The Cayman Islands is a British territory in the western Caribbean, northwest Jamaica, and south of Cuba. This is a trio of beautiful islands, namely, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman, and Grand Cayman, famous for their amazing beaches and turquoise water.
Grand Cayman is the largest among the three, taking a 2-hour drive to reach from one end to the other. Its attractive beaches welcome cruisers, travelers, and world-class diving spots and unique marine life. You can stay here for some days or a week as Grand Cayman has fantastic things to do.
The spectacular Grand Cayman offers exclusive adventures of water diving, marine life, and local cuisine. Though there are several attractions, this article focuses on 12 unique things to do in Grand Cayman that will make your visit memorable.
Table of Contents
1. Cayman Turtle Centre
One of the unique things to do in Grand Cayman is to visit the exciting Cayman Turtle Centre. This outdoor adventure shows you the island’s ecosystem by offering a closeup with the Turtle of this part of the land. You will find an opportunity to enjoy the company of green sea turtles and watch the shark feeding.
You are blessed to stroll the Blue Hole Nature Trail to meet the indigenous animals in their natural habitat. In addition, the Cayman Turtle Centre works to protect the turtle population in the vicinity. Most turtles you meet here are bred in conservation and released when they are good enough to survive.
2. Visit to the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (NGCI)
Visiting the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands is one of the unique things to do in Grand Cayman. The NGCI was founded to promote national identity, history, and culture through graphics. You can learn much about Caymanian culture at the NGCI through different events and workshops.
3. Bicycling in Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman offers you many sites to visit. You can rent a bicycle and start a fantastic casual tour of Seven Mile Beach or a long journey from Bodden Town to Rum Point. You will surely be mesmerized by the scenic panorama of Grand Cayman.
Since Grand Cayman is not stretched over a large area, you can visit the maximum sites on a rental bicycle. Some bike rental companies on the island offer pick-and-drop services. These companies can suggest the best way to plan your bike trip.
4. The Bioluminescent Bay
Book a kayak after dark for a memorable experience and voyage through the Bioluminescent Bay of Grand Cayman Island. This astounding natural feat will make you astonished while drifting and witnessing the glowing sea around you. The tiny organisms in the water below release the bioluminescent light. You see dancing dazzling lights on the surface while paddling through the water.
5. Underwater Mermaid statue
You can dive 55 feet deep into the offshore coral reef at Sunset House Hotel to witness a 9-foot-tall bronze statue of a mermaid known as the Siren of Sunset Reef. This piece of art was created by Canadian sculptor Simon Morris, a 14-year-old girl named the statue the Siren of Sunset Reef. Many diving operators in Grand Cayman offer tourists diving packages to different sites where you can dive with rental waterproof cameras to capture the underwater world and the Siren of Sunset Reef.
6. Stingray City
Stingray City is one of the iconic places in the Cayman Islands. This place has become a home for Atlantic Stingray by hosting and feeding them. During this most popular excursion, you can mingle and close up with these creatures under the supervision of an expert instructor. Standing in the clear shallow waters on a sandbar with stingrays, you feel like a natural pool. You need not be afraid of these creatures because they are so friendly to humans.
7. Kittiwake Shipwreck: The Artificial Reef
This artificial reef of Kittiwake Shipwreck is a 251-foot-long former U.S. submarine located off the coast of Seven Beach and near Cemetery Beach. The ship was sunk and converted deliberately as an artificial reef. This adventurous place is heaven for divers, with various marine life swimming around.
When the scuba divers reach approximately 60 feet in depth, they enjoy the company of barracudas, eels, and turtles in this reef. If you want unique things to do in Grand Cayman, this site must be on your list. A majority of adventurers visit this site. You are advised to book your tour reservations in advance.
8. Seven Mile Beach
This is the main beach on Grand Cayman and the longest and most beautiful beach in the Caribbean. The majority of tourists visit this beach. The beach is a 6-mile-long stretch of sand covering the island’s western coast. The visitors reach there on priority to enjoy its beautiful turquoise water. On this beach, you can find many resorts.
There are two other sections of this beach. The first is known as Cemetery Beach, situated opposite a cemetery. The shaded areas of this peaceful section of beach attract the tourists to sit and enjoy. The governor’s beach is the second place, adjacent to the governor’s house, with sufficient room to enjoy the landscape.
9. The Pedro St. James Castle
This national historic site is a restored home of the 18th century, once owned by a wealthy businessman. This building is known as the “Birthplace of Democracy” on this island. You can reach it after a short drive from George Town. The restored construction and green gardens make the building a rich heritage of the island. This historical place adds flavor to your trip to the Cayman Islands.
10. Scuba Diving
There are 240 scuba diving sites in Grand Cayman where you can meet and explore abundant marine life underwater. However, the following four sites are popular among the divers:
Devil’s Grotto is a shore dive and explored by many scuba divers. The divers can witness large tunnels and caverns caused by the reefs.
Eden Rock diving site is also similar to Devil’s Grotto.
Kittiwake Wreck is an artificial reef where a former 251-foot-long U.S. submarine was sunk deliberately just off the coast of Seven Mile Beach. This is also a heaven for scuba divers.
The wall diving sites allow you to do a wall dive off every side of the island. You can find different drop levels here, so almost all scuba divers can experience the wall diving sites. That drops start at different levels.
11. The Mastic Reserve Trail
Grand Cayman has only one main hiking trail in the middle of the island. The Mastic Reserve Trail is 2.3 miles long one way. Hiking on this trail, you can walk through the old-growth forests. You should book a guide from the National Trust to learn more about this area.
12. Bird Watching
Bird Watching is one of the unique things to do in Grand Cayman. The bird watchers will surely visit Grand Cayman to see numerous exotic birds that will delight you. You can see one of the magnificent birds here, a multi-colored Cayman Brac Parrot. You are suggested to visit the National Trust Parrot Reserve to meet various birds. If you are hiking through the Mastic Reserve, you will find an extensive assortment of unique birds.
Conclusion
The Grand Cayman island is famous for its beaches and clean waters. This fantastic island is renowned for its incredible marine life, scuba diving sites, artificial reef, stingray city, mermaid statue, bioluminescent bay, and many more, including the local cuisine.
Besides visiting the National Museum and Turtle Centre, you can discover the historical heritage and many other spectacular sites of Grand Cayman Island by riding a bicycle or a horse. The mesmerizing birdwatching also invites you to witness the exotic variety of the island’s birds. However, considering the weather, the ideal time to visit the island is from December to April, so design your visit accordingly.
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