Here are 15 awesome ideas for things to do in Grand Cayman. We had so much fun on this island, we can’t wait to go back. Not only does Grand Cayman have everything needed to make for an exciting and adventurous escape, but it also has enough comfort and amenities to make you want to set up roots and stick around.
So what makes the Cayman Islands so special to us? There are many Caribbean Islands to choose from that make for excellent tropical vacations, but there is something about Grand Cayman that made Dave and I say, “I could live here.” It has a laid-back vibe with all the amenities you need. So let’s explore all the amazing things to do in the Cayman Islands.
Things to Do in Grand Cayman
The Cayman Islands consist of three islands. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The majority of the top attractions and things to do are on Grand Cayman Island and that is where we made our home base. From Grand Cayman we took day trips and boat tours to see everything the Cayman Islands has to Offer.
Adventure Activities on the Cayman Islands
1. Helicopter Thrill Ride
Cayman Islands Helicopters offers one of the most rip-roaring helicopter tours we’ve ever done! Our pilot Guy cranked the tunes. As Hawaii Five-O and The Love Boat blasted we took a roller coaster ride above the beautiful waters of the Cayman Islands.
It’s amazing to see the Cayman Trench before your eyes. The waters are a light sapphire blue all around the island, but just a few miles offshore you’ll see it immediately turn to a dark black. This is the deep wall that attracts divers to the Cayman Islands and has made it the top diving spot in the Caribbean.
From above you’ll see Stingray City, the Kittiwake Wreck, and the entire island. We can’t recommend this tour enough! Visit Cayman Islands Helicopters to book your tours.
2. Explore the Crystal Caves
Located on the North Side of the island, the Crystal Caves are an underground cave system that has just opened up to visitors.
These caves have long been privately owned so they are in pristine condition. They are filled with stalactites and stalagmites, and there are also underground lakes and open ceilings.
It was a fascinating scenic tour that offers something quite different from the usual beach and sun. All tours are guided and you learn about the local flora and fauna as well as walking through the many caves.
- Visit Crystal Caves for more information.
Watch our Video: The Best Things to do in the Cayman Islands
3. Bioluminescence Tour
If you have never encountered bioluminescence, you have to do this tour! Bioluminescence are microscopic organisms that produce light when you run a paddle or your hands through the water.
We went with Cayman Kayaks and I am so glad we did. Owner Tom is passionate about conservation and runs the only tour on an electric catamaran. Gas and diesel are killing the bioluminescence but the electric boat keeps the tourist footprint to a minimum.
Leaving Rum Point, the bioluminescence tours of Grand Cayman are something you’ll never forget. Meeting at sunset, we all loaded into the boat while Tom told us about the marine life in the area.
When we arrived at the bay, he put up walls all around us blocking out any light pollution. We then opened up the floors and dipped our feet into the water where the bioluminescence went wild.
The water lit up with lights as we ran our hands through it. Tom picked it up in buckets and let us pour the luminescent water back into the sea. They also offer kayaking tours. For more on these tours, visit Cayman Kayaks
4. Seven Mile Beach
Grand Cayman is famous for its picturesque Seven Mile Beach. Many people come to the island and never leave the beach! There’s snorkelling right off the shore, water sports and plenty of fun in the sun.
We stayed at the Ritz Carlton located directly on Seven Mile beach and loved the amenities of the hotel.
You can rent stand-up paddleboards, windsurfing boards, kayaks, and beach cabanas on Seven Mile Beach. You really don’t have to leave the resort when vacationing on Grand Cayman, especially if you are staying on Seven Mile Beach. We loved our morning walks up and down the beach staring in awe at the turquoise waters.
There are few places in the world with such vivid blues and Grand Cayman is one of them. The water is crystal clear, warm and inviting.
Adventures in Food on Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is known as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean and we can understand why. There are more than 200 restaurants on Grand Cayman run by acclaimed chefs who have brought their extensive knowledge to create Caribbean-infused dishes with recipes from around the world.
5. Flavour Tour Camana Bay
A perfect introduction to the fine dining of Camana Bay is to take the Flavour Tour. $89 per person gives you a sample tour of Camana Bay’s top restaurants, complete with a drink pairing for each course.
6. West Indies Wine Company
Our tour started off at the West Indies Wine Company where we enjoyed a glass of bubbly and met our group before taking a stroll down the walking street to our next stop.
It turned out that everyone on that tour was a return guest. Many people had been coming back for more than a dozen years. It’s their home away from home and the Flavour Tour is their favorite thing to do on Grand Cayman!
7. Mizu – Thai Fish Curry
We continued on to Mizu for Thai fish curry with mahi-mahi and a local cocktail then came our main dish of marinated lamb with rice and almonds. You wouldn’t expect it on an island, but much of the food served is local farm to table and all the chefs take great care to give the highest quality.
We ended with Brooklyn cheese cake paired once again with a delicious sparkling wine. If you haven’t had enough to drink by the end of the tour, you can enjoy another glass of wine back at the West Indies, or save your ticket for another day.
We made great friends during our tour and had a fabulous introduction to some of Camana Bay’s top dining experiences.
- Check out the Flavour Tour website for bookings and availability.
8. Teppanyaki Dinner at Camana Bay
This isn’t just dinner, it’s an experience and that’s why Teppanyaki at Mizu deserves its own number on the top things to do in Grand Cayman.
Chef Johnny puts on a show as he prepares your dinner right in front of your eyes. The teppanyaki grill is set up on the water and guests sit around the table as he lights food on fire, sets up onion volcanoes, and makes music with his clanging cleavers and stainless steel spoons and spatulas.
