Unique Experiences in the Cayman Islands
Barbie-pink houses, plush beachside condos, and glossy corporate buildings – stroll through capital George Town and you might see a hint of the Cayman Islands’ reputation as a financial hub. However, look beyond the glass, and you’ll discover that the archipelago is equally rich in natural charms. Extraordinary wildlife, dramatic cave formations, and world-class dive sites are scattered among curaçao-colored waters and snow-white sands.
You could easily spend a week lounging on the beach at any one of its three very distinct isles – Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. However, lingering on the sand too long could mean missing out on some of the unique experiences available. From kayaking in bioluminescent waters to spotting cerulean iguanas, we’ve rounded up some of the best activities for anyone seeking an alternative Caribbean escape.
1. Kayak in Bioluminescence
Picture yourself paddling through a sea of iridescent, blue-green stars glittering in the pitch-black water, and you have a glimpse into the magical phenomena that awaits at Grand Cayman’s Bioluminescent Bay. At nightfall, millions of light-emitting organisms illuminate the waters like fireflies, creating a display that’s impressively bright, thanks to minimal light pollution.
Cayman Kayaks offers nighttime paddling trips from Rum Point, where you can witness clouds of whitish green darting around like spirits beneath your boat, accompanied by the soft sounds of your paddles swishing gently through the ripples.
2. Explore the Crystal Caves
Emerging from the lush tropical rainforest is a cluster of 105 limestone caves, filled with glittering stalactites and stalagmites resembling icy formations from marble-swirled ceilings and dewy floors. Guided tours take you through three of the most impressive chambers, including the aptly named bat cave for adventure seekers, and the serene lake cave, where jade-colored waters shimmer like a perfect mirror.
3. Glimpse a Blue Iguana
Renowned for their striking color that intensifies during mating season, blue iguanas are Grand Cayman’s largest endemic species and are critically endangered. For the best chances of spotting them, head to the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, where they have been bred since 2001 as part of a recovery program. You can take tours to see them in the habitat area or, with a bit of luck, catch a glimpse of them roaming freely among the towering palms and exotic plant species.
4. Ride a Horse Along the Beach
Riding through the sea on horseback, with water splashing as you leisurely trot along the shore, is a dream come true. Spirit of the West provides guided tours wading through the crystalline turquoise waves beneath pink-orange sunsets. They also offer beach tours for those who prefer to admire the water from land, with private or group options available, including pickups directly from your hotel.
5. Go on a Submarine
The Cayman Islands boast an excellent reputation in the diving community, thanks to ancient shipwrecks, dramatic drop-offs, and vibrant coral formations. However, if you’re looking to explore its underwater treasures without getting wet, Atlantis Submarines offers underwater excursions from Seven Mile Beach or George Town. You’ll descend 100 feet in a glass-enclosed, 48-passenger boat, encountering barracudas, turtles, jellyfish, and more.
6. Dive One of the Caribbean’s Most Renowned Drop-Offs
If the submarine adventure doesn’t satiate your undersea cravings, your next destination should be Bloody Bay Wall, a steep vertical drop-off located in Little Cayman. As one of the most sought-after dive spots in the Caribbean, it offers a mesmerizing display of mustard-yellow tube sponges and deep red corals, plunging into a vast void that could give you vertigo.
The Southern Cross Club, featuring bungalows scattered across the beach, provides a fantastic base for exploring the reef, with daily dive trips taking you to the best spots such as Mixing Bowl, where you can glide alongside groupers, turtles, lobsters, and a variety of vibrantly colored fish amid an other-worldly undersea forest.
Dive here, and you’ll understand why Philippe Cousteau named it one of the three best dive sites in the world; it’s truly an unforgettable experience, much like the Cayman Islands themselves.
