The 13 Best Things to Do in Grand Cayman

We closed on the sale of one of our long-time businesses in February. We spent fifteen years of running it and pouring in hours and hours of time into building it. Closing the deal to sell the business seemed to be nearly as hard. We ran into one hurdle after the next. When we finally closed the sale, we booked a flight, and two weeks later we were on a plane to Grand Cayman. We barely had a plan, which isn’t like me at all. I’m definitely a planner. But, this time I didn’t, and I’m still not sure if that was exhaustion, relief, or a bit of both.

We stayed at the Ritz-Carlton, which I’d pictured as quiet, elegant, and romantic. It turned out we’d landed in the middle of spring break, and the place was full of families, with kids running everywhere, nothing like the picture in my head. By no means did this make the hotel experience bad, it just wasn’t what I’d imagined.

After spending several days exploring Grand Cayman ourselves, we’ve put together this guide to the attractions that were actually worth our time. From snorkeling in a glowing bioluminescent bay to relaxing on Seven Mile Beach, these are the experiences we’d recommend to first-time visitors, couples, cruise passengers, and anyone planning a Cayman Islands vacation.

Our Ultimate Grand Cayman Travel Guide covers hotels, restaurants, the full day-by-day itinerary, currency and best time to visit Grand Cayman. This is a list of our favorite Grand Cayman activities from our last-minute trip!

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1. Snorkel the Bioluminescent Bay at Night

The bioluminescence tour is a must do! This activity ranked very high for me on my list of unique things I have done anywhere. We booked this tour through George’s Watersports, and would recommend using them.

This tour is available nightly, for about 2 weeks out of each month, depending on the moon phase. Bio Bay is a man-made bay constructed for a housing development about 30 years ago. The water in the bay has a high concentration of  dinoflagellate plankton, which produce light through a chemical reaction which is triggered by movement. You can find this type of microorganism throughout the world, but this specific area has unique characteristics which provide great in-water viewing of the bioluminescence.  Because this is a natural occurrence, different things such as tide, weather, etc influence how well you can see the bioluminescence effect, so if you do this tour, we hope you are lucky enough to see it as well as we did! Our tour guide also recommended that you try to book this excursion early on during your trip because if they have to cancel due to weather, they like to try to re-book you on another.

We arranged for pick-up from our hotel with this tour. They picked us up on a small bus with other people who were on the tour, and took us to the Cayman Island Yacht Club. From there, we signed waivers and went down the dock to board the boat. Once on the boat, they gave us a few instructions and fitted us with full body rash guards as well as dive shoes. This was to protect us from jellyfish. No one in our group saw, or was stung by any jellyfish, so I would not let this deter you from going on this excursion. Once everyone was suited up, we traveled for about 15 minutes by boat to the bay. The crew found a good spot and anchored the boat. Shortly thereafter, we were able to get into the water and really see the bioluminescence! The crew recommended a few movements to really see the glow. 

🤿Pro Tip: Cameras do not capture this experience well, especially underwater. I tried with a GoPro and an underwater camera, but both emitted too much light to capture any good shots of the bioluminescence.

After a long while in the water, everyone got back onto the boat. Make sure you pack your own towel and perhaps a sweatshirt, or something to keep you warm on the boat ride back! The tour did provide drinks to rehydrate on the boat ride back to the yacht club. 

As a side note, the other year, we went for a bioluminescence kayak tour in Puerto Rico, where we were able to see similar bioluminescent plankton. It was definitely interesting and something to see, no matter where you go to see it. However, being able to get into the water with a scuba mask allows you to see the sparkle on an entirely different level! 

2. Things to Do on Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman

Everyone tells you to visit Seven Mile Beach. What they don’t always tell you is how to actually spend a full day there instead of an afternoon, or which stretch of it is worth your time depending on what you want.

