Silky sand, warm sun and azure water – Grand Cayman Island beaches are among the best in the world. They are great for diving, snorkeling, swimming or strolling.
480 miles south of Miami in the Caribbean Sea, the Cayman Islands are famous for their beaches. The island’s waters offer great visibility, usually 100 to 150 feet with little or no current. It’s always warm – in winter it’s 78° to 80° and in summer it’s 82° to 86°.
Cayman Island Beach Activities
For diving or snorkeling, Grand Cayman beaches offer diversity of protected marine sites: wall dives, shallow dives and wreck dives can be embarked upon day or night. Along the shore, there is an endless expanse of reefs and coral gardens to house an abundance of sea life. There are 500 species of fish and 100 types of hard and soft corals in the coastal Caribbean waters.
Like shopping and dining? Georgetown at the south end of Seven Mile Beach is a jewelry shopping Mecca and is lined with funky restaurants where you can sample some local Caymanian cuisine, such as lip-smacking barbecued jerk ribs and chicken.
Not to be missed is the fish market right on the beach by Georgetown, where charismatic locals spin sea-yarns and sell fresh-that-day mahi mahi, snapper, and wahoo. A feast of shrimp and mahi mahi with Cayman lime butter, or honey rum snapper along with key lime or coconut pie will have you drooling.
In Search of the Best Grand Cayman Beach
What better way to spend your vacation than in search of the best Grand Cayman beach. Here are a few to test out during your search:
Seven Mile Beach – Famous for its crescent of pearly white sand blending into the almost blinding “Cayman Blue” water. The famous beach (which is actually 5.2 miles long) was recently named “the Caribbean’s Best Beach” by Caribbean Travel and Life Magazine.
Cayman Kai – Located on the north side of the island near Rum Point. A secluded beach where you could be the only ones swimming, snorkeling or sunbathing. Great for seashells.
Rum Point – Also on the island’s north side. Rum Point is a popular beach for windsurfing, parasailing, volleyball and snorkeling.
Smith's Cove - Located south of George Town. The cove is protected by limestone formations and coral reefs and is good for beginner snorkelers.
