Local Guides Archives - Page 4 of 7 - Grand Cayman Villas & Condos

Sep 06 2021

5 Best Beaches on Cayman

As person in a chair enjoying one of Grand Cayman beaches. — Bring your nice shades and some sunscreen because we’re going to the beach!

Picture your dream tropical vacation. Does it include crystal clear water and soft, white sand? How about warm sunshine? Maybe your idyllic getaway involves plenty of peace. If you said yes to any of the above, you’ll love the beaches in Grand Cayman.

We run down our list of the island’s best beaches, plus nearby vacation villas with backyard beaches that will leave you speechless. Ready? Let’s go!!

Top Five Beaches in Grand Cayman

Grand Cayman beaches are perfect for those looking to get away from it all. Plus, when you visit these heavenly spots, you can experience some of the best-undisturbed swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing in the Caribbean!

⇒ Pro Tip: bring a pair of water shoes for foot protection! Don’t let jagged ironshore or a black urchin ruin your vacation when swimming in the ocean.

Seven Mile Beach / Cemetery Beach

Located along the island’s western peninsula, Seven Mile Beach is the heart of the island’s tourist economy. Cemetery Beach borders the northern residential area of Seven Mile Beach and tends to be more secluded making it perfect for couples or families looking for quiet enjoyment.

A small reef lies offshore and makes a good snorkeling spot for beginners. The water here is typically calm with small waves rolling onto the shore. Further offshore lies the Kittiwake Shipwreck, a sunken U.S. Navy ship from 2011. Guided tours of the shipwreck run daily for experienced SCUBA divers and snorkelers. It’s definitely a not-to-miss experience for dedicated divers.

View Cemetary Beach on Google Maps

Nearby Properties: Seascape Villa, Coconut Walk, The Residences at Seafire, Pomegranate Cottage

Rum Point Beach

This is an excellent option for some much-needed R&R by the sea. Far removed from the crowds at Seven Mile Beach, Rum Point Beach is more of a local’s beach spot. With two restaurants–The Rum Point Club for dinner and The Wreck Bar & Grill for casual lunchtime eats–watersport rentals, and seaside hammocks there’s something here for everyone in your group.

Best Beaches on Grand Cayman — Aerial view of Rum Point Beach.

The beach—and the entire north side of the island—is a snorkeling paradise. We suggest taking a short walk to the right of the pier and swimming out a bit in the calm waters for the best snorkeling.

View Rum Point Beach on Google Maps

Nearby Properties: Kai Kotch #17, Kai Vista, We’ll Sea, Paradis Sur Mer

Starfish Point

Traveling south from Rum Point down to the end of Water Cay Road is Starfish Point, another isolated beach home to–you guessed it–starfish! These delicate creatures hang out in the shallow water and are most visible early in the day, before noon.

When you visit, snap a few pictures and spend some time swimming and relaxing. Just don’t take the starfish out of the water, please!

View Starfish Point on Google Maps

Nearby Properties: Les Jalousies, Wee Kai, Pools of the Kai #3, Kai Conut

Smith’s Barcadere

Once a hidden gem, Smith’s Barcadere is a beautiful beach lagoon flanked by small ironshore cliffs that jut out into the ocean. It sits southwest of George Town, and is a popular spot for sunbathing, snorkeling, and sunset views.

There’s free parking, public restrooms, and picnic tables on-site. You’ll want to get there early as it has become quite the popular spot. Bring your camera for the views and pack some light snacks as there are no food vendors nearby.

View Smith’s Barcadere on Google Maps

Nearby Properties: Casa Luna #4, Villa Mora, Villa Amarone, South Bay Beach Club

Colliers Beach

This is a great beach if you want to get away from it all with someone special. Located in East End, Colliers Beach is one of the best-secluded beaches you can find here. It’s a popular spot with kiteboarders and windsurfers but otherwise very low traffic.

A dock juts out beyond the seagrass perfect for water entry. There’s some good snorkeling here with remarkable sea life off the beach. Public restrooms, free parking, and shaded picnic tables are available on-site.

