Avoid Grand Cayman Crowds And Enjoy A Serene, Secluded Escape At This Caribbean Beach

If you are looking to distance yourself from the big groups of people on Seven Mile Beach, you have to head east on Grand Cayman — way east. Keep going until you reach Barefoot Beach. If you are lucky, you might have this hidden, sandy beach all to yourself.

Grand Cayman is famous for its beaches. Seven Mile Beach, on the western side of the island, is listed among the best beaches in the world. It is not surprising, as the beach is stunning, with its long stretch of soft sand and turquoise water. But awards attract crowds, as well as lively restaurants and beach bars. So it is not paradise for everyone. But there are plenty of peaceful spots on the island, if you are willing to take a drive.

When you land at Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM), there will be plenty of taxis and shuttle buses waiting to transport visitors to George Town, the capital of the Cayman Islands, and the resorts along Seven Mile Beach. But by renting a car, you will have more flexibility to explore. If you drive about 35 miles to the northeast, you will find the Queens Highway. This remote corner of the island is dotted with beautiful houses. You will find empty beaches and quiet scuba-diving sites, as well. Barefoot Beach is one of the prettiest spots out here. It is also the place to go if you want to enjoy a gorgeous beach to yourself.

As you drive east on the Queens Highway, the sparkling turquoise water will be on your left. Though you will be tempted to stop constantly, you should continue until you see a stone wall that runs parallel to the water. There is not a parking lot here, nor are there signs. You can just pull off on the side of the road. The stone wall is overgrown and a bit uneven, but it has stairs that lead down to the water. When you round the rock wall at the end of the stairs, you will find Barefoot Beach.

Barefoot Beach is lined with seagrape plants and palm trees. It has a narrow stretch of golden sand. Washed-up seaweed and seagrass have collected in piles at the edge of the shore, where the water is calm, clear, and shallow. While a barrier reef lies less than 100 yards offshore. It is unlikely that anyone else is here.

If you bring your own snorkeling gear, you could see bar jacks, reef squid, and even sea turtles as you swim over the seagrass as soon as you get into the water. The Geneva Kathleen, a three-masted schooner that sank in 1930, is submerged to the east. You might discover huge feather plumes, yellow tube sponges, and schools of young bluehead wrasse among the schooner's rusted equipment. You can also just spread out your towel and enjoy the view from the sand. It is absolutely beautiful.

Since you are already on the northeast shore of the island, you should explore the rest of the East End after soaking up the sun and snorkeling on Barefoot Beach. If you continue driving east, the Queens Highway will pass a few remote resorts and turn into Austin Conolly Drive when it veers south. Colliers Beach, another secluded beach in Grand Cayman, is a popular local spot. The public beach is known for its fish fry and epic sunrises. Farther down the coast, you will see the monument for the Wreck of the Ten Sail. It commemorates the worst shipwreck — when 10 ships were lost in one evening in 1794 — in the history of the Cayman Islands.

Then, on the south coast, you will find the Blowholes and Lovers Wall. The Blowholes are natural rock formations that spray water high into the air during high tide. The spurting water, particularly when the sea is rough, make them look like Caribbean geysers. While Lovers Wall is another pretty stone wall along the waterside of the road. This one is marked with a red wooden sign that is in the shape of a heart, of course. It is a good excuse to pause, one more time, on the secluded side of Grand Cayman.