Are you wondering whether to travel to the Cayman Islands or Bahamas on your next vacation? You’ve come to the right place.
The Cayman Islands and the Bahamas are two exceptional places in the Caribbean to vacation to.
The Cayman Islands is known for its picture-perfect beaches, natural attractions, and warm hospitality, whereas the Bahamas is known for its beautiful islands, luxurious resorts, and abundant marine life.
The Cayman Islands is the ideal destination for beach lovers, foodies, water sports enthusiasts, and those looking for festive nightlife.
The Bahamas, on the other hand, is best suited for those looking to stay at a luxurious resort and explore some of the world’s most beautiful islands.
Read on to learn all of the key differences between the Cayman Islands and Bahamas, including climate, currency, cuisine, cost, and more!
Cayman Islands vs Bahamas: A Quick Overview
| Cayman Islands | Bahamas | |
| Landscape | Crystal-clear turquoise beaches with coral reefs, and mangrove wetlands (3 islands) | Flat, white, and pink sandy beaches with coral reefs and abundant marine life (700 islands) |
| Climate | Average temperature 74°F to 89°F year-round | Temperatures range from 77°F to 90°F |
| Tourist Attractions | Seven-mile Beach, Stingray City, Rum Point Beach, Cayman Crystal Caves | Atlantis Paradise Island, Queen’s Staircase, Pig Beach, Pink Sand Beach |
| Cost | Costs on average $3,784 per week for a couple | Costs an average of $3,493 per week for a couple |
| Cuisine | Caribbean food influenced by Jamaican cuisine (jerk chicken, heavy cake) | Caribbean food inspired by Southern American style cooking (Bahamian fish stew, guava duff) |
| Nightlife | Lively and exciting | Lively and exciting |
| Safety | Very safe | Higher likelihood for crime |
Cayman Islands At A Glance
The Cayman Islands are known for their exceptional beaches, upscale resorts and amazing seafood restaurants.
The Cayman Islands are a group of three islands in the Western Caribbean Sea, that make up about 1.5 times the size of Washington D.C. The islands consist of the Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, with the Grand Cayman being the most popular tourist destination.
The landscape of the Cayman Islands features coral reefs, white-sandy beaches, limestone formations, and mangrove wetlands. The people in the Cayman Islands are extremely friendly, and the Islands are easy to navigate around.
If you’re looking for beach activities, Rum Point Beach and the Seven Mile Beach offer opportunities for jet skiing, parasailing, snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and more.
Beyond beach activities, there are many unique tourist attractions such as the Cayman Crystal Caves, Cayman Turtle Centre, and Dolphin Discovery.
Whether you want to swim with dolphins or tour a rum distillery, Grand Cayman has fun activities for all ages to enjoy.
When it comes to food, Cayman Islands cuisine consists of Jamaican-inspired foods such as jerk chicken and goat curry, as well as traditional favorites like coconut shrimp, plantains, and cassava.
If you’re a fan of fresh seafood and Caribbean dishes, you’ll love the food of the Cayman Islands.
If you’re looking to party, the Cayman Islands is the place to go. The nightlife is lively and abundant, with tons of beachside bars, nightclubs, live music, and casinos.
Overall, the Cayman Islands is a great spot for vacationers looking for a tropical paradise with picture-perfect beaches, tons of tourist activities, and an active nightlife scene.
Top Tourist Attractions In Cayman Islands
- Seven-mile beach
- Stingray City
- Cayman Spirits Co. Distillery
- Queen Elizabeth II botanic park
- Cayman crystal caves
- Starfish point
Climate
The weather in the Cayman Islands is tropical and warm year-round, with the average temperature being between 74°F to 89°F.
The wet season is during the summer from May to October, and the weather is warm and rainy. June, October, and September are when you can expect to experience the most rainfall.
Languages
The people of the Cayman Islands speak English primarily, which is the official language. 90% of the residents speak English, and Spanish is the next most common language.
What currency is used in the Cayman Islands?
US dollars and credit cards are widely accepted throughout the islands. You may want to keep some of their currency on hand to deal with local merchants if you plan on visiting remote areas.
The currency in the Cayman Islands is the Cayman Islands Dollar (CI$), which is fixed to the US dollar at a rate of CI $1=US $1.25.
Cayman Islands Cuisine
The food in the Cayman Islands is delicious and is influenced heavily by Jamaican cuisine, where jerk chicken and curried goat, and fish fry are common staples in most menus.
The cuisine also consists of local ingredients such as fresh seafood (lobster, conch, and fish), plantains, yams, cassava, coconut, and rice and peas.
A popular dessert in the Cayman Islands is heavy cake, which is a sweet treat made out of grated cassava, coconut milk, and warm spices that’s worth trying out.
Are the Cayman Islands safe to visit?
The Cayman Islands is safe to visit and has one of the lowest crime rates.
According to the US Department of State’s Travel Advisory, the crime level for the Cayman Islands is 1, which means you can exercise normal precautions while visiting.
The Bahamas At A Glance
The Bahamas are a tropical haven known for having some of the most beautiful beaches and luxurious resorts in the world.
