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The Bahamas and Grand Cayman are located 754 km from each other with the flying time between the two countries being approximately ninety minutes.
The local airlines of the two destinations being Cayman Airways and Bahamasair provide service to between the islands.
The Bahamas is the better destination for visitors seeking a variety of white and pink sand beaches with a vibrant nightlife atmosphere. Alternatively, Grand Cayman is also ideal for persons who love white sand beaches but with a more quiet and laid back nightlife environment.
Read on for further details and explanations on how these two beautiful Caribbean Islands compare. This article is written by a Caribbean national familiar with both destinations.
Bahamas Vs Grand Cayman- Which Destination Is Bigger
The Bahamas is significantly larger than Grand Cayman. It is 5,359 square miles consisting of about 700 islands, cays and islets with a population of 401,412 as stated as worldometer.
Alternatively, Grand Cayman is 75.68 square miles the population of Grand Cayman was 67,237 according to the same source at the time of publication.
Grand Cayman is the largest of the group of islands called the Cayman Islands. The name of the other islands is Little Cayman and Cayman Brac,
Bahamas Vs Grand Cayman- What Are The Official Currencies
Both destinations have different currencies as its official currency.
The official currency of the Bahamas is the Bahamian dollar since the year 1966. The currency is issued and managed by the Central Bank of The Bahamas and is divided into 100 cents.
Bank notes are available 50, 20,10,5 and $1 denominations. Coins are available in 25, 10 and 5 cent pieces. The symbol is B$.
Nevertheless, US dollars and coins are widely accepted by businesses both small and large on the island.
Casinos on the island only accept US dollars and the ATM machines at these locations dispense US dollars.
Contrastingly, the official currency of Grand Cayman is the Cayman dollar (CI$) which replaced the Jamaican dollar in 1972.
One Cayman dollar is USD$1.20 and Canadian $1.60. The Cayman dollar is managed by its central bank called Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.
The US dollar is also readily accepted in Grand Cayman.
Bahamas Vs Grand Cayman- Which Destination Receives More Visitors
The Bahamas is the more popular tourism destination when compared to Grand Cayman based on visitor arrival statistics.
As stated by tourism analytics, in 2019 the Bahamas welcomed 5,429,474 cruise ship visitors and 1,804,184 stop over visitors.
The total amount of stopover visitors were 502,739 and cruise visitors totaled 1,831,011 for the Cayman Islands for the same period.
Grand Cayman is the main hub of commercial activities among the three islands and hence it is assumed that they will receive the lion share of visitor arrivals.
Bahamas Vs Grand Cayman- Which Destination Has Better Beaches
The destination you choose in this category truly depends on the goal of your vacation.
If you want to relax and rest on white sand beaches with clear waters, then Bahamas is the perfect island to consider.
Gold Rock Beach, Cable Beach and Tropic of Cancer Beach are three of the amazing spots to visit for beautiful white and powdery sand in the Bahamas.
The Bahamas is also known for having pink sand beaches with one of the most famous one being Pink Sand Beach on Harbour Island.
This island is only 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles and is popular stop for affluent visitors.
The sand on pink sand beach has its distinct pink color due to the presence of foraminifera.
For a unique experience, Pig Beach on the island of Exuma is the perfect for those who want to swim with pigs.
Seven Mile Beach is the most popular in Grand Cayman for its long stretch of white sand and natural beauty.
Major hotel chains such as The Marriott and Westin shares its shores with Seven Mile Beach.
Recently, there have been some challenges with erosion on Seven Mile beach which has led to the reduction in the beach’s shoreline.
Cemetery Beach in Grand Cayman is also a wonderful beach to visit for white sand and clear waters. It is also a favorite beach of snorkeling enthusiasts.
Bahamas Vs Grand Cayman- Which Destination Has Better Nightlife
The Bahamas is the more vibrant of the two destinations in terms of entertainment with the largest concentrated in the Nassau and Freeport region.
Entertainment in both islands consists mainly of nightclubs, casinos, beach bars and restaurants.
The Bahamas is the larger of the two islands and hence there is a greater number of entertainment spots concentrated mainly in the Freeport and Nassau regions.
Bones Bar, Aura and the Atlantis are three spots to explore for nightlife while in the Bahamas.
For entertainment both day and night, Arawak Cay in Nassau is a must visit stop if you want to delve deeper into local traditional food and drink.
On the contrary, Grand Cayman is a more laid back and quiet destination.
Entertainment options mainly consist of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Some of the places to visit include Karoo and Tukka.
Bahamas Vs Grand Cayman- Unique Things To Do In Both Destinations
Ardastra Gardens & Wildlife Conservation Centre, Bahamas- established in the 1950’s by Jamaican Hedley Edwards, this garden is perfect for both adults and children.
The garden is home to over 135 species of animals including the Caribbean flamingos as well as a variety of flora and fauna.
Cayman Turtle Centre, Grand Cayman- located in the West Bay region, this centre is dedicated to the preservation of turtles on the island.
In 1968, the island first embarked on its efforts to domesticate green sea turtles. Turtle stew is the national dish of Grand Cayman and is a must try if you visit.
The Cayman Turtle Centre is one of the most popular attractions in Grand Cayman.
Final Thoughts
On a whole, the Bahamas is perfect for individuals who want to explore several islands, travel to Florida via ferry services and swim with pigs in Exuma Island. On the other hand, Grand Cayman is a smaller destination with beautiful white sand beaches and a quiet nightlife atmosphere.
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