He chops like no one else. I could describe it all, but a video does a much better job. Check it out above!
9. Dessert at Gelato and Co
Dave and I like to think of ourselves as gelato experts. After all, we’ve sampled a lot of authentic gelatos in Italy. We even went to Gelato University in Bologna. We’ve learned the difference between fake tourist gelato and the real deal.
Gelato and Co. on Grand Cayman is the real deal people. Owned and operated by an Italian, it offers handcrafted Italian ice creams and sorbets.
- Read more about Cayman Island food here – we break down the best Grand Cayman Restaurants
Things to do in the Water in the Cayman Islands
You cannot go to the Cayman Islands and not get in the water. There are so many unique things to do here that it is a must to take some tours.
10. Starfish Point
On the North side of the island is a quiet beach filled with starfish that are basking in the sun. This has long been another popular stop for tourists. Here you’ll see starfish dotting the clear shallow waters.
You can pick up the starfish, but please do not take them out of the water. If you want to get a picture with them, keep them under the water so they don’t suffocate to death. They don’t mind being handled gently, but remember, you are visiting their home so have respect for them.
11. Scuba Diving
The waters off Grand Cayman are considered the best in the Caribbean for scuba diving and snorkeling.
The Cayman Trench reaches a depth of 7,686 metres (25,217 ft). While you can’t dive that far down, it is the main reason divers come to Grand Cayman other than the crystal clear water and endless visibility of abundant marine life.
You can do shore dives and boat dives from Grand Cayman Island. Popular dives are the Kittiwake, Babylon, Devil’s Grotto and Eden Rock.
12. Snorkeling
If you don’t scuba dive, snorkelling is another great option. There are plenty of snorkelling opportunities right from the shore like Wreck of the Call, Cemetery Reef and Smith Cove.
They can all be reached directly from shore off Seven Mile Beach and George Town. If you are lucky enough to have a charter boat, you can find other snorkeling sites further out like Coral Gardens near Stingray City.
Luxury Travel on Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman was made for luxury travel. If you really want to indulge, this is the Caribbean island to do so.
13. Stingray City Luxury Tour
Speaking of water, you cannot miss visiting Stingray City when in Grand Cayman. We took a private luxury charter out to Stingray City where we interacted with stingrays that are so used to humans, they come a calling when they hear the roar of boat engines.
Stingrays have been coming to this sandbar for decades as fishermen used the shallow waters to clean their fish before heading back to the island.
There are a lot of people at Stingray City and even more when the cruise ships are in, so make sure you book a private tour with your friends to keep away from the crowds.
- Read more about our Stingray City Luxury tour here!
- Having the opportunity to enjoy Stingray City with Cayman Luxury Charters gave us the chance to interact with the stingrays individually and away from the cattle boats lined up along the sandbar.
14. The Spa at Ritz Carlton
The spa at the Ritz Carlton is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. The Spa at Ritz Carlton is the perfect place to unwind and get those kinks out from sitting in the cabana chairs for too long all day!
There’s nothing more romantic than a couple’s massage. The quiet waiting areas, complete with velvet curtains, sets the tone for a relaxing afternoon.
The deep tissue massage was just what the doctor ordered and afterward we felt like jello.
Topping off the experience, a glass of bubbly put us instantly into vacation mode and all our cares and stresses disappeared and melted away with each knead of our sore muscles.
Camana Bay
Camana Bay is what made us fall in love with the Cayman Islands. This urban centre has everything you could want. Everyone was so friendly, the locals all seemed to know each other, and it was totally chic. It felt more like downtown Yorkville in Toronto than a Caribbean waterfront.
16. Camana Bay Observation Tower
Walk to the top of the Camana Bay Observation Tower for a 360-degree view of Grand Cayman from the highest point on the island. Take the elevator up if you are short on time, but be sure to take the stairs down, as you feel like you are diving into the depths of the ocean.
The tower is decorated with a tiled mosaic creating a replica of diving the Cayman Islands.
17. Farmers and Artisan’s Market
Every Wednesday from 12 noon to 7 pm, you can shop until you drop for authentic local food and crafts. It runs through Camana Bay’s breezy walking street, lined with palm trees and plenty of shade.
Friendly locals are happy to talk with you and show off their creations. Make sure to pick up a jar of Cayman Pepper Patch jelly. You are going to love it! Be sure to check out the Farmer’s and Artisan’s Markets. For more ideas of what to do in Grand Cayman, visit the Cayman Islands Tourism website.
15. Ferry to Rum Point
There’s a service service on Grand Cayman that offers ferries from Cabana Bay to Rum Point. This takes you to the North Side of the island in 20 minutes! If you’ve ever seen the beautiful dock photos of Grand Cayman that makes you feel like you’re travelling to pure luxury, it’s from Rum Point.
It’s the perfect sunset spot and dinner at Kaibo Restaurant is where you’ll get the seafood you’ve always wanted from the Caribbean. While you are there, don’t forget to try the mudslide! It’s their signature drink and it’s a delicious frozen cocktail that will cool you off.
Other Things to do in Grand Cayman
- Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
- Cruise Ship Port of George Town
- Cayman Turtle Centre
- Cayman Turtle Farm
- West Bay Tour
Read More Grand Cayman and Caribbean Travels:
- 10 Incredible Grand Cayman Restaurants – From Casual to Fine Dining
- 33 of the Best Things to do in Jamaica
- Where to Stay in St. Lucia – North vs South
Our trip to Grand Cayman was courtesy of Camana Bay, the island’s premier shopping and dining waterfront experience.
