10 Beautiful Beaches You Should Visit in the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is renowned for its multitude of gorgeous beaches – from the world-famous Seven Mile Beach to the wonderful Rum Point, where you might even spot pelicans. So if you’re looking for plenty of sand, sea, or just a place bask in the sun, here are the finest destinations for a superb day at the beach.
Rum Point
With its clear and shallow waters, Rum Point is a great beach for swimming, snorkelling and more. The Wreck Bar and Grill serves up the Cayman favourite Mudslide cocktail – a blend of vodka, Kahlúa and Baileys, although the exact recipe is a secret – as well as an extensive diner-style menu. The Rum Point Club Restaurant is a classier affair, with gourmet dishes and a huge stock of different rums from around the world.
Cayman Kai
You’ll marvel at some of the houses around this secluded but public lagoon. White sand and clear waters are a given, but add in Kaibo beach bar, restaurant and marina and you’ve got an absolute winner. Regular boat trips will take you to Kaibo beach which hosts regular three-course dining beneath a full moon with its Luna del Mar brand, as well as weddings and private parties.
Starfish Point
You’ll see some absolutely beautiful wild starfish in their element at this spot overlooking North Sound. The Point itself is quiet, small and undeveloped, and a lovely venue for a picnic. Note that the starfish are protected, so you can touch them, but you can’t take them out of the water.
Seven Mile Beach
Although it’s now only five and a half miles long, the multiple award-winning Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman is a remarkable expanse of white sand and warm, clear sea. Many major hotels are nearby, including The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, but all of the beach is public up to the high waterline, so stroll along the sand at your leisure. There are volleyball courts, beach bars, water parks and water sports on offer, including snorkelling and diving. It’s also just a few minutes’ walk from West Bay Road, the vibrant entertainment strip home to plenty of shopping destinations and hotels.
Barkers National Park Beach
One of Cayman’s treasured traditions is Easter camping, and Barkers National Park is one of the favoured venues. Camping is legal on private and public land but you will need permission. Mangroves border the secluded area which provides a peaceful and unspoiled spot ideal for unwinding and connecting with nature. If the mood takes you, it is possible to kite surf or take a horse ride. Be warned: the road is equally-undeveloped and the potholes can make for a bumpy ride.
Smith Cove
Also known as Smith Barcadere, this tiny beach a short drive from George Town is one of the top snorkel sites on Grand Cayman; the ironshore rocks that jut out into the sea are home to everything from squid to inquisitive sergeant majors that will swim up close to you. There are also picnic tables on site for an alfresco feast after your swim.
Point of Sand
Little Cayman is so small you can drive around it in 20 minutes or so – but be careful, the native rock iguanas take priority on all roads. Hire a bike and cycle round the island to enjoy this paradise island at a more leisurely pace, before alighting at Point of Sand. There’s nothing here but ice-white sand, warm waters and a roll-off toward the reef, which is home to some stunning aquatic life.
Owen Island
The Cayman Islands is a real ‘getting away from it all’ destination in istelf, but if the tiny population of Little Cayman proves too busy for you, you can escape further with a swim, stand-up paddleboard or kayak to Owen Island. It’s a privately owned island, but still undeveloped, and the sandbar keeps the waters shallow and kid-friendly. As with all Cayman beaches, make sure to protect the unspoiled nature by leaving nothing behind but your memories of a special day out.
Long Beach
Like the rocky outcrops off Smith Cove, Cayman Brac’s Long Beach is a marvel of ironshore rocks. Forget the flip-flops and pack walking boots to explore this rough patch of coastline. Depending on when you visit, expect to see nesting brown booby birds, fossilised coral, plenty of driftwood and a cave and the bottom of the bluff that creates the highest point in the Cayman Islands. For the perfect ambience, temperature and photo opportunity, visit at sunrise or sunset.
Colliers Beach
A quieter beach away from the main tourist drag in the East End of Grand Cayman, Colliers is nonetheless well set-up with toilets, cabanas and a pier. It is an ideal place to find old conch shells, and to spot crabs in the seagrass. It’s also not far from East End’s Blow Holes – a photogenic spot where blasts of water shoot out of a gaping hole on the rocky shore. It’s worth the detour on a drive along the island.