By law, every beach in the Cayman Islands is public up to the high-water mark, so you can legally set up a towel anywhere along it. In practice, a handful of access points make this easy:

• Public Beach, roughly in the center of the strip, is the most built-out option: a real parking lot, restrooms, picnic tables, chair and umbrella rentals. Good for a full day, but it’s also the spot that gets busiest on cruise ship days.
• Governor’s Beach, just north, has calmer, shallower water that’s especially good for swimming, though the parking lot is small and fills early.
• Cemetery Beach, at the north end near West Bay, is quieter and shadier, with some of the best shore snorkeling on the whole stretch. Water shoes help with the rocky entry point.
• Or stay at a hotel on Seven Mile Beach with immediate access from your hotel.

The water was so clear it barely looked real when we were there, and the sand was soft in that specific way that makes you not want to put your shoes back on.

If you want the quiet version of this beach rather than the postcard version, walk the stretch between Cemetery Beach and Public Beach right around sunset, once the cruise crowds have cleared out. It’s free, it takes about an hour round trip, and it’s the closest thing to having Seven Mile Beach to yourself that exists without a private dock.

3. Swim with Stingrays at Stingray City and Watch the Sunset on a Catamaran

This is the one everyone tells you not to skip, and for good reason. We booked a catamaran tour out to Stingray City sandbar, and within minutes of stepping off the boat, the rays were right there. We’re talking close, brushing past your legs, gliding up close enough to touch if you wanted to. It’s one thing to see photos of people doing this, but it’s a completely different thing to have a stingray glide so close tou you in three feet of water. Exhilarating is the right word for it, there’s a split second of pure adrenaline every time one comes close, even once you know they’re gentle.

After we’d had our fill of the sandbar, the boat pulled away and we settled in for the ride back as the sun started to drop. The sky turned that impossibly soft gold color you only really get right at sunset, and with a drink in hand and the boat gently rocking, it turned into one of the most romantic things to do in Grand Cayman, an easy, unplanned moment that ended up being one of our favorites from the whole island.

🤿 Pro Tip: If you’re doing this as a couple or on a honeymoon, ask about sunset-specific departure times when booking. Getting the ray encounter and the sunset in the same trip means you don’t have to choose between the two.

4. Tour the Cayman Crystal Caves

Cayman Crystal Caves are located on the North side of the island. From our hotel on Seven Mile Beach, it took us about 45 minutes to get to Cayman Crystal Caves. Once we got used to the round-abouts, it was an easy drive. They had onsite parking as well. Please note that you must pre-book your tour, you are not able to come and explore the caves on your own. It may also be good to note that Cayman Crystal Caves do offer some pick-up services from various hotels and resorts. Allow an hour and a half for the tour. 

We allowed extra time because we had never been to the North side of the island and did not know if we should expect traffic or any other type of delays (we didn’t). Once we arrived on-site, we were directed to a waiting area.

The waiting area had a number of picnic tables under a canopy. They also had a small bar (for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks) with snacks as well as souvenirs. They had bug spray and restrooms available as well.

When it was time for the tour to begin, they gave us a thorough introduction to that area of the island and the history of the caves. We were then introduced to our tour guide. From there, we got onto a 15-person bus and took a bumpy ride to the entrance of the caves. Our tour guide took us through 3 unique caves as well as to the “Tree House” which had a restroom, souvenirs, as well as food and drink available for purchase. 

The Cayman Crystal Caves were formed over millions of years and are unique experiences. You can observe the stalactite and stalagmite crystal as well as some other unique formations and features within these caves.

🤿Pro Tip: Unlike many of the caves you may find elsewhere in the world, these caves were NOT cooler than the outside air. Keep that in mind when you are getting ready to explore the caves!

Nearby Attractions to Crystal Caves:
✔ Rum Point (15 min)
✔ Starfish Point (20 min)
✔ Botanic Park (20 min)

5. Spend the Afternoon at Rum Point

We headed to Rum Point after our Crystal Caves tour was over to explore this area. It was less than a 15-minute drive, and a straight shot up Northside Drive which turned into Rum Point Road.  There was a large parking lot as well as a public restroom, both of which came as a relief for us. Rum Point is smaller than we had imagined, but if you consider how small Grand Cayman Island actually is, it makes sense this area would also be limited.  There are several restaurants and bars at Rum Point. There are places you can sit by the beach as well as a swimming area and a public beach. Red Sail Sports was on site with water sports rentals (jet ski, kayak, SUP, water bikes). 