View Colliers Beach on Google Maps

Nearby Properties: Lone Palm, Great Bluff Estates, Our Cayman Cottage, Castle Guesthouse

Book Your Stay with Grand Cayman Villas & Condos

Now that you know our picks for the best-hidden beaches on Grand Cayman, it’s time to book your stay! Our vacation homes have everything you need for a memorable Grand Cayman getaway. And, when you take advantage of our Silver Thatch Guest Services, you’ll get complimentary Scuba Pro snorkel gear to use during your stay.

To book your private paradise, check our availability online or call 866-358-8455 for more information.

Jul 27 2020

Grand Places to Stay on Cayman

Cayman Kai Aerial — High above the resort neighborhood of Cayman Kai.

Finding the perfect neighborhood for your Grand Cayman vacation can be tricky. You might have pinpointed certain areas where you’d like to stay based on proximity to certain attractions, or certain areas to avoid based on online reviews.

If you’re still unsure of where to stay and want to learn more about what each spot on the island offers, then this blog is for you!

We’ve been renting oceanfront vacation rentals on Grand Cayman for many years and have gained extensive local knowledge to help match you with the perfect home away from home for your island vacation. More importantly, we only represent homes that we ourselves would feel comfortable in renting as tourists. Neighborhood safety, modern amenities, home design, and decor are some of the perquisites we factor for when deciding whether a home receives our seal of approval for welcoming tourists. Read on to discover where the best places to stay on Grand Cayman are depending on your personal interests.

The first step in finding your perfect getaway is to download our exclusive free Cayman Escape Guide. Inside, we’ve compiled some of the best activities to do on-island from local restaurants to the best beach spots, outdoor adventures, and more! Grab your free copy today.

Find the Best Place to Stay on Grand Cayman

Stingrays in Grand Cayman — You can snorkel the coral reefs or head to Stingray City in Cayman!

For a Snorkeling Adventure: Rum Point

Rum Point is located on the northern center tip of Grand Cayman and is one of the island’s most stunning areas. It’s particularly ideal for travelers looking to explore the underwater world of the Caribbean Sea. If you and your family are big on snorkeling and want to indulge your underwater hobby, then we highly recommend you stay in Rum Point. The water is crystal clear, sheltered from the barrier reef and corals, and is easy for beginners. It’s also very safe as boats are not allowed to cruise within the reef. Get ready to see some stunning corals and sea life! Once you’re done snorkeling, enjoy a refreshing Mudslide cocktail by the beach at The Rum Point Club. This delicious chocolate and rum milkshake is the ideal treat after swimming all day–cheers!

Select Villas: Kai Tana, Thatch Hill, Olympus, Blue Water Villa

Browse All Rum Point Villas >>>

For a Picture-Perfect Beach Stay: Seven Mile Beach

Seven Mile Beach offers the picture-perfect views and clear water vistas you’d expect to see on any tropical vacation. There’s a reason why it was named to Forbes Top Caribbean Beaches for 2020! It’s located on the western side of the island and offers an incredible selection of five-star restaurants, beach bars, ritzy wellness spas, and shopping. It’s the place to stay if you want to enjoy a beachfront vacation with all the island entertainment that comes with it. Walk along the waterfront, be dazzled by the breathtaking vistas, and have a fun night out eating delicious food and living it up island-style.

Select Condo Resorts: The Beachcomber, The Meridian, The Coral Stone Club

Browse Seven Mile Beach Condos >>>

We'll Sea by Grand Cayman Villas — We’ll Sea’s picture-perfect beach in Cayman Kai!

For Beach Lovers: Cayman Kai

Do you just want to escape and unwind by the beach during your entire vacation? Then, Cayman Kai is perfect for that. It’s one of the best places to stay on Grand Cayman when you want to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and soak up some serious rays with your toes in the sand.

