Attractions in the Cayman Islands

The attractions listed here are great options for weekend adventures in Cayman and will be sure to keep all your guests entertained! Wherever you are on the Island, we list attractions from West Bay to North Side and everywhere in-between.

For details on sporting activities for adults see the Sports & Fitness section.

To review tour prices and to get more specific information on things to do as well as attraction opening hours, we recommend that you visit the Things to Do in Cayman page on the Explore Cayman website.

Stingray City & The Sandbar (North Sound)keyboard_arrow_right

If you are interested in diving, seeing the beautiful coral reefs and swimming with the rays in 20ft deep water, Stingray City is the best place to visit. This natural attraction has become very popular and has been covered by National Geographic, as well as many other international magazines.

For an up-close-and-personal encounter where you can walk in waist deep water with the stingrays, you may want to choose The Sandbar.

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Cayman Parrot Sanctuary (East End)

The Cayman Parrot Sanctuary is the official rehabilitation facility for the Cayman Parrot in the Cayman Islands. Their mission is to protect, care for and hopefully release injured parrots back into the wild.

The Sanctuary's goal is to educate locals and visitors about Cayman’s native land-based animals, as well provide interactive experiences with the resident agouti rabbits, hermit crabs, racer snakes and other feathered friends. The Sanctuary has two separate playgrounds for toddlers and adults to enjoy, a zip line, oversize slides, as well as complimentary refreshment station. For more information on pricing and opening hours, visit their page on Explore Cayman.

Cayman Turtle Centre (West Bay)

Since 1968, the Cayman Turtle Centre has released more than 36,000 captive bred and raised sea turtles back into the sea to help replenish Cayman’s wild population.

The Centre, which is dedicated to the conservation and education of the Green sea turtle, is home to turtles of all ages, from six-ounce hatchlings to 500lb adult breeding turtles.

During your visit to the Centre, you can learn about the turtles in the exhibits, the breeding and rearing process, touch and snorkel with the turtles and reef fish, swim in the freshwater pool and visit hatchlings during the nesting season. You will also be exposed to local and regional wildlife, such as flora along the nature trail, the Cayman Parrot in the aviary, and sharks in the predator exhibit.

Collier Nature Reserve & Trail (East End)

The National Trust founded the Colliers Wilderness Reserve in 2011, with the help of the European Union’s BEST grant-funding scheme. The reserve boasts 190-acres of Blue Iguana territory.

The easy walking trail allows visitors to observe the iguanas and other animals in their natural habitat, as well as many different species of Cayman’s fauna, fungi and lichens. Located a mile inland from the coastal East End road, Austin Conolly Drive.

Crystal Caves (North Side)

The Crystal Caves is situated in the lush tropical forest of beautiful North Side. Book a guided tour and get ready to embark upon an underground adventure into a fascinating world. You’ll experience some of the best nature Cayman has to offer.

Each guided tour is approximately 1.5 hours and begins with a 45-minute guided walk through the caves. There are three separate caves to explore in the area, including the open-ceiling cave, the roots cave, and finally, the lake cave. At the end of the tour, visitors will be led to the viewing deck, where they can enjoy the scenery, take photos, relax in the restaurant and check out the gift shop.

Bioluminescent Bay (North Sound)keyboard_arrow_right

There are only a handful of destinations where you can experience the phenomenon of bioluminescence, and Cayman is fortunate enough to be one of them!

Bioluminescence is the emission of light from the extremely high concentrations of bioluminescent phytoplankton that live in the water. When disturbed, they emit a burst of light lasting a fraction of a second. This light emission is used as protection to scare predators. Contact Cayman Kayaks for trips to the Bio Bay.

The Bioluminescent Bay is located on the North Side of Grand Cayman. It is a 10-15 minute kayak from Rum Point, Starfish Point and Kaibo, and approximately a 45 minute ride by boat from Seven Mile Beach.

Starfish Point (Cayman Kai)keyboard_arrow_right

Starfish Point, located in Cayman Kai, is a secluded area with shallow and clear water. It's suitable for the whole family, and perfect for a Sunday picnic.

Starfish Point is named after the many wild starfish that once populated the area. Now, only a few remain so it is vital that we protect them and their habitat.

Starfish Point is located on Water Cay Road, North Side. To get to the water, you will need to park in the open lot at the end of the road and walk the rest of the way. You’ll know that you are there when you can see the shallow water from the shore.

Starfish Point is approximately an hour drive from Seven Mile Beach and 10 minutes from Kaibo and Rum Point. There is no admission fee. For more information about Starfish Point, see this page.

Mastic Reserve & Trail (North Side)keyboard_arrow_right

The Mastic Reserve protects 843 acres of lowland semi-deciduous forest, wetlands and core habitat for many of the Island’s unique animals, birds and plants.

The area is traversed by the historic Mastic Trail, which is a wilderness path meandering through a variety of natural habitats. Some of Cayman’s rarest trees can be seen here including mahogany, ironwood and West Indian cedar, as well as wild orchids and medicinal plants. Geological features such as sink holes, jagged limestone bedrock and splits can also be seen along the trail.

Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Garden (North Side)

This 65-acre site is made up of seven themed gardens, woodland trails, a lake and wetlands, a nursery, a children's area and a visitor’s centre.

It is home to the endangered Blue Iguana Conservation facility, the rare Ghost Orchid, the Banana Orchid (Cayman’s national flower), the Cayman Parrot (Cayman’s national bird), various native and endemic butterflies and much more.

You can explore the Heritage Garden and learn how Caymanians lived in days of old; take a stroll through the Colour Garden, the Woodland Trail, the Xerophytic Garden, Orchid Boardwalk, and the developing Children's Garden, or just relax and picnic by the pond with the West Indian Whistling Ducks – a favourite place for birdwatching.

The park is also home to Grand Cayman's famed "Blue Dragons". Once numbering in the tens of thousands, by 2001 there were thought to be fewer than 25 Blue Iguanas left in the wild.

Take part in the Blue Iguana Safari, a 45-minute walking tour, where you will learn about the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme and meet some of the programme's star breeders.

Golf carts are available for the elderly and disabled to assist in getting around the park however these must be prearranged by emailing manager@botanic-park.ky. Resident rates for entry to the park are CI$10 for adults, CI$5 for children aged 3-12, children aged two and under as well as seniors aged 65+ go free. A valid ID is required for resident rates. For more information, call 1 (345) 947 9462 or visit their website.

Pedro St. James (Savannah)

The Great House at Pedro St. James, also known as ‘Pedro Castle’, is the oldest known stone structure in the Cayman Islands. It was built using slave labour in 1780 as the great house for mariner and plantation owner, William Eden.

Set over seven acres, the site encompasses a three-storey, early 18th-century home with its accompanying outbuildings, palm-lined walkways, a manicured great lawn and spectacular views of the sea. This is one of the most beautiful locations in Grand Cayman, where a 3D multi-sensory theatre and visitor’s centre helps place the site into historical perspective!

USS Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef (West Bay)keyboard_arrow_right

A former submarine rescue vessel that served in the US Navy from 1945 to 1994, the ex-USS Kittiwake now sits at a depth of 64ft in Cayman's clear waters.

The wreck attracts around 20,000 divers and snorkellers a year. Divers can discover the crew's quarters, the recompression chamber, ammunition lockers and even the heads (bathrooms) - complete with mirrors.

Snorkellers also enjoy visits to the Kittiwake, as the stack lies just 15ft from the surface, allowing them to explore the top deck of the vessel. More experienced snorkellers and free divers can dive down to the hull and look into the engine room.

The wreck attracts an abundance of marine life, including schools of tropical fish, sea turtles, eagle rays, the resident barracuda, groupers and much more!

The ship is situated in a Marine Park, which is a protected area that was set up to keep Cayman's marine life and coral healthy. Read more to get informed about the various rules and regulations to abide by when visiting the Kittiwake.

Cayman Islands National Museum (George Town)

The Cayman Islands National Museum is housed within Cayman’s oldest public building - the Old Courts building in George Town.

Permanent exhibits showcase Cayman’s art, traditions and cultural and natural history.

Many of the museum’s exhibits are interactive and include a simulated submarine showing marine species and habitats, a 3D bathymetric map of the ocean floor and Cayman’s location in the Caribbean, two life-like animatronic figures - and an audio-visual presentation on Cayman’s history, environment and people. There are regularly rotating exhibitions that often feature information on a variety of cultural, historical and local art-related topics.

Cayman Craft Market (George Town)

Located on North Church Street, next to Waterfront Centre in George Town, the Cayman Craft Market brings together visitors and local artisans who create and display unique Caymanian art, jewellery, craft souvenirs, recycled treasures made from unique materials as well as locally made sauces, jams and jellies.

Here you can find items made from leather, thatch, wood, shells, Caymanite and Black Coral, and be able to see local artisans at work making crafts from local materials.

Hell (West Bay)

Located in West Bay, this site consists of rugged blackened limestone, which is estimated to have developed over 23 million years. The jagged formations show the Island’s geographical evolution and are made up of fossils that are still embedded in the rocks.

It is named ‘Hell’ due to its resemblance to what one may picture Hell to look like. Stop by the Hell Post Office to mail a postcard with a Hell postmark to prove you have been to Hell and back! Although it is a unique experience, guests usually only spend about 10 minutes there, unless they are fascinated with geology.

Tours of the Islandkeyboard_arrow_right

Rather than hopping from attraction to attraction, these tour companies offer unique ways you can explore the Cayman Islands in greater depth. From speeding down the roads in East End on a motorcycle, to soaring above the Island in a helicopter, there is something for every individual and budget.

If you're looking for more activities and things to do in the Cayman Islands, be sure to check out Explore Cayman for the most up to date events, shopping, tours and more!

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