This was on the bay side of the island, so you could see many boats as well as the land across the bay.  It was definitely a different viewpoint than Seven Mile Beach, but nonetheless beautiful!

Rum Point is a popular port adventure for cruise ships, so if you are not coming on an excursion, check the schedule to avoid really crowded times.

We had a few drinks at the tiny bar located on the beach. It’s standing room only here, but the bartenders were very friendly and knowledgeable! They let us know that the mudslide was invented on the Cayman Islands. We later googled it to find that: “The Mudslide cocktail is said to have originated in the 1970s at the Wreck Bar in the Rum Point Club on Grand Cayman Island, when a bartender substituted Baileys Irish Cream for heavy cream in a White Russian.”

Nearby Attractions to Rum Point:
✔ Starfish Point (5 min)
✔ Kaibo Beach (5 min)
✔ Crystal Caves (15 min)

6. See the Sea Stars at Starfish Point

One of the most unique things to do in Grand Cayman is visiting Starfish Point. You can incorporate this into one of your other tours (some of the Stingray City tours incorporate a stop here), or you can drive/boat there yourself. If you do not go with a tour, we recommend arriving early in the morning, or late in the afternoon (after 5PM) to avoid crowds.

Another good idea is to visit Starfish Point from Rum Point because it is on the other side of the island than Seven Mile Beach. To get there,  follow the signs toward Kaibo Restaurant and you will find Starfish Point just beyond there. Here you will find a very nice beach with many cushion sea stars. There is a parking lot as well as public restrooms here. Remember never to pick up the starfish as it could potentially cause harm to these unique creatures. Even if you are very careful, picking up the starfish can cause stress which can cause injury, so avoid picking them up.

>>Planning your entire vacation? Our Ultimate Grand Cayman Travel Guide covers where to stay, restaurants, transportation tips, and a complete day-by-day itinerary.

7. Snorkel or Dive the Reefs

With over 365 named dive sites, Grand Cayman is one of the world’s great diving destinations, and even without going all in on a dive trip, we found it easy to fit in some incredible snorkeling between our other plans. The island is ringed by the Cayman Wall, a barrier reef that drops off into deep water just offshore, and the difference in visibility compared to anywhere else we’d snorkeled was obvious the moment we put our faces in the water.

We spent an afternoon at Cemetery Beach, which is directly accessible from shore and turned out to be one of the best shore snorkel spots we’ve ever stumbled into, quiet, uncrowded, and full of fish right off the sand. The water was clear and the fish were so colorful!

If you’re a certified diver, the Kittiwake Shipwreck, an ex-Navy submarine rescue ship deliberately sunk in 2011, is worth building a day around; it’s excellent for both divers and snorkelers. Eden Rock and Devil’s Grotto, accessible right from George Town harbor, are also worth a stop if cavern and tunnel diving interests you.

8. Explore Camana Bay

From our resort located on Seven Mile Beach, we walked to Camana Bay. This is an area filled with shops and restaurants as well as banks, a hospital, residential areas, offices and schools.

We browsed a number of one-of-a-kind boutiques, got a Frappuccino in Starbucks after the hot walk over here, and had a cool Gelato by the waterfront. If we had planned to stay on Grand Cayman longer, we definitely would have returned to this area in the evening for dinner and a few cocktails. Before leaving we stopped at Foster’s supermarket in Camana Bay to pick up a few essentials and a cold drink before we ventured back to our hotel.

🤿Pro Tip: Fosters supermarket at Camana Bay had a food court in it. If you are looking for a less expensive option for lunch, or if you have a group who are not all wanting the same type of food, this is a good place to grab lunch!

A few other things to note about Camana Bay:

• A farmers and artisan market is held here on Wednesdays from 12 PM–7 PM. 

• You can catch a Ferry from Camana Bay to Newland Public Docks or Kaibo at Rum Point. See more information about the ferries.

9. Wander George Town & the National Museum

If you’re wondering what to do in George Town, Grand Cayman beyond the cruise port, start here. We started at the Cayman Islands National Museum, which occupies the island’s oldest building. It’s small, but the exhibits on Caymanian history and natural heritage gave us a much better sense of the island’s story than we expected walking in.

