have a tourist office. Before you go, you can visit the tourist office in George Town and pick up what limited information on this island is available.
Fast Facts
Banks -- Little Cayman has no ATMs. The Cayman National Bank, Little Cayman Mall (tel. 345/948-1551), is open Monday and Thursday only from 9am to 2:30pm.
Emergencies -- Dial tel. 911. There's only one police officer on the island.
Hospitals & Clinics -- A nurse is based at the Little Cayman Clinic, Blossom Avenue on Guy Banks Road, in Blossom Village (tel. 345/948-0072). Hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9am to 1pm; Tuesday and Thursday 1 to 5pm. In an emergency, the nurse can be contacted off-hours at tel. 345/948-1073. The nearest hospital is the Faith Hospital on Cayman Brac (tel. 345/948-2225), to which patients on Little Cayman are airlifted in an emergency. Should there be a scuba-diving accident resulting in a patient needing decompression, the patient is airlifted at once to Grand Cayman.
Internet -- Access Your hotel may or may not have Internet access; ask when booking.
Pharmacies -- A small pharmacy is located at Little Cayman Clinic.
Post Office -- The Little Cayman Post Office (tel. 345/948-0016) is easily spotted near the airfield on the southwest side of Little Cayman. It's open Monday to Thursday 9 to 11:30am and 1 to 3pm, Friday 9 to 11:30am and 1 to 3:30pm.
Water -- If your hotel relies on rainwater collected in cisterns, it's best to drink bottled water. Ask about the water source when you book. Also, drink bottled water when dining out at restaurants.
Getting There
Most visitors fly from Grand Cayman to Little Cayman aboard any of the several daily flights operated by Cayman Express, a subdivision of Cayman Airways (tel. 800/422-9626 in the U.S. and Canada, or 345/949-8200; www.caymanairways.com), the national carrier. The cost of one-way passage aboard any of its 18-seater planes is US$66 to US$91. Luggage is limited, without payment of an additional surcharge, to two suitcases per person, totaling no more than 55 pounds for both bags, so it's wise to pack light. Airplanes only land and take off on Little Cayman during daylight hours.
Getting Around
You can get around this small island in four ways: You can use your feet, rent a jeep, rent a bike, or go on an organized tour. If you make arrangements in advance, your hotel will often send a van to meet your plane.
Car Rentals -- The island's only car rental outlet is McLaughlin Enterprises, Blossom Village (tel. 345/948-1000). Its office, located in a small shopping strip, is clearly visible from the airstrip and within easy walking distance. You can also call the company through an airport courtesy phone and ask them to pick you up. Rates begin at CI$65 per day; adding a second driver costs CI$14. The insurance charge is CI$16 per day. McLaughlin is open Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm, and Sunday 8am to noon and 3 to 5pm.
The speed limit for the entire island is 40kmph (25 mph). The only place to get fuel is at the gas station near McLaughlin. Since the cars McLaughlin rents are not four-wheel-drive, avoid driving on soft sands.
Bicycles -- Little Cayman is too small to support a bike rental shop. The good news is that most hotels and little guesthouses will either lend you one (most often the case) or rent you one. There's little traffic, the land is flat, and it's relatively easy to cycle along the paved roads. Just avoid the East End; the unpaved roads here result in a very bumpy, uncomfortable ride. Drifting sand is also a menace.