With over 700 islands, the Bahamas offers endless opportunities for adventure. The Bahamas is roughly 50 times larger than the Cayman Islands, and its total area covers 5,358 square miles.
The Exumas, a chain of 365 islands in the Bahamas, offers exciting opportunities for snorkeling, kayaking, diving, and exploring coral reefs.
Also located in the Exumas district is Big Major Cay or “Pig Beach”, where you can swim with pigs in crystal-clear turquoise waters!
In the capital city of Nassau, you can enjoy a traditional fish fry, try rum cake at the Bahamas rum cake factory, tour John Watling’s rum distillery, and much more.
When it comes to activities, there are food tours, city tours, and excursions to Rose Island or the Exumas to swim with pigs.
The cuisine in the Bahamas is diverse and features many seafood dishes inspired by South American and Caribbean food.
Some of the most popular dishes that are conch fritters, johnnycakes, pigeon peas and rice, and guava duff. If you’re a fan of Southern cooking and seafood, you’ll absolutely love Bahamian cuisine.
In short, the Bahamas is a must-visit destination for those looking to experience luxurious resorts and endless island adventures.
Top Tourist Attractions In The Bahamas
- Swimming Pigs (Rose Island or Pig Beach in the Exumas)
- Bahamas Rum Cake Factory
- Queen’s Staircase
- Atlantis At Paradise Island
- John Watling’s Rum Distillery
- Nassau Fish Fry At Arawak Cay
Climate
The Bahamas has a subtropical marine climate with warm temperatures all year-round. The average temperature range is between 77°F to 90°F.
The wet season in the Bahamas runs from June to November, where there’s a higher chance of rainfall, and tropical storms. If you plan on visiting during the wet season, you can expect prices to be lower.
The dry season runs from November to June with less rainfall.
What currency is used in the Bahamas?
You don’t have to worry about converting to Bahamian dollars since USD is widely accepted throughout the Bahamas. Bahamian dollars are fixed to the USD at a rate of 1 BSD per USD.
Bahamian Cuisine
Bahamian cuisine consists of Caribbean food that’s influenced by South American cooking.
A staple food in the Bahamas is fresh seafood, with popular dishes including conch fritters, grilled fish, and lobster tails.
Other local specialties include peas and rice, cracked conch, and johnnycakes.
There are many great seafood and local restaurants tucked along the beaches in Nassau.
Bahamas Nightlife
Similar to the Cayman Islands, the nightlife scene in the Bahamas is festive and abundant. Like the residents of the Cayman Islands, Bahamians are very sociable and nice.
In Nassau, you’ll find plenty of beach bars and nightclubs along Bay Street. There are also many popular casinos on Paradise Island and in Freeport.
Is it safe to visit the Bahamas?
The Bahamas has a high crime rate compared to the Cayman Islands. There is a high likelihood of crime in both non-tourist areas and tourist areas, particularly in Freeport and Nassau.
It has a crime level of 2, based on the US Department of State’s Travel Advisory, which means you should take extra precautions while visiting.
However, there are numerous islands in the Bahamas that are family-friendly.
Some of the safest places in the Bahamas are the Abacos Islands, Cat Island, and the Berry Islands.
When’s the best time to visit each destination?
The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and June when the weather is nicest and the prices for hotels are at their lowest.
The best time to visit the Bahamas, on the other hand, is between December to April when the risk for hurricanes is the lowest.
But, if you’re looking for the cheapest prices, between August and November is when the hotel prices drop.
Are the Cayman Islands or Bahamas cheaper to visit?
Both the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas are relatively expensive to visit, but the Bahamas is cheaper on average.
Keep in mind that the prices will vary widely depending on the hotels, restaurants, and flights you choose.
The average daily price is $270 in the Cayman Islands and $249 in the Bahamas.
A week’s trip for two people in the Cayman Islands costs on average $3,784 whereas a week’s trip for two in the Bahamas costs an average of $3,493.
Are the Cayman Islands or Bahamas better for families?
The Cayman Islands and the Bahamas are both great places to visit for families, but the Cayman Islands are safer.
The Cayman Islands offers many kid-friendly tourist attractions like swimming with turtles and touching stingrays.
The Bahamas also offers plenty of activities for kids, including marine exhibits, water parks, and opportunities to swim with pigs on Pig Beach.
Our Final Thoughts: Which is better?
Both the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas are incredible vacation destinations if you’re seeking a tropical paradise.
Despite the Bahamas being 50 times larger than the Cayman Islands, they both offer tons of stunning beaches and diverse tourist attractions.
The Cayman Islands is ideal for those seeking picture-perfect beaches, top-notch snorkeling opportunities, and beautiful natural attractions.
The Bahamas is ideal for those seeking luxurious resorts, delectable cuisine, secluded beaches, and an adventure overall.
However, navigating around the Bahamas can be quite difficult and the Cayman Islands is generally safer and easier to travel around.
Whether you choose the Cayman Islands or Bahamas, both destinations will leave you with long-lasting memories you won’t forget.
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