CAYMAN ISLANDS WEBSITE - http://www.caymanislands.ky/
MAP OF GRAND CAYMAN - http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/Cayman.htm - this site offers several maps of locations on Grand Cayman including Seven Mile Beach and a dive site map
MAP OF GEORGETOWN - http://www.caribbean-on-line.com/cy/gtmap.shtml (see drop down options under ‘Maps’ on left side of page for more maps)
Grand Cayman is the largest and most populated island in the Cayman Islands and its capital, George Town, is the main cruise ship port. It is a British Crown Colony and is one of the more expensive islands you will visit. It has one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean due to being the offshore banking center of the Caribbean. The Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD) costs $1.25 US for every Cayman dollar however American currency is generally accepted, as are major credit cards.
George Town is a tendering port which means that your ship will anchor offshore and ferry in passengers on smaller tender boats. Factor this element into your plans for the day as waiting in line and tendering to and from the island will eat into your ‘fun’ time on the island. There are two docks in George Town – North and South. If there is a lot of wind, this port could be cancelled as tendering is dangerous in high winds.
TRANSPORTATION
Taxis - There are always lots of taxis available near the pier areas. Cab fare from the pier to Seven Mile Beach will cost around $4/pp. Since there are several drop off points for this beach, the cost varies depending on where you get dropped off ie: Royal Palms $4, Beach Club $4, Public beach $5, Sea Grape Beach $5, Courtyard Marriott $6, Cemetery Beach $6.
City Bus – for the more adventurous, you can take advantage of the local bus system. The ‘buses’ are actually large vans and are much cheaper than cabs, if you are looking to save some money. The bus depot is located on Edward St, next to the library and across from the Hero's Square Fountain - a 5 minute walk from the pier. The average cost is around $2.50 US per person each way. Fares are usually in Cayman Island currency but drivers will accept US dollars so carry small bills and change to avoid having to get change in CI currency. Generally, fare tables are displayed in the window but you can also ask the driver the cost as you are getting into the bus. Wherever you get dropped off, just return to that same spot, on the opposite side of the road and hail a bus heading back to George Town by waving when the driver toots his horn.
Taxi license plates have red numbers on a white background. A bus has white numbers on a blue background and buses that go to the beach have a yellow circle with #1 or #2 WB on the windshield. Any bus marked WB will pass by West Bay Beach and Seven Mile Beach. Upon boarding, tell the driver where you want to get off. Buses to the beach run every 15 minutes, buses to Bodden Town every 30 minutes and to the East End or North Side run every hour.
Signs located on the front and back of buses will identify routes:
George Town to West Bay - Route 1 (yellow) and Route 2 (lime green)
George Town to Bodden Town - Route 3 (blue)
George Town to East End - Route 4 (purple)
George Town to East End and North Side - Route 5 (red)
North Side to West Bay - Route 6 (dark green)
George Town local - Route 7 (dark green with white numbers)
George Town to Hutland (in North Side) - Route 8 (orange)
SHOPPING
There are lots of duty free shops on the island. The three main spots to check out if you are interested in shopping are: Cardinal Avenue; Galleria Plaza (located on West Bay Road) and the Governor’s Square Mall.
INTERNET
You'll find options at Galleria Plaza on West Bay Road. Also, there is free internet at The English Bakery which is a yellow building with a red roof right in front of Capt. Bryan's stingray excursion‘s office… just a few blocks from the tender area. For yet another option, take a right at the North Terminal dock to find an internet location on Cardinal Avenue behind Columbian Emeralds (25 cents/minute).
ATTRACTIONS/SIGHTS
Stingray City – located in the middle of the North Sound, this is an amazing spot where the sting rays have been congregating for many years. They have been fed by tourists for many years and are very tame. Standing in about three feet of water, you get the opportunity to interact with the rays. Your tour operator may give you the chance to hold a ray or feed them squid out of your hand!! Hold the squid in your fist and the ray will suck it out of your hand. Make sure to tuck in your thumb or they will suck that in too!! There are many tour operations that offer excursions to Stingray City. See ‘Tour Operations” for options.
Blow Holes – located near the eastern end of the island, the blow holes are geysers created by the water pressure in underwater caverns which spray high into the air and create a dramatic roaring noise.
Dolphin Encounters - there are two dolphin encounter operations on Grand Cayman.
Dolphin Discovery (http://www.dolphindiscovery.com/grand-cayman/cayman-location-overview.asp)- located in West Bay, across from the turtle farm and Dolphin Cove (http://www.dolphincove.ky/ ) - located near the west end of the island on the edge of North Sound. Both give you several packages to choose from where you can swim with and play with the dolphins. The Dolphin Cove operation tends to get more positive reviews overall however, there are many concerns about dolphin encounters in general…especially where the dolphins are in captivity and may not be taken care of properly. This is just something to be aware of when selecting these excursions.
