I’m writing this article in Grand Cayman— the largest of three islands that comprise the Cayman Islands. It’s home to Seven Mile Beach, which is consistently rated one of the world’s top stretches of white sand and clear, turquoise water. Although the weather has been reliably sunny in the low 80s, I’m no longer willing to hang out on the beach— even a stellar one— all day, every day. So I spent the week exploring worthwhile things to do beyond the beach in Grand Cayman. Here’s what I found— along with a few tips for first-time visitors.
Beach lovers, don’t fret! I’ve shared tips for visiting Seven Mile Beach— and several secluded alternatives— in a separate post.
Buses and Taxis – Maybe Not
I originally planned to rely on the public bus system and an occasional taxi to get around. But the buses are actually 12-passenger vans (with the words “Public Bus” on front and rear banners) with little room for luggage and beach gear. At CI $2 (US $2.50) per ride, they’re great for the Seven Mile Beach corridor— if you’re not carrying a lot of stuff. But it’s logistically challenging and time-consuming to negotiate the various, circuitous bus routes necessary to reach other parts of the island.
Meanwhile, taxis run about US $25 per 10 minutes of travel. Most attractions beyond Seven Mile Beach are about 30-45 minutes away, so cabs are prohibitively expensive as a primary means of transport. Within hours of my arrival, I realized I needed a car.
Rent a Car
Marshall’s, a local company highly recommended by expats, rented me one the next day without a reservation at a reasonable price. They drive on the left side of the road here, and steering wheels are on the right. If you’re uncomfortable with that, you can ask for a car with the wheel on the left— I did, and it made the adjustment easier. (I had none of the driving problems I encountered in Ireland!)
Avoid the Cruise Ships
Once you have a car, plan your activities to avoid cruise ship passengers. They swarm unexpectedly from buses and ferries all over the island and can ruin your experience and photos. Locals told me the cruise ships dock mostly from Monday to Thursday and offload passengers chiefly between 09:00 and 15:00. With 2,000-5,600 passengers per ship and as many as 6 ships in port at a time, you’re wise to plan around them. You can check the cruise ship schedules and passenger counts here.
A Quiet, Friendly Vibe
I should point out that Grand Cayman is small (about 22 miles long) and very laid back. The people are the friendliest and most helpful I’ve encountered anywhere. But there’s no true club scene here, and I can’t imagine Grand Cayman as a typical spring break destination for high school or college students. Visitors— at least this week— skew heavily toward retirement age. Beaches and water sports are the main draws. In other words, my options for things to do beyond the beach in Grand Cayman were limited.
Still, I found some worthwhile points of interest off the beaten path, listed below in a circuitous route starting from Seven Mile Beach. Your smart phone’s GPS will reliably get you to each stop with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions.
Stop #1 – The Blow Holes
Along the south shore of Grand Cayman about 35 minutes from Seven Mile Beach are a couple of blow holes. The pullover is easy to spot. Once parked, descend a stairwell to the rocky shoreline. There, depending on the wind and tide, you may get a good show— the sea is rougher here. Note the rocks are very uneven and sharp, so bring suitable footwear and tread carefully if you decide to explore. But you won’t need a lot of time— it’s a quick, scenic stop with a fun photo op. I wouldn’t recommend it as a standalone destination, but since it’s on the way to other worthwhile attractions, why not have a look?
Stop #2 – Cayman Parrot Sanctuary
Just a short distance past the blow holes is the Cayman Parrot Sanctuary— my favorite thing to do beyond the beach in Grand Cayman. I spent a surprisingly fun 90 minutes here, as described in my previous blog post. It’s an affordable, interactive attraction that the entire family will enjoy. The sanctuary opened in 2020 at the start of the pandemic and is consequently still unfamiliar to many visitors.
Stop #3 – Cayman Crystal Caves
About 20 minutes further along the road you’ll find the Cayman Crystal Caves, first opened to the public in 2016. The guided tour visits three caves. The first one, at the bottom of a spiral metal staircase, relies on natural light and is just okay. But the second and third ones— entered without stairs— are larger, more interesting, and illuminated. See the gallery at the end of this article for photos and a video. Note the caves are very warm inside, and you walk through tropical forest to reach them. So bring water and take advantage of the free bug repellant offered at the start of the tour.
The standard 90-minute tours must be booked in advance and begin on the hour from 09:00 to 16:00. Admission is US $35 for kids aged 4-12 and US $45 for people aged 13+. You can also arrange transportation to the caves at extra cost. Just over a week ago, the site also introduced an early evening tour to observe bat activity at the caves. To learn more and book a tour, click here.
Stop #4 – Botanic Park
Finally, I recommend a stop at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. It was opened in 1994 by the Queen herself. The partly shaded grounds contain interesting foliage, rare birds, a lake, and flowers that will vary by season. But what interested me most were the endangered blue iguanas found here. They run wild, but the park also operates a breeding program in a fenced area that visitors can tour. Blue iguanas are found only in Grand Cayman— nowhere else in the world. They do bite, and the larger ones can easily chomp off your fingers!
Tickets are US $12.50 for children aged 3-12 and US $20 for adults. The park is open from 09:00 to 17:30, but the last admission is at 16:30. Visit the park’s website for more details.
All four stops on this recommend circuit can be accomplished in one day at a comfortable pace, with time for lunch.
Starfish Point
Why do people make a big deal about Starfish Point?! I arrived at 08:45 to beat the cruise crowd, which filled the parking lot by 09:50. Then I walked straight from the car to the edge of the water and sure enough— there were two starfish the size of dinner plates. And that was it. A passing kayaker told me there were a few more around the bend. I found 3-4 singles but certainly no galaxy of starfish, as I’d been led to believe.
But there were dozens of cassiopea jellyfish. I felt badly for the first boatload of cruise passengers to show up— several families paid a lot of money to see a couple of starfish, and the first kid was stung by a jellyfish about 10 minutes after entering the water. Don’t bother.
Final Thoughts
Grand Cayman is ideal for beach and water lovers who can tolerate the high cost of living and plan to stay directly on the beach. For those able and willing to rent a car, there’s about a day’s worth of things to do beyond the beach in Grand Cayman. And if you do rent a car, take advantage of my recommended alternatives to Seven Mile Beach.
