Best family-friendly activities in Grand Cayman

By Hannah Barnard on 6th June, 2018

Cayman is an incredibly child-friendly place – it’s safe and secure and the beaches are mostly perfect for kids, with gently sloping sands and crystal clear waters. There is also a treasure trove of activities to keep big kids and little ones amused all vacation long. In our guide, we want to show you the best Grand Cayman activities for kids and the whole family to enjoy together. So carry on reading to find out more about what fun things there are to do in the Cayman Islands…

Best family-friendly activities in the Cayman Islands – beach days

Beach fun

Seven Mile Beach is THE place to go with kids. If you are staying in a hotel or condo you will most likely have your own select section of this wondrous, award-winning beach on which to play. But not to worry if you are staying inland or away from Seven Mile as there is still plenty of public access to this beach all along its length and there are also various public beaches all around the island, from West Bay to East End, all worth a visit.

Rum Point in North Side is a particularly idyllic spot for youngsters with its shallow waters just ripe for a splash about! There are many Rum Point activities for kids to get involved in. Let the kids dive with snorkeling in and around the waters and there are some great beach toys for hire for older kids, such as stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, and more.

Best family-friendly activities in the Cayman Islands – kids snorkelling at Turtle Centre

Camana Bay

Camana Bay is a popular spot for families for so many reasons, especially for youngsters who love nothing more than to splash about in the many water fountains dotted around this great location. Place a kid in a swimming costume, give them a few toys to play with, and squirt water at them and they will amuse themselves for hours!

Starfish Village is a unique child enrichment center in Camana Bay that offers cool respite from the heat for youngsters. Parents can leave their children in supervised play or stay with them to enjoy some one-to-one time with their children.

Good old fashioned fun

There are a number of parks dotted all around the island, in West Bay, South Sound, East End, North Side, and Bodden Town. Look for shady picnic areas, nature trails, sanded playgrounds filled with swings, slides, climbing frames, and more. There’s even an open-air amphitheatre overlooking the water at the Dart Family Park in South Sound.

For the active kid

Located just east of the capital, there’s a myriad of activities at King’s Sports Centre that will keep young people entertained, including ten-pin bowling, an indoor skating rink, and rock wall climbing.

Cayman Turtle Centre

The Cayman Turtle Centre

A bustling center for worldwide turtle research and conservation, the Cayman Turtle Centre is a must-see on your list of Cayman attractions. Did you know that Green sea turtles can grow to over 500 pounds? Enjoy a unique experience, swimming, and snorkeling alongside these majestic creatures in the Grand Cayman Turtle Lagoon.

Water park day out

At the Harbour Club at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, kids can have a fantastic time playing in their StarFish Cay waterpark. It’s fun for all ages and day passes are available. You don’t have to be a guest at the resort to enjoy this brilliant amenity and it’s especially fun for birthdays.

Grand Cayman, Swimming with dolphins

Getting up close with nature is a huge experience for kids and dolphins are among some of the friendliest and most intelligent creatures known to man. Luckily, Grand Cayman has two dolphin parks – Dolphin Discovery and Dolphin Cove, each with the dolphins’ welfare at the heart of what they do. Swimming with dolphins is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will stay with you and your family forever. Each dolphin experience is extremely well supervised and there are lots of photo opportunities to ensure you keep those special memories of your dolphin adventure forever.

Best family-friendly activities on the Cayman Islands – a day at Dolphin Discovery

Visitors can choose from four exciting activities. There’s no need to be a great swimmer or have any special skills; everyone can enjoy swimming with dolphins.

Both dolphinariums are certified by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums for exceeding the international standards of animal welfare. Interactive programs with dolphins emphasize environmental education, thereby developing the ecological education of our guests by means of interaction with marine mammals.

Blue Iguana Conservation Tour

The Blue Iguana Conservation Tour is an amazing attraction in Grand Cayman! Get up close and personal with the Blue Iguana. Your tour will consist of seeing over 100 of Cayman’s largest animals in their habitats and a chance to learn about their history. Did you know that Blue iguanas exceed over 25 pounds in weight? The whole family will love this attraction, so if you’re vacationing in Grand Cayman with kids, make sure to take a visit here!

Blue Iguana Conservation Tour

I scream for ice cream!

Grand Cayman has a plentiful supply of ice cream shops selling sweet treats for all the family, some that will be household names and some that may be unique to Cayman that you really should try! Gelato & Co is one such café that your kids will ask to come back to, time and time again, because their delicious gelatos and sorbets are so tempting. Made from fresh, natural ingredients that are often sourced on island, their frozen treats are packed with flavour. Find Gelato & Co in Camana Bay and also in the heart of George Town on Cardinall Avenue among the fantastic shops downtown. Bacio is this writer’s favourite.

Starfish Point

Starfish Point sits at Water Cay just a little further on from the excellent Kaibo resort in North Side. This is quite a magical place where people often spot an abundance of starfish nestled in shallow waters that are clear enough for great viewing and photos, but please don’t take the starfish out of the water.

Dart Family Park

The Dart Family Park in South Sound is the perfect stop for youngsters who want to let off a bit of steam outdoors under a canopy of cool trees, with swings and climbing frames, and all the usual apparatus necessary to have fun! As the park is located next to the headquarters of the National Trust, it gives visitors the chance to also explore the National Trust’s fun gift shop. Families can find out about the great work the National Trust does for the Islands.

Ride A Horse

Kids and adults will have so much fun riding horses along Cayman’s gorgeous shorelines, soaking in the incredible scenery while enjoying time with these gentle, graceful animals. There are some great stables available on island which cater to experienced and also novice riders and which are happy to take you and your family on the ride of a lifetime!

Visit The Children’s Garden

Your trip to Grand Cayman will not be complete without visiting the fantastic Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, home to incredible flora and fauna that needs to be seen to be believed. For kids, they have developed an incredible Children’s Garden with cool, larger-than-life concrete statues made by David Quasius, who constructed and donated them. Ivan the Blue Iguana, Claudette the Land Crab, Romenio the Cuban Crocodile, Whelkcome the giant Whelk, Tommie the Turtle and Aculeus the Cayman Scorpion are all on display for everyone to enjoy. A great place for kids to get outside and experience nature at its finest and learn as they play.

Special Occasions

Kid-friendly events are held throughout the year so it is always best to do a little research before you travel. CocoFest is usually held in mid-February, complete with coconut shies, bouncy castles and loads of goodies made from the humble coconut. Pirates Festival in November features heritage days in each of Grand Cayman’s five districts and there are always local crafts people available to showcase some old-time games and toys, as well as face painting and bouncy castles to play on. The pirates’ invasion of George Town and parade are really fun events for all the family.

We hope you have found the perfect kid-friendly activities in Grand Cayman. All the activities are great fun for the whole family, you’re sure to make unforgettable memories. So pack your bag and get ready to enjoy some family-friendly activities in Grand Cayman! 

For more vacation inspiration and family-friendly activities in the Cayman Islands check out this post on the best family-friendly places to eat!