The Cayman Islands National Museum - http://www.museum.ky/Content/16.htm - operating hours are 9am – 5pm Mon – Fri and 9am – 1pm Sat. Located opposite the George Town Harbour on the corner of Shedden Road and Harbour Drive. Offers a gift shop, a theater, and a café. I cannot locate any information on entrance fees on their website but one of the discussion boards indicates entrance costs $5 for adult and $3.15 for children, but I am not sure how current this information is.
Boatswain’s Beach (formerly Cayman Turtle Farm) - http://www.boatswainsbeach.ky/ - Located in West Bay, this is a marine park and research facility with an eye on conservation of the endangered green sea turtle as well as breeding of turtles for commercial use. You can see turtles in every stage of development and can try some turtle dishes as well as snorkel with sea turtles in their lagoon. Per their website “This 23 acre park features a reef lagoon in which guests can snorkel, a predator tank, a free flight aviary, a woodland nature trail and a zero entry fresh water rock pool, complete with waterfall provide guests with hours of entertainment”. You can purchase tickets for the turtle farm portion of the park only ($30US adult/$20US child) or tickets for access to the entire park ($45US adult/$25US child).
Hell – this is a small seaside village located on the northwest side of the island. The village gets its name from the craggy black rock formations that give it an ominous and ‘hellish’ appearance. There is a gift shop and a post office where you can send a postcard home with the postmark from Hell.
Pedro St. James "Castle" – http://www.pedrostjames.ky/ - located near Bodden Town, this is the oldest stone structure in the Caymans and is now a historic site and museum. The Pedro St. James "Castle" is considered the birthplace of democracy in the Cayman Islands. It has lovely grounds which are ideal for a quiet stroll and some beautiful photo opportunities. You can also get a panoramic view from the Great Pedro Bluff. Entrance fee is $10US.
Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park – http://www.botanic-park.ky/ - this is a 60-acre park that offers some beautifully landscaped gardens, a wide variety of unique flowers and is home to the Cayman Blue Iguana. The park is located a good distance from town and is quite a drive to get to so it usually isn’t crawling with crowds. You should rent a taxi and arrange for it to either wait for you or come back at a specific time to pick you up. Entrance fee $10US.
Mastic Trail - http://www.nationaltrust.org.ky/info/mastic.html - Guided tours will take you through the 2 mile long Mastic Trail. The walk normally takes 2 ½ - 3 hrs and winds through a variety of habitats.
Wreck of the Cali – for an interesting (and free) snorkel, head north of the cruise terminal where you will find Divers Down and the Wreck of the Cali which is about a 4 minute walk. The wreck is in shallow water (20 ft) offshore and located just past a floating raft where you can catch your breath, if needed. A good tip is to look for where the excursion boats are stopped and then wait until they leave so you won’t be in the middle of a crowd.
Cheeseburger Reef – about a 5 minute walk from Divers Down near the Burger King. A good (free) snorkel.
BEACHES
All the beaches on the Cayman Islands are public beaches and free to access. Many hotels/restaurants offer use of sun loungers and their facilities but there will usually be a fee for these services (rental fee, day pass fee or you will be expected to purchase food/drinks).
Seven Mile Beach - located at the west end of the island, this is the most popular beach on the island and will be very crowded, especially if several ships are in port. The ride will take you between 10-15 minutes by bus or taxi. See info under ‘Transportation’ for cab fares, bus routes and costs. You can rent loungers at many of the hotels lining the beach and there are also water sports available at some locations. Many of the beaches below form part of Seven Mile Beach. The snorkeling is not the best along this stretch of coast as it is smooth, white sand with very little coral to attract fish.
Cemetery Beach – located at the far north end of Seven Mile Beach, Cemetery Beach is very quiet and a pretty good snorkel spot to enjoy. Any minibus with the letters WB will go right past this area. Fare $6pp. You get dropped off pretty much in the middle of a neighborhood and you walk down a sandy path beside the cemetery in order to access the beach. The beach is on the backside of the cemetery and there are generally very few people as there are no amenities available so take same food with you. There is a reef offshore with lots of coral and fish to be seen. There is a grocery store about a 10 minute walk away if you want to grab a few snacks.
Royal Palms – located near the southern end of Seven Mile Beach, this section of beach is so named as it is located in front of the Royal Palms Resort. It is a short 5 minute ride from the pier (see ‘Transportation’ for fare details) and tends to be quite crowded when cruise ships are in port. The Royal Palms has lockers, showers, bathrooms and lounge chairs ($7 rental) and umbrella rentals are provided on the beach. Some visitors have complained that there is loud music so this may not be the spot if you are looking for peace and quiet. If you are looking for a party atmosphere, then head here for some fun in the sun.
Sea Grape Beach - Sea Grape is also along Seven Mile Beach but is a quieter and sandier beach section than Royal Palms. There is a small bar/grill for drinks and snacks.
