the famous Seven Mile beach
Having lived in Grand Cayman for almost two years, I was fortunate to be able to enjoy the pristine beaches and other attractions in the island over a long period. People visiting the island for a short vacation can often be overwhelmed by the number of tours on offer. I thought it would be helpful to list down the places and activities I recommend for someone who, unlike me, only has a few days to spare in this little paradise.1. If kissing a stingray really does bring seven years of good luck, then a visit to Stingray City is definitely a must! This attraction is located in North Sound and is made up of patches of shallow sandbar where the water level can go as low as three feet. Here, visitors can swim with the stingrays, feed them and have pictures taken with them. Various companies offer boat trips/tours to Stingray City. Most of them also include stops at several snorkeling spots and some even have lunch included in their tour package.
Stingray City
2. As I have said before, Grand Cayman is a gastronomic paradise and no visit would be complete without trying some of the island's finest cuisines. For a list of my recommended affordable food stops, click here.George Town Yacht Club - Eggplant and Cashew Salad
3. Contrary to its name, the popular Seven Mile Beach (SMB) is just about five miles long. This award-winning coral sand beach is dotted with luxury hotels, resorts, restaurants and bars and is accessible to the public at all times. Various attractions such as the Cayman Turtle Farm and a few snorkeling coves are within close proximity of this long stretch of beach.4. Rum Point is another popular beach located in North Side and about an hour's drive away from town. At Rum Point, one can swim and snorkel in the clear and shallow waters, laze in one of the hammocks under the Casuarina trees, rent a sailboat or simply enjoy a relaxing beach massage while sipping a refreshing Cayman Colada. At certain times of the month, Rum Point is designated as the starting point for bioluminescent night tours. For more adventurous visitors, renting a jet ski (or a kayak) is also a fun activity to try here.
a wild bird in Rum Point beach
5. If you prefer a more sedate experience, you may wish to consider visiting the island's East End. There are several hotels and timeshare options where one can relax away from the hustle and bustle of Seven Mile Beach. Because the east side of Grand Cayman is more exposed to the elements, it makes an ideal base for more daring water sports activities such as kite surfing and wind surfing.6. If going diving and getting up close to the sea creatures is your thing, then this island won't let you down. It is one of the top scuba diving destinations in the world and is known for having amazing diving sites, including some interesting shipwrecks. The USS Kittiwake is a former US Navy vessel which was deliberately sunk in 2011 to create an artificial reef - this makes for an interesting dive location for scuba divers. If you wish to encounter some amazing sea life but prefer not to get wet, you can always take a trip on a real submarine.
inside the Atlantis submarine
7. Last and definitely not the least of my recommended activities is shopping in Georgetown, where an abundance of jewelry stores selling duty free items can be found. These stores are just a few minutes away from the cruise ship passengers arrival deck and cannot be missed. Various stores also sell souvenir items including shirts, caps, mugs, toys and various local products such as beer, honey, distilled rum, rum cakes and my favorite sticky toffee pudding.
Now, all you have to do is book that flight or cruise, plan your Caribbean vacation and enjoy your perfect island getaway!