The Cayman Islands is made up of three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Grand Cayman is the main island, and is where 99% of tourists go on vacation. In this article, we will go through the top 10 things to do in the Cayman Islands.
Stingray City sandbar
This is the most popular tourist attraction in the Cayman Islands. Everyday, dozens of boats take tourists to a naturally occurring sandbar in North Sound, Grand Cayman. The boats feed wild “Southern Stingrays” squid, which is why there are so many rays there. Visitors are able to hold, touch and feed the stingrays under the guidance of professional guides.
Paddle boarding
A lot of tourists visiting Grand Cayman love to rent paddle boards on Seven Mile Beach. This is the main beach, with 90% of hotels/resorts on it. It is consistently calm on the West side of Grand Cayman, which is why this is the perfect paddle boarding location. There are many different companies that rent paddle boards, typically offering free delivery and pickup.
Sand Cay Island
This is probably the most unknown location in the Cayman Islands. This is a small island located off the south coast of Grand Cayman. Even people who live in Grand Cayman are often unaware that it exists. Make sure that you kayak there, since there can be strong currents, making swimming potentially dangerous.
Join one of the local tours on Grand Cayman:
- Horseback Beach Riding in the Grand Cayman
- Cayman Islands: Rum and Beer Tour with Lunch
- Grand Cayman Private Ride ‘n’ Swim
Bioluminescent Bay
This is the most unique night adventure in the Cayman Islands. Take a boat to a secluded Bio-Bay in Grand Cayman, and snorkel with millions of bioluminescent plankton. You will see millions of bright sparkles underwater. This is an activity that you have to do with a tour company since it is very difficult to reach the Bio Bay.
Beach Horse-Back Riding
The north-coast of West Bay in Grand Cayman is called Barker’s Beach. This is the location for horse riding tours along the beach. You also go through shallow warm waters during these tours. You don’t need any experience to enjoy this activity, since all the companies offering this tour have professional guides who explain everything. Usually these companies offer free transport, so if you are staying in a hotel or condo, they should be able to pick you up for free.
Fishing
Grand Cayman is known for some of the best fishing in the Caribbean. The best place to fish is off of Seven Mile Beach due to the fact that it is consistently calm. A lot of companies operate charters on the north side of Grand Cayman, but this causes a lot of cancellations because it is too rough to operate most of the time. Common pelagic fish to catch are tuna and wahoo, but you can also catch snappers and jacks, depending on the type of fishing that you do. Before your trip, make sure you stock up on the right tackle and gear to target those trophy fish – find out here what you’ll need.
Turtle Farm
The Turtle Farm was completely destroyed in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan. It was then rebuilt a couple years later, and is now bigger and better than ever before. The Turtle Farm raises hundreds of sea turtles, and then releases many into the wild to ensure that the wild population doesn’t decrease. Even though hunting wild turtles is illegal in the Cayman Islands, there are still some locals who do this; this makes the Turtle Farm’s role even more vital for ensuring a healthy population of wild sea turtles.
Island Tour
Most people who visit Grand Cayman stay on the west side of the island. Even though there are lots of activities on the West side, most people miss out on the East side. The East side, known as “East End”, is more rural, and has a much more local atmosphere. There are some great snorkel spots and local restaurants on the East side of Grand Cayman. It is always recommended to rent a car when travelling to East End, since public transport is unreliable.
Spa Day
People vacation to relax, but sometimes, they book so many activities, they forget to take a day to relax. The Westin hotel in Grand Cayman has an amazing spa which is located on Seven Mile Beach. You can spend the day here, and you do not need to be staying at the Westin to enjoy their spa. They offer a wide range of spa treatments and massages. The Westin is located at the heart of Seven Mile Beach, so if you vacation in Grand Cayman, then you are probably already staying within a 10 minute drive from this location.
Semi-Submarine
A semi-submarine is a submarine where the bottom half is submerged under water, but the top half is still out of the water. All of the passengers are seated in the submerged bottom half. There are windows underwater, allowing everyone to view Cayman’s amazing coral and marine life. You will see things like turtles, fish and even eels. This is a great activity for families who want to experience the underwater world, without actually having to snorkel or dive.
In conclusion, there are many things to do in Grand Cayman, but these ten activities listed above are a great start for people visiting the Cayman Islands for the first time.