There, you’ll enjoy plenty of privacy to reconnect with loved ones, read your favorite books, play board games late into the night, and sip delicious cocktails by the water. It’s like staying on your own private resort, while still being close to Grand Cayman’s top attractions. For food, drink, and island nightlife head on over to The Kaibo, Cayman Kai’s luxe dining destination. With a beach bar and grill for dine-in or takeout, a coffee shop, and dreamy beachfront with daybeds and hammocks you’re sure to become a regular.

Select Villas: We’ll Sea, Pools of the Kai #3, Les Jalousies, Crystal Waters

View All Cayman Kai Villas >>>

For Water Sport Enthusiasts: North Side

Are you the kind of outdoor enthusiast that loves to try new things and have fun above and below the waves? If so, the North Side is the best place to stay on Grand Cayman for you.

Similar to Rum Point, it offers spectacular spots for snorkeling and scuba diving, but it’s also ideal for kayakers and kitesurfers! The beaches vary from pristine to rugged and are slightly secluded with fewer people along the shore. You can also rent kayaks and SeaView boards to explore the turquoise waters all day long. After all, the North Side is all about having fun under the sun and waves!

Select Villas: Babylon Reef, Cayman Sands, Twin Palms

View All North Side Villas >>>

Ready to Find Your Villa?

Now that you know some of the wonderful areas where you can stay on Grand Cayman, it’s time to find your vacation villa.

At Grand Cayman Villas and Condos, we offer a wide selection of some of the best homes on the island. Whether you are traveling with your significant other or with a large family, we’ve got what you are looking for. Imagine waking up to the rising sun over the ocean, walking out on to your private beach, and feeling the sand between your toes and the sunshine on your nose. Enjoy a scenic breakfast on your patio, then head out for a fun adventure. With the entire island only 22 miles wide, our properties are ideally located within minutes of the top restaurants and attractions on Grand Cayman!

So, what are you waiting for? Browse our selection today and take your pick! Or email our villa experts and we’ll guide you into the perfect vacation villa for your family and your budget.

Let’s Find Your Vacation Villa >>>

May 17 2018

Dance, Laugh & Feast at KAABOO Cayman

Rejoice, for the music festival season is upon us!

With Coachella in the rearview mirror, music fans will be flocking towards Bonnaroo in Tennessee, Lollapalooza in Chicago, or Governors Ball in NYC to enjoy summer filled nights of music and art. But one music festival in particular is making big headlines in Grand Cayman for its inaugural line up of bands and comedians which is sure to draw a big crowd to the island in 2019.

KAABOO Cayman

The inaugural KAABOO Cayman destination music festival will take place February 15 & 16, 2019, off the sandy shores of Seven Mile Beach.

The producers behind KAABOO Cayman also run the highly successful KAABOO Del Mar in San Diego attracting tens of thousands of music fans each year. With deep connections to Grand Cayman, KAABOO organizers wanted to bring a smaller version of their festival to the island with the same focus on music, comedy, art, and food.

The artist line up for KAABOO Cayman was revealed earlier this week and features an amazing cross-generational selection of bands and comedians.

From millennial favorites The Chainsmokers to throwback artists like Duran Duran, Bryan Adams, and Blondie, to hot R&B favorites Jason Derulo, Salt-N-Peppa, and Shaggy there’s something to get every music fan dancing and grooving.

Plug in your ear buds and stream the playlist we created below for a sampling of the bands playing KAABOO Cayman.

On top of the music, comedy headliners like David Spade, Wanda Sykes, and Tom Green will keep the crowds laughing under the Caribbean sun. KAABOO’s culinary line up will be released later this fall in October.

To accommodate the anticipated crowds, a completely new venue is being built between the Kimpton Seafire Resort and the Cayman Islands Yacht Club. The goal is to make it easy for all festival attendees to get around the island and access the festival grounds by foot, car, shuttle bus, or private boat.

Tickets to the event are on sale with 2-day general admission passes available at reasonable costs. VIP upgrades for premium seating, artist meet & greets, and travel packages are available too. Follow this link for ticket details and VIP packages.

Where to Stay for KAABOO?

If you’re strongly considering a trip to Cayman for KAABOO you should begin travel planning as soon as possible, specifically finding a room.

