Best Things to Do in Grand Cayman
Are you looking for the best things to do in Grand Cayman? Read on for my top picks!
Grand Cayman is one of my favorite Caribbean destinations. It’s the largest of the Cayman Islands (which also includes Little Cayman and Cayman Brac), a self-governing British Overseas Territory.
There are many nonstop flights to Grand Cayman from North America, making it a popular Caribbean vacation destination. Grand Cayman also has a cruise port, and it’s a common stop on itineraries that also include Mexico and Jamaica. This means that many visitors to Grand Cayman just come for one day.
Grand Cayman is known for its beautiful beaches and incredible underwater life, which is why it’s one of the top scuba diving and snorkeling destinations in the Caribbean. Whether you just have a single day or you’re coming for a longer vacation, there are so many incredible things to do in Grand Cayman.
I’ve now visited the island multiple times, and I’m writing this guide to help you make the most of your time on the island. Most of the best things to do in Grand Cayman are outdoorsy — specifically, beach and water activities! But I also have some other unique recommendations for what to do.
With that being said, let’s get into the top things to do in Grand Cayman…
1. Relax on Seven Mile Beach
Seven Mile Beach is regularly named as one of the best beaches in the world. Located on the western side of Grand Cayman, this beach is where you’ll find most of the island’s beachfront hotels and resorts. It’s also where you’ll find lots of restaurants, shops, and activity providers, as well as the cruise port.
If you aren’t staying at one of the hotels or resorts along Seven Mile Beach, the good news is that there are several public beach access points you can easily get to. The most popular is Public Beach, which has ample parking, public restrooms, and beach chairs and umbrellas for rent. It can get a bit crowded, though. If you’re looking for a quieter beach, Governors Beach is another nearby option that is just as beautiful.
All along Seven Mile Beach, you’ll find soft white sand and crystal-clear waters with minimal waves. The beach is the perfect place to relax under the sun or go for a swim in the refreshing sea.
2. Go scuba diving
Grand Cayman is known for having some of the best diving in the Caribbean. It’s a paradise for scuba divers, with numerous dive shops around the island catering to your underwater explorations.
Every time I’m in Grand Cayman, I dive with Divers Down in George Town. However, there are many different options around the island. In Grand Cayman, you can dive near colorful reefs, including wall dives. You will see abundant sea life, including tropical fish, sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, and more.
3. Go snorkeling
Not scuba diving certified yet? You don’t have to go dozens of feet below the surface to appreciate the abundant sea life in Grand Cayman. Snorkelers can experience a lot of the underwater beauty too.
You can easily just snorkel at the beach, entering the water directly from the shore. But many of the best snorkeling spots are further out and only accessible by boat, so a snorkeling tour is a good idea.
This 3.5-hour snorkeling tour is a great option, both for cruise ship passengers who are just in port for the day and for visitors staying at a hotel on Seven Mile Beach. You can either meet at the cruise port or select hotel pickup. You’ll visit three great snorkeling spots, including the famous Stingray City.
4. Visit the Cayman Turtle Centre
I’m absolutely obsessed with sea turtles, and they’re my favorite creature to spot while diving! But you can also be guaranteed to see plenty of these incredible animals at the Cayman Turtle Centre.
The Cayman Turtle Centre is located on the northwestern end of the island. There are exhibits you can peruse, as well as conservation and education activities. But the real highlight here is the chance to swim and snorkel with sea turtles. Definitely book your tickets early for this, because it’s very popular!
5. Check out Stingray City
Stingray City is an area in the North Sound of Grand Cayman with several shallow sandbars where friendly stingrays hang out. You can get up close and personal with them by snorkeling in Stingray City.
The best way to do this is by booking a tour, because you’ll need boat transportation to get to Stingray City. The tour I mentioned earlier (this one!) is a great option for visiting Stingray City. In addition to snorkeling with the stingrays, this tour also takes you to the next location for more sea life encounters…
6. Swim at Starfish Point
Starfish Point is another aquatic area with an abundance of sea life. In this case, starfish! In the shallow waters, you can see dozens of these unique creatures. This is a place that you will need a boat to get to.
Once again, if you’re looking for a tour that includes snorkeling at both Stingray City, Starfish Point, and a coral reef, this tour is a great option for getting up close and personal with the marine life.
7. Go on a boat tour
Getting out on the water is a great way to spend your time in Grand Cayman. If you’re going scuba diving or snorkeling, you will probably spend some time on a boat reaching dive or snorkel sites.
I’ve already mentioned a popular snorkeling tour you can do, but another unique option is renting a private catamaran for a half-day snorkeling adventure to Stingray City and Starfish Point. This 3.5-hour private boat trip accommodates up to 11 people and includes snorkeling gear and bottled water.
Another really cool option is taking a nighttime boat tour to Bioluminescent Bay. After enjoying the sunset, you’ll experience the unique phenomenon of bioluminescence, which creates “glowing” water.
8. Try other water-based activities
Many hotels and resorts in Grand Cayman offer water sports equipment and other water-based activities. There are also plenty of beachfront companies that have water sports equipment you can rent.
Activities like sea kayaking and paddle boarding are easy to do in the calm waters of Seven Mile Beach. For more adrenaline-pumping activities, you can rent Jet Skis, go on a thrilling banana boat ride, or drive an exotic jet car on the water. (My cousin and I did this recently, and it was a wild experience!)
Many hotels and resorts include non-motorized water sports equipment (like sea kayaks and paddle boards) in the amenity fee, so you can rent them at no extra cost — so be sure to check on that!
9. Explore the Cayman Crystal Caves
The Cayman Crystal Caves are a popular tourist attraction on the northern side of the island. These stunning underground caverns are really cool to explore, but you must book a guided tour.
If you have your own car, you can drive there and buy a guided tour ticket only. However, if you don’t have a car, you can book this tour, which includes transportation from the cruise port or your hotel.
10. Visit Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
I’ll be honest, Grand Cayman’s beaches are a lot more impressive than the interior of the island. Unlike some lush and mountainous Caribbean islands, Grand Cayman is quite flat. So you won’t find a ton of impressive options for walking or hiking here. But Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is worth a visit.
This 65-acre park is filled with beautiful flora and fauna. You can see several landscaped gardens, many exotic tropical flowers, and plenty of butterflies here. Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is also home to a habitat of blue iguanas, a rare endangered species that is only found in Grand Cayman.
11. Stroll around Camana Bay
Finally, Camana Bay is a nice area to stroll around if you’ve had enough of the beach and the outdoors. Grand Cayman is an island with a lot of high-end development, and Camana Bay is a new, walkable development that features housing, apartments, shopping, dining, and entertainment.
I wouldn’t go out of your way to come here if you have limited time on the island, because it honestly feels like you could be walking around a nice shopping center in Florida rather than in the Caribbean.
But if you’re looking for a break from the island life and you want to stroll around air-conditioned shops or enjoy an excellent dining experience, it’s worth spending a few hours at Camana Bay.
Best Things to Do in Grand Cayman
This guide showed you the best things to do in Grand Cayman.
Whether you’re just visiting for one day on a cruise or you have a longer vacation in Grand Cayman, I hope that you will fall in love with this beautiful Caribbean island and enjoy your time there to the fullest.
Enjoy your trip to Grand Cayman!
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