18 Must-Do Things In The Cayman Islands

A trio of isles that falls under the United Kingdom politically, the Cayman Islands are a little slice of Caribbean heaven not far northwest of Jamaica. Generally flat and made of limestone, the islands are known as much for what lies offshore as the land itself. This is an affluent destination, not only thanks to the strong tourism industry but also because the Cayman Islands serves as a robust banking hub in the Caribbean, especially popular for holders of offshore accounts. 

The Cayman Islands have phenomenal waters teeming with marine life and vibrant reefs that contribute to amazing snorkeling and diving. The beaches are just as astonishing, ranging from compact coves to grand sweeps of sand. But the sea and sand aren't the only things in the Cayman Islands worth seeking out, and this Caribbean getaway has much more to entice visitors, from historical sites to equine adventures. The list below, based on our first-hand knowledge of the islands and carefully compiled to ensure that visitors can enjoy a range of experiences, is a smart place to learn more.

While the water around the Cayman Islands is blissfully calm in many spots, allowing for some sublime swimming and snorkeling, other areas accurately convey the power of the sea. This is especially apparent at the blowholes in the eastern part of Grand Cayman, sights that are both thrilling and terrifying, with unbridled spouts and surges of water leaping into the sky. 

There are a few blowholes along here, formed when the strong sea currents roll into the shore and find space inside sea caves before squeezing out through holes in the roof of the cave. The force of the water that shoots up can be overpowering, so visitors are advised not to get too close to these blowholes. The majority of them are located along Seaview Road on the south coast of Grand Cayman, and when the winds and surges are strong, the water from a blowhole can rocket up as high as 20 feet.

One of the joys of visiting the Caribbean is just chilling by the sea, maybe under the shade of a beach umbrella or palm tree, sipping an ice-filled, soothing tipple. One of the most popular spirits in the region is rum, and it's one of the drinks made at the Cayman Spirits Company Distillery, a producer of fiery alcohol-based in Grand Cayman. On a tour of its facility, visitors can see how rum and vodka are made. 

Opened in 2013 on the outskirts of the capital, George Town, the outfit is, in fact, the only distillery in the territory. Tours are reasonably priced, costing $15, and last a little over 30 minutes. During one, visitors will saunter around the 5,000-square-foot area, see a 1,200-gallon copper still, a 30-foot tower used for vodka, and the apparatus used to distill rum. Guests will be able to sample some of the company's products during a tasting session after the tour ends.

Deep in a forest, this cave system has some pretty impressive limestone formations. Trips here aren't unsupervised wanders but are guided tours, which usually last about 90 minutes, and that venture into three caves as well as around the forest around the formations. The setting for this natural attraction is in the north-central part of Grand Cayman, an area known as North Side. Participants will be able to learn about the processes that create stalactites and stalagmites formed when water interacts with limestone. 

Many eons ago, these caves were underwater, and, at a later time, when above ground, were used by pirates to evade captors and the elements (some believe that treasure is hidden here). Guides help visitors discover the wonders of the forest, a place where parrots, strangler balsam trees, and other flora and fauna thrive, and learn about how bat guano was a key fertilizer for local farmland.

While the riding schools are aimed more at people wanting to fine-tune their skills on an ongoing basis, they allow visitors to get on horseback or even visit a pony. The Equestrian Center lets newcomers to the sport take beginner lessons, starting with children as young as five years old, where they will learn the basics of riding, with a strong focus on safety. More advanced students can progress to the disciplines of dressage and jumping. 

For casual visitors, the Pony Park will be of great appeal. It opens every Saturday morning and is where youngsters can interact with Pebbles, a small horse, Lulu (a donkey), and even a few goats, all accustomed to human contact. Entry to the park even includes a ride on a pony. At the Cayman Riding School, a full roster of lessons and learning pulls in youngsters galore, especially those training for competition.

First opened in 1992 and home to the largest tract of native forest on Grand Cayman, this reserve is a boon for nature lovers. Perhaps the central core of the reserve is the Mastic Trail, which officially debuted in 1995. Its genesis, however, dates back more than a century, when rocks from beaches and sections of mahogany trees were laid down to help islanders voyage across an area of wetland. The trail grew in importance, but once more roads were built around the island, it became abandoned. 

Work started in 1994 to revitalize it, removing new growth and trees that had fallen and blocked the route. Today, the trail winds along more than 2 miles of forest, weaving between mangroves, canyons of palm trees, old agricultural pastures, and past cedar and mastic trees. Visitors here in June will see the annual blooming of the Wild Banana Orchid on the trail (it is the territory's national flower). The reserve also promises incredible birdwatching opportunities, with the West Indian Woodpecker among the resident species.

For some visitors, the most enjoyable moments in the Cayman Islands are those spent doing very little, soaking up the tranquility or the purity of the environment. When looking for a spot that allows for quiet reflection and one that is memorable for its sheer, simple beauty, it's hard to beat this small beach. Located on the coast of Little Cayman, Point of Sand is, just as its name suggests, a slip of powdery sand that extends into the clear turquoise seas. 

This is the kind of place that beach lovers fantasize about, a curve in the shore that almost feels like it lives at the edge of the world. Beyond the obvious attractive qualities of the location, it is also an excellent place to snorkel, with a reef where fish wander, and swimmers might spot parrotfish, tangs, and stingrays. Large queen conch shells also populate the sand, washed up by the tide.

The departure area for bioluminescent kayak trips is an ideal spot for relaxation and enjoying the water. Rum Point Beach sits at the end of a peninsula jutting out from the center north of Grand Cayman and has grown in popularity thanks to its comely form, with calm, shallow waters that hypnotize with their dazzling shades of blue and sand, nearly blinding to the eye.

It's an excellent choice for families looking for a leisurely swim or an easy snorkel, and there are places to unwind, from hammocks by the waterfront to picnic tables where groups can take lunch and marvel at the view. There are also places to eat nearby, and numerous villas are a short walk away. Even for those visitors staying near George Town, the drive here isn't too taxing — less than an hour by car. For fans of water sports, outfitters offer water toys to take out on the sea.

There is also some fine snorkeling at this natural destination on Grand Cayman, where limestone outcroppings help to keep the water calm. It sits south of George Town and not too far from the cruise terminal, so it can get a little crowded if a large ship is in town. Some guides might list the location as Smith Cove, but rest assured that this is the same place, near South Sound Public Beach. 

Whatever name it goes by, the experience for visitors will be the same — inviting white sand, clear water, and bridges of limestone that extend out into the sea, backed by a thicket of shrubs and trees that add a little variety of color to the surroundings. It's an excellent choice for families, with calm water perfect for smaller kids, while the more adventurous can kick out a little further into the sea to experience sudden drops in the sea floor and the chance to plunge into the depths.

This is a very touristy site; some might say it is overly commercial, but it's still worth seeing. This is where placid stingrays congregate around waders, swimmers, snorkelers, and divers, and if you've ever seen an Instagram post of someone trying to kiss a stingray while lounging in chest-high water, there's a good chance that the shot was taken here. Stingray City can be, during popular times, like a circus, with tons of boats and scores of travelers in the water desperate to get a little stingray affection. 

But time the visit smartly — preferably when there aren't any cruise ships in port, so ideally over the weekend — and you will have a much more enjoyable adventure. The stingrays are accustomed to humans and will come close by, and since the location is some distance off the shore of Grand Cayman, by sand bars, this place can only be visited as part of a tour (we'll assume you won't have your own boat). The experience is thrilling, a little surreal, and one that will promise some unforgettable photos.