Rum Point Beach/Cayman Kai – located at the farthest point in the North Sound, this beach is quite a distance from port and probably involves the most effort and expense to get to. Rum Point is a refuge that extends along part of the coast and boasts a barrier reef area, to the right of the pier, where you can enjoy a good snorkel. The Cayman Kai resort is located farther along the same stretch of beach. It is at least a 40 minute ride from downtown depending on traffic. Taxi fare would be quite expensive so your best options would either be to rent a car or select an excursion that includes this stop. Since many tour companies feature this stop, it can get very crowded!! There are hammocks set up along the beach and the Wreck Bar is nearby if you get hungry or thirsty but food and drinks are pricey, so be prepared for some ‘sticker shock’. NOTE: if you use US $, you will receive change in CI currency. There are facilities, lockers, showers and some water sport rentals available as well. If you want to get away from the crowds, head away from the pier area and walk down the beach to the left toward the Kaibo Beach Club until you get near the houses where it is quieter.
Smith Cove Beach - small, quiet beach located south of the cruise terminal (almost 2 miles) on South Sound Road, just past the Grand Old House. Good snorkel spot. No concessions, chairs or umbrellas but does have washrooms, picnic tables and a shower to rinse off.
Governor’s Beach – part of Seven Mile Beach located near Governor’s Mall, beside the Westin, in front of the governor’s house.
TOUR OPERATORS
Since the Caymans Islands are known for their excellent diving and snorkeling options, there is an abundance of tour operators to choose from. Grand Cayman has easy access to reefs, wrecks, and walls, which can be reached directly from shore. The average water temperature in the Caymans is 82 F and the visibility is excellent. The map link at the top of this article will give you an overview of the various dive sites around Grand Cayman.
If you want to get additional details on some of the best shore dive/snorkel sites, click on the link to read about 10 great shore dives: http://www.sportdiver.com/article/Bonus-Coverage/Grand-Caymans-10-Great-Shore-Dives
Most tour operators will offer a variety of snorkel and dive excursions. Most will use power boats or cabin-type cruisers for their excursions although some use catamarans or sailboats. There is no way that I could cover all of the tour operators so I have summarized the ones that receive the most exposure and better reviews on the discussion boards.
Nativeway Water Sports - http://www.nativewaywatersports.com/ – this operation offers a wide variety of snorkel and sting ray tours. No deposit is required. We have personally been on an excursion with this outfit back in 2005 and would recommend them highly. We were on a boat with only about 14 people. When we saw the ship’s excursion boats pulling up with 50-60 people on board, we knew we had a more appealing set-up!! The company also gets excellent reviews on the discussion boards.
Eden Rock Diving Centre – http://www.edenrockdive.com/ - is about a five minute walk from the South Terminal at 124 South Church Street. Exit the terminal and turn right. Don’t stop at the first Eden Rock sign as it is actually located outside the Paradise Bar and Grill...walk past the sign to the two storey blue building. Eden Rock offers a reasonably good snorkel about 100 yards offshore. The shore snorkel is free (unless you rent gear) but they also have snorkel and dive excursions available as well. They have snorkel gear rentals (see their site for pricing), lockers ($5 rental, $5 refundable deposit) and bathrooms. You can rent loungers, if you wish, but this is not really a great beach spot. There seems to be some controversy about inflatable snorkel vests. Eden Rock insists that you wear one as they say they are legally required on Grand Cayman however, it is difficult to confirm if this is actually law or just a requirement of Eden Rock??? If you don’t have your own, you may have to rent one for $6.
Red Sail Sports - http://www.redsailcayman.com/en/about/index.html - this operation has locations at several of the major resorts on Grand Cayman. It offers a wide range of excursions including scuba diving, snorkeling, catamarans, etc. Red Sail contracts excursions for Disney and Royal Caribbean ships so won’t likely book directly with you if you are on one of those lines.
Atlantis Submarine - http://www.atlantisadventures.com/grandcayman/atlantis-submarine-tour/ - is a 50-foot long submarine that carries passengers 65 to 100 feet below the surface for a close-up look at the Cayman Wall. Tour lasts about 1-1/2 hours. Price: $84US adult, $59US child.
Captain Marvin’s – http://www.captainmarvins.com/ - Small groups. Good reviews.
Moby Dick Tours – http://www.mobydicktours.com/ - small groups. Good reviews.
Captain Bryan’s - http://captainbryans.com/ - offers a variety of excursion. It appears that Captain Bryan does most of his bookings through Island Marketing (see below for website). He gets very positive reviews from past visitors and uses a catamaran.
Island Marketing - http://grandcaymancruiseexcursions.com/ - Island Marketing is a booking agent, not a tour operator. They offer a wide variety of tours but subcontract to local operators for their tours. Island Marketing has a good reputation but keep in mind that your experience will all depend on the actual tour operator providing the excursion.
You definitely will have a hard time choosing what to do on this beautiful island!!