From there we wandered the harbor on foot. It’s compact enough that you don’t need a plan because you can just follow the water and duck into whatever looks interesting.

10. Visit Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park

This was the most unexpectedly peaceful stop on the whole trip. After days of beaches and boats, walking the quiet trails here felt like a completely different island. The orchid garden was in bloom when we visited, and the color against all that green was worth the detour on its own.

The real highlight, though, was spotting a Blue Iguana sunning itself just off the path, found nowhere else on Earth but Grand Cayman. The park runs a dedicated conservation program for them, since the species came close to extinction not long ago, and seeing one in person made that history feel a lot more real than reading about it would have.

Give yourself at least an hour here. It’s not a long visit, but it’s not one to rush either.

Nearby Attractions to Botanic Park:
✔ Blowholes
✔ Pedro St. James
✔ Pirate Caves

11. See the Blowholes on the East End

We hadn’t planned much time for this stop, thinking it would be a quick photo and move on, and ended up standing there far longer than expected. The ocean surges through cracks in the rocky shoreline and shoots water more than 15 feet into the air, completely unpredictable in timing, so you end up just watching and waiting for the next one like it’s a show.

It’s free, it’s easy to reach if you’re already exploring the East End, and it’s one of those rare “big” experiences on the island that costs nothing and takes no advance planning at all. We ended up here in the morning and stayed about 30 minutes, just to watch mother nature at her finest!

12. Tour Cayman Spirits Co. or the Caybrew Brewery

After a few days of beaches and boats, this was a nice change of pace. We visited Cayman Spirits Co., home to Seven Fathoms Rum, the world’s only rum matured underwater. The tour walked us through the distilling process before ending, unsurprisingly, at the tasting bar, and it was a good way to spend a low-key afternoon away from the sand. Our tour took about 50 minutes as we were with a group that asked a lot of interesting questions. My favorite tasting was the coconut rum.

If beer is more your speed, Cayman Islands Brewery (Caybrew), founded in 2007, offers a similar setup with tours, a tap room, and a gift shop. Either is an easy half-day option, especially if you want a break from the sun.

13. Explore the Bodden Town Pirate Caves

These tunnels, in one of the island’s oldest settlements, are self-guided, so you move through at your own pace. Local legend has it pirates used these caves to store plundered treasure, and walking through them with that story in your head made the whole thing feel a lot more adventurous than we expected for what’s a fairly small, affordable stop.

It won’t take up much of your day, we only took about 20 minutes in the caves, but it’s an easy add-on if you’re already out that way. There is also a small petting zoo and gift shop located by these caves.

Frequently Asked Questions About Things to do in Grand Cayman

Do I need to book tours in advance?

For anything popular, yes. The bioluminescent bay tour and Stingray City excursions in particular sell out, especially in peak season, so we’d recommend booking those within the first day or two of your trip rather than waiting. It also gives you a buffer to rebook if a tour gets weathered out.

Is Grand Cayman a good destination for a last-minute or unplanned trip?

Surprisingly, yes. We booked this trip with almost no plan in place, and the island is small and well set up enough that you can figure out most of it on the fly. The one exception is the excursions above. If your trip is last-minute, book those as soon as you can rather than waiting, since they’re the parts of the island that do sell out.

Is Grand Cayman worth visiting?

Without hesitation, yes. We went in with almost no plan and came home saying it was one of the best trips we’ve taken. Between the water, the food, and how easy the island is to get around, it delivers on the hype.

What should I not miss in Grand Cayman?

If we had to narrow it down to a few things you shouldn’t skip: swimming with the stingrays at Stingray City, the bioluminescent bay tour at night, and at least one unhurried afternoon on Seven Mile Beach. Everything else on this list is worth your time, but those three are the ones we’d protect if our schedule got tight.

Wrapping Things Up: Why We’ll Keep Coming Back

Grand Cayman offered the perfect balance of laid-back luxury and natural beauty. From vibrant coral reefs to peaceful beach walks, every day brought a new kind of calm. As we packed up to leave, we felt lighter, recharged, and incredibly grateful for the chance to unwind in such a stunning place.