Condos and hotels on Seven Mile Beach are sure to fill up fast. Not only for the festival, but February is peak high season with tourists from all over looking to escape the winter cold.

Grand Cayman definitely has the infrastructure to support KAABOO. Combined with our large inventory of vacation properties we can help you book a Seven Mile Beach condo near the festival grounds, or a private villa in Cayman Kai with ferry service to the venue.

The oceanfront cottages and pool at Sea Orchard Retreat.

One property in particular provides the convenience of being near the festival grounds, but far enough removed from the after-party crowds for peaceful, restful nights.

Sea Orchard Retreat is a boutique resort consisting of four two-bedroom cottages at the top of West Bay.

Each cottage (dubbed Avocado, Mango, Papaya, and Pomegranate) includes a full kitchen with modern appliances, open concept living and dining area, bedroom suites with ensuite bath, plus resort amenities such as a fitness center, large pool with hot tub, and airport pickup.

The resort and cottages sit just north of Seven Mile Beach and are a short 10 minute drive to the festival grounds. Sea Orchard Retreat is definitely worth considering if you are looking to join the crowds at KAABOO. It’s also a great option if you are traveling with a small group of friends.

KAABOO Cayman will be the biggest music and cultural festival to ever hit the island. The event sponsors and festival organizers are determined to make this a world-class event.

Who knows, if it is successful enough it just may become the Caribbean Coachella.

Mar 30 2018

Spring Break on Cayman’s North Side

When you think of young people on spring break, you might think of loud, not-so-family-friendly partying. If you’re hoping for quality time during spring break, Grand Cayman can be the perfect destination: a range of activities, quieter spots for parents, and plenty of beautiful beaches.

Last week, we hosted our youngest daughter and seven of her sorority sisters in Grand Cayman. We wanted to make this special for the girls and give them a fun, memorable, safe experience before they headed into the real world. Grand Cayman doesn’t attract the kind of wild partying that occurs at other Caribbean destinations. Our stay on the North Side – away from the cruise ship crowds – was the perfect setting.

An Island Itinerary to Please Everyone

We stayed at Twin Palms, a gorgeous seven-bedroom villa that was spacious enough to comfortably accommodate all ten of us. We also rented a small sedan and a nine-person Hyundai H1 van to get us around the island for the week.

After figuring out sleeping arrangements in the spacious villa, we took the girls for a casual dinner at Tukka Restaurant in East End. Tukka offers a unique menu incorporating Chef Ron’s Australian roots. We had a wonderful table outside on the sand near the water. The gentle island breeze felt so relaxing after our long flights. Most of us ordered fresh fish, and a few tried Chef Ron’s Kangaroo Pops and his signature Tukka Brochette, which they loved!

Every morning we awoke to a gorgeous panoramic view of the Caribbean. After breakfast most days, the girls put on their suits and lounged by the pool listening to music. The blender was put to good use in the afternoons with piña coladas and strawberry daiquiris before heading to dinner.

Sunday was sushi night at Over the Edge Cafe. The cocktails were good and the sushi was great, but I highly recommend getting there early as service is slow, especially for a party our size.

Monday afternoon we packed a cooler of Coronas and limes and had a day on the water with Silver Thatch Charters.

We visited must-see Stingray City to swim with the stingrays and snorkel on the nearby reef. Afterward, we motored over to tranquil Starfish Point. The girls had fun sitting in the shallow water near the beach and taking pictures of the starfish.

Tuesday morning, we headed to the Silver Thatch Welcome Center for a private yoga session with Lindsay Correia of Grand Cayman Yoga. It was a great way to start the morning!

Morning Yoga at Silver Thatch’s Fitness Center

Later that afternoon, three of the girls who were PADI certified went on a private dive with White Sand Diving.

Wednesday was a day trip to Seven Mile Beach to experience the other more commercial side of the island. After lunch and a few rounds of mai tais and mojitos at Hemingways, I went back to my chair to read and the girls moved on to Royal Palms, another beachfront bar. Both bars can get a little rowdy late at night, but one of the benefits of staying on the quieter side of the island is that it’s easy to avoid that if you want to.

