Grand Cayman is a feast for the senses for first-time visitors. Swimming with stingrays? Check. Diving at shipwrecks? Check. Exploring underground caves? Check. This small island is teeming with incredible sights, activities, and beaches, perfect for whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation.
At Rum Point Club, we’re well-acquainted with the stunning beauty and thrilling atmosphere of Grand Cayman, which is why we offer a range of Activities at Rum Point Beach Club alongside our delicious food and drink at the Rum Deck.
If you’re planning on visiting the island for the first time, we’ve created this guide to five things first-timers should do in Grand Cayman to soak up everything it has to offer. Keep reading for our suggestions, or feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions!
1. Go Swimming with Rays at Stingray City
Grand Cayman is one of the only places in the world where you can swim with wild stingrays! In the North Sound of the island, stingrays congregate in large numbers at a sandbank. It’s believed they first started gathering here to eat the unused bait of fishermen, growing more accustomed to boats and people over time.
This spot is known as Stingray City, and it’s arguably the most popular attraction in Grand Cayman! Located in shallow waters, it’s the perfect place for anyone to go swimming with the rays since no snorkeling or diving experience is required.
You can only access Stingray City on a boat tour, but luckily there are plenty to choose from. We offer a 2.5-hour Grand Cayman Stingray City Trip from Rum Point for ample time spent in the water with additional snorkeling, as well as a shorter Stingray City Tour from Rum Point, Grand Cayman if you’re only able to join a quick excursion.
If you want to find out more about visiting this exceptional site and how to safely interact with the stingrays, read our guide to Stingray City.
2. Explore the Cayman Crystal Caves
The Cayman Crystal Caves are the most recent natural attraction on Grand Cayman, having only been discovered in the 1990s and opened to the public in 2016. Now, it’s unmissable! Formed over millions of years, the Cayman Crystal Caves are an underground marvel with stalactites, stalagmites, and a subterranean lake.
You can only visit the caves on a guided tour which lasts 1.5 hours and takes you through three different caves. This is an incredible opportunity to not only discover this natural phenomenon but to learn about Cayman history too. It’s said that pirates once used the caves as a hideout and buried their treasure here. Perhaps you’ll be the one to find it!
3. Discover Tropical Paradise on Seven Mile Beach
Seven Mile Beach is Grand Cayman’s most famous beach — and with good reason. As the name suggests, this beach stretches for miles, offering pure white sand and turquoise waters. When you think of tropical paradise, Seven Mile Beach meets all the criteria. That’s why it’s also frequently ranked as one of the world’s best beaches!
Spanning between West Bay and George Town, the beach is lined with resorts where you can check in for a luxurious stay or pop by the hotel restaurants for delicious seafood dishes and cocktails. Numerous smaller beaches make up Seven Mile Beach, from the tranquil Governor’s Beach to the popular snorkeling spot at Cemetery Beach.
Whether you want to soak up the sun or go diving in the clear waters, you can easily spend a whole day here. Read our blog about Things to Do in Seven Mile Beach for more ideas!
4. Dive or snorkel at the USS Kittiwake Shipwreck
Off the coast of Seven Mile Beach, you’ll find one of the most spectacular snorkeling and diving spots in the Cayman Islands, and perhaps the entire Caribbean! The USS Kittiwake, a former submarine rescue vessel, was deliberately sunk off Grand Cayman to form an artificial reef. Lying at a depth of 65 feet and with its highest point just 15 feet beneath the surface, this shipwreck is ideal for both divers and snorkelers.
The USS Kittiwake can only be accessed by boat, but our parent company Red Sail Sports offers both snorkeling and scuba diving tours to the site. Experience incredible visibility and encounter corals and marine life. When you dive, you can go swimming into the ship!
5. Encounter Rare Blue Iguanas at Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
Did you know that Grand Cayman has its own iguana found nowhere else on earth — not even the other Cayman Islands? The blue iguana, also known as the Grand Cayman blue iguana, stands out not just for its turquoise hues but its rarity. The species is endangered and was once close to extinction. However, it’s possible to spot them at Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park where a captive breeding facility has restored their numbers.
While you may come across an iguana while strolling in the park, you can also tour the blue iguana conservation facility for a close encounter with these unique animals. The park itself offers a quintessential experience of the Caribbean environment, with native birds, butterflies, and flora all thriving here.
Bonus: Visit us at Rum Point Club!
We’d be remiss to mention that after hitting up everything on this list you can visit us at Rum Point Club! Whether you want to grab a drink or enjoy some Caribbean fare at our Solis Restaurant, we’re here to make your first stay in Grand Cayman unforgettable. And if you want to continue your adventures, we also have a range of Beach Toys at Rum Point Beach Club available! If you have any questions about our offering, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
