Grand Cayman is one of those destinations that feels like a permanent vacation mode, from clear turquoise waters and pristine beaches, to world-famous snorkeling and leisurely island charm.
Some of the most notable parts of the island are its fantastic weather year-round and unique wildlife experiences like Stingray City – both of which I highly recommend you check out.
It can be tough figuring out which activities to partake in on an island that’s filled with so many cool things to do. That’s why I’ve gone ahead and reviewed the 5 top Grand Cayman island excursions, which are well worth your time and money. Let’s dive right in!
Best Grand Cayman Island Excursions
| Starfish Point, Stingray City & Coral Garden (3-STOP Adventure) | Private Half Day Stingray City, Snorkeling and Starfish Beach Tour | Cayman Crystal Caves Tour in Grand Cayman | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration: | 3.5 hours | 3.5 hours | 3.5 hours |
| Departure: | Hotel/Cruise port pickup and drop-off included | Bayshore Mall, 85 Paradise Lane, Goring Av, George Town | Hotel/Cruise port pickup and drop-off included |
| Start: | 9:00 AM, 12:0 PM | 8:30 AM | 9:00 AM 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM |
| Includes: | Air-conditioned vehicle, Local Driver Guide and Free Blue Bans To Pass, Bottled water and sodas, Snorkel gear & life vests, Squid for stingray feeding | Use of snorkeling Bottled water, Driver/guide, Local guide, Snorkel equipment, Food for Stingrays, Life Jackets, light refreshments, snacks, professional guide | Live commentary on board, professional guide, round-trip transport, guaranteed to skip long lines, walking tour, air-conditioned vehicle |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Grand Cayman Island Shore Excursions For 2025
- Starfish Point, Stingray City & Coral Garden (3-STOP Adventure)
- Private Half Day Stingray City, Snorkeling and Starfish Beach Tour
- Cayman Crystal Caves Tour in Grand Cayman
- Stingray City Sandbar, Coral Gardens Snorkeling & Star Fish Point
- 3HR Full Island Life Jetski Tour
Grand Cayman Island Excursion Reviews
1. Starfish Point, Stingray City & Coral Garden (3-STOP Adventure)
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Departure: Hotel Pickup and Drop-off, Cruise ship port pickup and drop-off
- Departure Time: 9:00 AM, 12:0 PM
- Includes: Air-conditioned vehicle, Local Driver Guide and Free Blue Bans To Pass, Bottled water and sodas, Snorkel gear & life vests, Squid for stingray feeding
Starting things off on the right foot, we have the Starfish Point, Stingray City & Coral Garden (3-STOP Adventure). Rolling 3 bucket-list activities into one, neatly organized adventure, it’s one of the most popular Grand Cayman island excursions.
With each stop offering a unique experience from the others, they really pack in a ton in just a few hours! Starting off with a convenient hotel pickup (or cruise ship port, if that applies), you are already saving a significant amount of time and money by not having to figure out your own transportation.
There were a few different start times available, further making things easier for us to plan around the rest of our schedule. The moment we were picked up, our guide was a load of fun, answering all our questions and sharing some general safety and cultural tips.
Our first stop of the adventure was Starfish Point, which was a great intro to the island – shallow, warm, clear water, perfect if you’re a bit intimidated by deeper alternatives. You can see the beautiful starfish hanging around on the sandy bottom perfectly, which is easy for you and even better for the celestial-shaped critters who don’t enjoy being bothered.
After this, is the legendary Stingray City, which Grand Cayman is famous for! Take time to observe the otherworldly, gentle creatures in their natural habitat, with your guide there to keep you safe while sharing interesting facts about them.
Follow it up with a stop at Coral Garden, which is a dream for beginner snorkelers! The visibility here is top-notch, and makes it possible to see schools of fish, colorful coral, and other sea life, without much of effort!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Private Half Day Stingray City, Snorkeling and Starfish Beach Tour
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Departure: Bayshore Mall, 85 Paradise Lane, Goring Av, George Town
- Departure Time: 8:30 AM
- Includes: Bottled water, Driver/guide, Local guide, Snorkel equipment, Food for Stingrays, Life Jackets
If you’ve never been on a group tour before, is it because you don’t enjoy the idea of going around with a bunch of strangers you just met? No need to worry about any of that with the Private Half Day Stingray City, Snorkeling and Starfish Beach Tour experience!
This is a completely private experience, where you and the rest of your group (up to 11 participants) get to board your own boat with a captain and crew, heading to the legendary Stingray City and Starfish Beach!
This is one of the best Grand Cayman island excursions for those who’re looking for an intimate, flexible experience with expert guides to lead the way and make sure everything is taken care of for you.
Start off at Bayshore Mall, where you’ll meet your guide and hop into comfortable, air-conditioned transportation to your first stop of the day: Stingray City. As you cruise along, your guide is there to share all kinds of interesting information about the animals and natural landscapes.
If you haven’t been here already, you’re in for a real treat – the ability to experience this iconic sandbar without the crowds is an opportunity many don’t get to have. The stingrays swam right up to us, which was a magical time in itself!
Our guide stayed with us the entire time, making sure we were safe, teaching us how to properly interact with them to keep them calm and comfortable. Next was a vibrant little snorkel spot full of gorgeous coral reefs and marine life everywhere, observing it all as our guide pointed out different species and other cool things we may have missed.
