The Cayman Islands may be small, but getting from A to B on foot can be quite an undertaking, given the lack of pavements (sidewalks) and adequate street lighting in many places, and then of course the heat. Having some form of transportation or access to it, is pretty much a necessity. Below are the details on your options, whether it be a car, bicycle, motorcycle, public bus, taxi or something less orthodox.
On This Page
With Cayman's rapid development, it has been a real challenge for the Island's transport infrastructure, and vehicle and traffic management systems, to cope with the increasing strain. With hundreds of thousands of visitors per year and over 90,000 in the local population, it is safe to say there are a lot of vehicles on Cayman roads at any given time of the day. These are of course mostly cars, but also a few motorcycles, bicycles and electric scooters.
Rules of the Roadkeyboard_arrow_right
There are also over 139 different nationalities represented in Cayman, whether by visitors or residents, which means there are drivers from all around the world where traffic laws can be quite different.
Unfortunately, a significant number of minor accidents stem from drivers' unfamiliarity or outright disregard for these regulations. Moreover, a prevalent issue is the substantial occurrence of reckless driving.
Public Buseskeyboard_arrow_right
A public mini-bus transport system connects all districts of Grand Cayman. The buses have a number in a coloured circle, making them easy to identify. There are some bus stops along major routes, but you can flag down a passing bus at any point. When you want to get off, just let your driver know. Fares are CI$2-CI$2.50 for short trips, CI$3.50 to East End and CI$8 to Cayman Kai. If you are going to the end of the line, check with the bus driver that there will be a bus coming back to pick you up, especially if you'll be traveling back late in the afternoon. For an additional fee of CI$1-$3 it is possible to ask your driver to deviate a little from the bus route and drop you at your destination. You can then arrange for them to pick you up on the return journey by another bus driver, although you might have to wait a bit!
The best routes for buses are on the main roads around retail areas and non-residential areas. However, there are regular scheduled buses which run along South Church Street, South Sound Road, Walkers Road, Fairbanks Road and the Industrial Park, Owen Roberts Drive. Click here to view the bus route map.
Approximate bus running times: Monday to Thursday 5am-7pm with a reduced service from 7pm-11pm. On Friday and Saturday there is a reduced service, and a limited service on Sunday.
Driving in Caymankeyboard_arrow_right
The Cayman Islands have very strict rules about driving a vehicle in Cayman so read on for the rules for visitors and those for residents. Visitors must have a full, valid driver's licence from a Convention country and can then drive for six months. Visitors who have a full licence but not from a Convention country can only drive for one month in Cayman.
Residents (and those with a work permit) are permitted to drive on an International Driver's permit for as long as it is valid but those with a full and valid domestic licence from a Convention country can only drive in Cayman for up to six months and then they must take and pass the written theory test. If they wait longer than six months then they have to take the practical and the theory test!
For residents who have a full domestic licence from a non Convention county they can only drive for one month in Cayman and then they must take and pass both the practical and theory tests before they can get a full Cayman driving licence. Please note that you must always have a copy of your driving licence and a copy of your car insurance with you at all times when driving! It's the law. Also worth noting if you will be driving a friend or family member's car while you are in Cayman, that almost all car insurance only covers people to drive from the age of 23 to 70. The insurance company will often be very willing to add someone to the insurance for a small fee but you must remember to check or your 75 year old mother-in-law may well be driving an uninsured car!
Guide for Visitors
Driving Licence Rules for Visitors
How long you can drive in Cayman as a visitor and other rules.
Renting a Car
Guide to renting a car in the Cayman Islands: find car rental companies and learn about the rental requirements.
Taxis
Where to find a taxi in Grand Cayman and a guide to typical fares around the Island.
Airport Transportation
Find airport transportation providers at Owen Roberts International Airport in Grand Cayman to ensure your airport transfer is as stress-free as possible.
Guide for Residents
Driving Licences
A guide to getting a new driving licence or converting your existing licence in the Cayman Islands.
Rules of the Road
How to navigate roundabouts in Cayman, understand the turning lane, giving way to school buses and school zones, car seats, cell phone and more.
Car Insurance
Learn about the costs and rules on getting comprehensive insurance coverage or third party coverage for a vehicle in the Cayman Islands.
Importing a Car
Everything you need to know about importing a vehicle into the Cayman Islands: how to clear customs, how to ship your vehicle and what the import duty fees are.
Buying a Car
Guide to buying a car in the Cayman Islands: find new and used car dealerships and learn about pricing for popular cars in Cayman.
Leasing a Car
Learn about car leasing options in the Cayman Islands: find out what documents you will need and see a list of companies offering car leases.
Car Repair & Maintenance
Cayman Islands car maintenance and repair recommendations with average repair costs, roadside assistance programmes and car cleaning guidelines.
Bicycles & Scooters
Cars are not the only way to get around in the Cayman Islands – there are a growing amount of people who choose to ride scooters, electric scooters and motorcycles and an increasing amount who choose to ‘go green’ and bike it from place to place.
Strict adherence to existing e-bike and scooter regulations was mandated by the RCIPS on March 1st 2026. Previously, the laws were, generally speaking, not enforced. Click the Scooters page link below to learn more.
Ferry Services
Cayman has a very reliable ferry service that runs from Camana Bay to Kaibo and back, and from the Newlands public dock to Camana Bay and back. Tickets are purchased through their app and you can visit www.caymanferries.com.ky for more information. Alternatively visit the App Store and search for Cayman Ferries Passenger. You cannot buy tickets on the ferry.
Prices are as follows:
Commuter round trip return from or to Newlands - Camana Bay CI$24 (adult)
One way from or to Newlands and Camana Bay CI$12
Roundtrip between Camana Bay and Kaibo CI$25 (adult) or CI$15 (children)
One way from or two Camana bay and Kaibo CI$12.50
Their schedule can be viewed on their website or you can send a text or WhatsApp to +1 (345) 325 7777 and they will get right back to you. The ferry does not run on a Monday. You are welcome to carry a bicycle on the ferry.
Taxis and Rideshare Apps
There's a CI Government app that calculates the distance and taxi fares.
After years of complaints that different taxis charged different rates for the same journey, the Cayman Island's Government have created a digital taxifare calculator, CI:GO, which can be downloaded from the App store. It is free and is available on iOS and in the Google Play Store.
For other taxi companies you can call Ace (345) 949 3676, Blue Iguana Taxi (345) 916 3306 or Crown (345) 916 0111.
Rideshare Apps
Island: GO! provides app-based, affordable, reliable transport in Grand Cayman, with clear pricing, friendly local drivers, clean vehicles, 24/7 service, and safety features for residents and tourists, and modern convenience.
Benefits of Owning a Car
The most convenient, comfortable and speedy mode of transport on-Island is owning your own car. Temperature, relentless summer rains, precarious driving and the lack of sidewalks rule out the options of walking or cycling, while the local bus network is intermittent and does not cover all areas. In addition, waiting in the hot sunshine to then sit on a crowded minibus with little, or no air conditioning, is not everyone’s idea of the ideal daily commute. There are some major bonuses that Cayman car travel retains: little traffic (outside of rush-hour), free parking in 99% of locations and virtually no traffic wardens! If you are a couple or have a family, then the discussion will arise as to whether you need one car or two. In our experience, you will need two cars, unless you are prepared to be entirely beholden to the person that has the car.