Two more wonderful meals at The Lighthouse Restaurant and Rum Point Club rounded out the week, and then it was time for the girls to head back to school for the few weeks remaining in the semester.

Peace of Mind in Paradise

We very much enjoyed spending a great week with our daughter and her friends, and I think they did too! I highly encourage you to consider Cayman’s North Side for your next spring break. There’s so much to do and plenty of good times to be had without anyone getting into trouble!

Mar 21 2018

Natural Sites on Cayman’s Quieter Side!

Grand Cayman’s North Side and East End offer peaceful villas and gorgeous private views of the Caribbean, but that’s not all! This side of the island is also home to wonderful parks and natural formations that are absolutely worth your time. When you’re ready to leave your comfortable retreat and go exploring, here are five top sites for you to see.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II BOTANICAL PARK – Frank Sound Road

Opened by Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1994, this world-class facility features a 40 acre Woodland Trail that is home to more than half of the native flora of the Cayman Islands and boasts more endemic plants than may be found in the Galapagos. Cayman’s Blue Iguanas may be seen lolling in the grass or among the island’s national tree, the Silver Thatch palm. Fruit trees are abundant in the Park’s Heritage Garden. If you’re on-island in late February, and an orchid lover, you cannot miss their annual Orchid Show. It’s a big fundraiser for the Park and an amazing display of exotic beauty. The park is open every day from 9am to 5:30pm. Guided tours are only available on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2pm Contact: 1-345-947-9462 or manager@botanic-park.ky

THE BLOWHOLES – East End

Located just 3.9 miles from Frank Sound Road in Cayman’s East End, ocean water pressure surging through underwater caverns creates a geyser spray reaching heights of over 20 feet. The effect is most pronounced during periods of brisk easterly winds. A steady stream of visitors drive from all over the island to visit the Blow Holes. They’re a “blast” to behold!

GUN BAY – East End

Memorial Dedicated by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip

Just down the street from the Blowholes is Gun Bay, a memorial to Cayman’s biggest maritime disaster, “The Wreck of the Ten Sails.” Occuring on February 8, 1794, ten ships sailed from Jamaica on their way to the U.S. and the U.K. and wrecked on the surrounding reef during a terrible storm.

Rotor from one of the ships that ran aground

Local residents braved the stormy elements and rescued all but eight of the ships’ crews and passengers. In 1994, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited the site on the 200th anniversary of the wreck and dedicated a memorial with plaque. Remnants of the wrecked ships have eroded in the salt water over time and are almost non-existent. There is however, a beautiful panoramic view of the ocean and surrounding reef from the memorial’s viewing platform.

THE MASTIC TRAIL – North Side

Cayman’s Mastic Trail is a 200 year old path that cuts through the center of the island through a native mangrove swamp and two- million-year-old woodland area. Officials of Cayman’s National Trust offer guided tours of the Trail every Tuesday through Friday morning for a cost of about $30 per person. Plan on wearing comfortable walking shoes and clothing as you will need a few hours to take it all in. The Northern entrance is located on the inland side of North Side Road just a few miles past the soccer arena and before Over The Edge restaurant. Contact: 1-345-749-1121 or smailer@nationaltrust.org.ky

CAYMAN CRYSTAL CAVES – Old Man Bay

Also located on North Side Road in Old Man Bay, are Cayman’s Crystal Caves. Newly opened in 2016, they are rated by Trip Advisor as one of the top “Things To Do In Grand Cayman.” After parking and purchasing your tickets at the office window, you will take a short bus ride to an attractive, shaded welcome center and gift shop

A tour guide will collect your party at the welcome center and begin the trek through amazing natural formations. It is interesting to note that hundreds of years ago pirates used the caves as hideouts from government officials. The caves also provided shelter from fierce island hurricanes. Legend has it there is undiscovered pirate treasure still buried in the caves. Tours last approximately 90 minutes and cost US$40 for adults and US$30 for children. Contact: 1-345-949-2283 or info@caymancrystalcaves.com