We can’t forget a visit to Starfish Beach, with super shallow, clear water that lets you see hundreds of the wonderful animals hanging out on the sandy sea bottom. The secluded beach is serene, and you have plenty of opportunities to take photos along the way.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Cayman Crystal Caves Tour in Grand Cayman
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Departure: Hotel pick-up and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 9:00 AM 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM
- Includes: Live commentary on board, professional guide, round-trip transport, guaranteed to skip long lines, walking tour, air-conditioned vehicle
If you’re looking to trade up the beach crowds for something perhaps a bit more mysterious but still wildly beautiful, the Cayman Crystal Caves Tour in Grand Cayman is one of the most magnificent tours you could book.
The adventure explores a more rugged, less-touristed side, featuring lush jungle paths, limestone formations, hidden pools, and caves that look like something out of a sci-fi film. It’s quite a bit different from sun, surf, and sand, but you haven’t really seen the greatness of Grand Cayman until you explore the caves’ depths.
Your tour starts out with a convenient hotel pickup, so you don’t have to deal with booking separate transportation or renting a car. The transportation is typically a comfortable coach with air conditioning, big windows, and plenty of room to stretch out.
The staff is a ton of fun, while remaining knowledgeable and there to answer all of your questions with ease, offering a briefing so you know what to expect and how to stay safe. I’ve been on a lot of cave tours around the world, and I have to say that these caves were some of the craziest-looking I’ve experienced!
You’ll see stalagmites and stalactites protruding their stony fingers from the floor and roof of the caves, respectively. It’s quite chilly in there, so make sure you bring some grippy walking shoes and a jacket, so you’re comfortable and can focus entirely on the different chambers of amazing rock formations and pools.
As you follow your guide to the various “rooms”, they’ll share all kinds of interesting stories about the island’s geology, plant life, bat colonies, how locals lived prior to tourism, and so much more.
If you’re in any way interested in nature or science, you’re in for a truly special experience with this Grand Cayman cave tour! Oh, and if you’re worried about it being too rigorous, the only part that’s in any way “challenging” is the stairs and some mild slopes – it’s not bad at all!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Stingray City Sandbar, Coral Gardens Snorkeling & Star Fish Point
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM
- Includes: Air-conditioned vehicle, Use of Snorkelling equipment, Guide, Bottled water, Squid to feed the stingrays, Life Vests
Next up is the Stingray City Sandbar, Coral Gardens Snorkeling & Starfish Point Tour, which is one of those tours that is perfect for anyone of any background. Whether you’re into wildlife, nature, water sports, or simply beautiful scenery, there’s something for everyone on this excursion.
Cover 3 of the most popular attractions on the island in just a few hours, without ever feeling rushed through the various stops. There are a few different start times to choose from, and as it’s 3.5 hours, it’s pretty simple to fit into even the busiest schedules.
Start off with your guide picking you up in air-conditioned transportation right from your hotel lobby, so you don’t have to deal with any of the logistics. As you cruise along, they’re there to offer educational commentary on the island’s history, from Columbus’s arrival, England’s colonial era, and much more.
Our first stop of the day was a lovely cruise out to Coral Gardens, where you’ll not only see vivid coral formations (obviously), but tons of fish that usually live in it! We got lucky and even spotted some wild sea turtles and lobsters, which was pretty awesome!
After that, it’s a short board ride over to Stingray City, which is one of the most magical places in the world, and one of the only ones where you can interact, pet, and even feed these breathtaking animals.
The water here is very shallow and clear, so you can wade around and have this incredible experience without the need to suit up and actually go for a full swim. However, if you do want to swim alongside the gentle creatures, snorkeling gear is also available at no cost to you!
They even included squid so we could feed the stingrays, as well as bottled water and juice for us. Lastly, you’ll stop at Starfish Beach, where you’ll get to see and even learn how to correctly handle these iconic critters!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. 3HR Full Island Life Jetski Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 9:00 AM, 1:00 PM
- Includes: Use of snorkeling equipment, life vest, private transportation, all fees and taxes
If you’re an adrenaline junkie or simply want to take one of the most fun adventures possible in Grand Cayman, this last excursion is right up your alley. The 3HR Full Island Life Jetski Tour is the best way to experience the island beyond the beach, in a way that feels more personal and connected to the water.
It’s one of the most well-rounded Grand Cayman excursions, especially for those who want something more immersive than a regular boat ride. This 3-hour tour has morning and afternoon start times, so you can select the one that works best with your schedule.
I personally recommend the early morning option as you’re avoiding the crowds, and it’s the perfect way to start any day! Our guide came to our hotel to pick us up and take us over to swim and snorkel with the incredible Atlantic stingrays in the shallow Stingray City waters.
After learning all about these magnificent animals, we took a short ride over to the famous Rum Point and its laidback island vibes, featuring white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. Here, you can go snorkeling and partake in other water sports, get a piña colada or two from the bar, or simply enjoy some local snacks.
Last but certainly not least, is a visit to the serene Starfish Point, where you’ll get to see and interact with these special animals. As if all that weren’t enough, you have a friendly guide there to share in the laughs, share amazing stories, and answer all of your questions!
This is truly a must-do, and if you’re short on time, I cannot recommend this shore excursion enough!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
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The Starfish Point, Stingray City & Coral Garden (3-STOP Adventure) is our Editors Choice for the best Grand Cayman Island excursion
