Caymanians are known for their warmth and hospitality. It’s common to greet people with a smile and a polite “Hello” or “Good morning/evening”. Engaging in small talk, especially in less formal settings, is appreciated. The Cayman Islands have strong conservation laws to protect their natural environment. Visitors are expected to respect wildlife and marine life. This includes not touching or removing marine creatures, including starfish and conch, from their natural habitats.

Language

English is the official language of the Cayman Islands, spoken with a unique island accent and often interspersed with local colloquialisms.

Religious Observance

Sunday is considered a day of rest and worship; thus, many shops and businesses are closed, including grocery and liquor stores.

Local Currency

The Cayman Islands Dollar is pegged to the US Dollar at a fixed rate. The standard exchange rate is 1KYD = 1.20 USD. This means that for every 1 Cayman Islands Dollar, you spend 1.20 US Dollars. Although the local currency is KYD, US dollars are widely accepted throughout Grand Cayman. However, change is typically given in Cayman Islands Dollars. Converting USD to KYD: When using US dollars in transactions, you can roughly estimate that $1USD is equivalent to about 0.83 KYD.