Crystal clear waters, friendly locals and a chill vibe can be expected when traveling to the Cayman Islands. For us, traveling from Florida, it was a quick 90-minute flight. What wasn't so quick was waiting to locate our stroller, which we found out was shipped to a different country, despite checking it at the gate and leaving it at the end of the ramp before hopping on the plane! I wonder if we can stamp that on our passport too?!
Luckily, our Airbnb were excellent hosts and found us a local company, TourinTots, that delivered us a stroller (pack n' play, and a baby bath) the next day! If you are like us and like to travel light, check these delivery services out if you are traveling to the Cayman Islands with a baby.
We picked up our rental car after being terrified by the rental rep that we may be liable for up to $6M of damages by refusing the insurance. We rolled the dice and said no thanks. It is a bit tricky to get used to driving on Grand Cayman though since they drive on the opposite side of the road and the wheel is also reversed. I don't know how many times I turned on the wipers by mistake instead of the turn signal.
While the trip didn't start off so great...missing stroller and all, the rest of the trip went swimmingly. Pun intended. Here are some of the musts for when you are traveling to the Cayman Islands.
Things to do:
Camana Bay
A lively area with tons of boutique shops and trendy restaurants. Lusch couldn't get enough of the water fountains where the other kids were playing and splashing. Plenty of restaurants and shops to explore and spend an evening.
Stingray City and Starfish Point
Spend a beautiful Cayman morning with Stingray City tours. The first stop was a quick 30-minute dip in the water to snorkel in crystal clear waters over a coral reef. The water was about 10 feet and filled with huge majestic stingrays, tons of colorful fish, and lots of coral.
The second stop included Stingray City, a sandbar about 4-5 feet deep, just warm enough for everyone to feel comfortable. Get a chance to pet and kiss a stingray, and just awe at their gentle beauty. Remember to shuffle your feet in order to not walk on one, since you are surrounded by them! Lusch was also enamored by them so definitely take your baby to this experience!
Lastly, our tour ended at Starfish Point, anchoring just a few feet offshore a beautiful beach. Enjoy wading in the clear warm water and handling large starfish. Make sure you keep them just under the water’s surface so they don't suffocate. Lusch had a great time playing with these beautiful animals.
Hell, Cayman Islands
As you make your way to the Cayman Turtle Centre, you might as well stop by Hell. Check out the mysterious, out of this world, rock formations here that have been associated with Satan himself. Take in the sights and a few pictures, visit the one post office or check out the souvenir shop.
Cayman Turtle Centre
The Cayman Turtle Centre is located right across the street from a beautiful rocky beach. There is no entrance to the beach directly from here but it's worth taking in the view and try to spot the crabs hanging cliffside. The rock formations similar to Hell can be found on this beach.
The Turtle Centre is a cool place for young kids and adults alike. Observe giant green sea turtles, wade and pet smaller yearling turtles, spot a caiman crocodile and more. There are two options; limited admission at $18 per person (kids are free under 5) or $46 per person to snorkel in the lagoon and get admitted to the water park. Bring plenty of sunscreen to protect yourself from the strong island sun.
Rum Point
An hour drive from West Bay lies Rum Point. If you carefully plan your stay you can make it with a few minutes to spare, just like us, and witness the radiant orange sun make its way down at sunset overlooking the pier. There are plenty of restaurants and beach dining available.
Recommended places to eat & drink:
Pani Restaurant @ Camana Bay
A trendy Indian restaurant with artfully crafted appetizers and decadent main dishes that will leave you wanting more. Order the aloo papdi chaat, lamb biryani, and mango lassi and you won't be disappointed. The staff was very friendly and tried to help entertain the baby!
West Bay Diner @ West Bay
Start your day at the West Bay Diner. A quaint local eatery with a warm and friendly staff serving up American favorites. To be honest, Lusch gets a warm welcome everywhere he goes!
Anchor and Den @ the Marriott
A chic restaurant inside the Marriott that indulged our bougie foodie hearts. Lusch enjoyed the sautéed prawns while we had our fill of sushi heaven and tasty cocktails. We all took down the rich mousse made from Ecuadorian dark chocolate infused with orange bitters and sprinkled with hazelnuts. Make reservations ahead of time on OpenTable.
Margaritaville @ Seven Mile Beach
Relax at the Cayman Margaritaville resort with cold drinks from the main bar, tour the property and get easy access to several pools, including a tide pool at the back of the property. If you time it right, you can see a spectacular sunset at the property.
Sunrise Grill
A screened-in restaurant at the back of the Sunshine Hotel, perfect to enjoy the weather and protect yourself from the bloodthirsty mosquitos. The world-famous tacos were recommended but we truly enjoyed the local Wahoo fish tacos. Every meal also came with small ice cream cones to top off your meal.
Pro tips for visiting the Cayman Islands:
Bug spray. It’s a must if you typically get bitten by these pesky little things.
Sunblock. Even as a Florida resident, I can tell you that the sun is stronger than you imagine.
Stay hydrated. The local stores have jugs you can buy to keep at your hotel or Airbnb.
Call ahead for reservations. Even some smaller places would ask us if we had reservations, so call ahead if you can.
Download Google offline maps. These can be helpful if you go off the beaten path or lose cell service.
Chickens and roosters galore. If you are a light sleeper, it wouldn’t hurt to bring earplugs. The darn roosters were cock-a-doodle-do-ing all night.
Have you been to the Cayman Islands? What would you recommend for first-time visitors?