Self-Guided Tours of the Grand Cayman Islands

Nick Marshall, Leaf Group Updated March 21, 2018

In all, there are three Cayman Islands, but the largest and most tourist-oriented is Grand Cayman, where international flights and cruise ships arrive. Small, flat and safe, Grand Cayman is perfect for exploring independently with little chance of getting lost but plenty of opportunities for stopping off at a natural or historic attraction.

Getting Around

Grand Cayman is just 22 by 8 miles, meaning its key attractions can be covered in a day. Cruise ships dock in the capital, George Town, also home to the international airport. From central George Town, buses leave for various points on the island, with eight routes served by 38 buses and a regular shuttle to Seven Mile Beach, the island’s main resort area. Alternatively, taxis are easy to find by the airport or in town, with fares regulated by the government. Most drivers are available and willing to do an island tour for a flat fee. If you rent a car, bear in mind that traffic drives on the left, and the posted speed limit is rarely above 40 mph. Grand Cayman has plenty of brand-name rental agencies, with prices significantly cheaper in the summer low season.

Planning a Tour

The National Trust Headquarters and Visitors Center in George Town is the ideal starting point, where you can pick up a free map of the island’s sights and landmarks. The capital has its share of historic landmarks, most notably the impressive Fort George and the Mission House, one of the oldest houses on the island. Otherwise, visitors can easily cover the capital on foot, indulging in duty-free shopping and dining on the island’s signature dish, conch, downtown. Explore Cayman recommends a self-guided walking tour of George Town, starting at the National Museum and following the waterfront with a detour to the fort. Guided tours are also available, following either a historic or culinary theme. As Cruise Critic warns, however, the capital is jam-packed on days when up to five cruise ships sail into town. Explore Cayman recommends a self-guided walking tour of George Town.

Main Attractions

Frommer’s recommends securing a bike from Cayman Cycle Rentals on the West Bay Road to cover the island, which is famously flat with generally good roads. An 8-mile cross-island trip to West Bay brings you to the island’s largest land-based attraction, the Turtle Farm. Visitors can take a Turtle Adventure Tour of the entire park, or just pay for entry to the turtle farm, where roughly 16,000 turtles are nurtured. Enjoy touch tanks, wading pools and swim with turtles in the lagoon. A free shuttle bus runs from the farm to most hotels on Seven Mile Beach, often rated as one of the best in the Caribbean and running along the island’s western side.

Historic Sites

The restoration of the Pedro St. James Historic Site is a source of pride on Grand Cayman, and well worth inclusion on a self-guided itinerary for its insight into 18th-century plantation life. The three-story great house dominates a clifftop spot in Savannah, overlooking a natural tropical park and plantation gardens. On the island’s eastern tip in the appropriately named East End, visitors can also tour the lighthouse and climb to the top for excellent views over the offshore reefs that posed a perennial hazard for 18th-century shipping. The remains of the 1794 Wreck of the Ten Sail are still visible.

Hiking Trails

The Mastic Trail runs 2 miles along a 200-year-old trail through mastic and mahogany forest, wetlands and mangroves, ascending a full 60 feet to the island’s highest point, ironically named The Mountain. Visitors can explore alone or take guided tours lasting up to three hours. In North Side, the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park presents another opportunity for nature walks in the tropical gardens and wetlands, with an on-site visitor's center. The garden is also home to the protected blue iguana species, and includes a 2-acre heritage garden growing local produce, and a tranquil floral garden blooming with hibiscus and cacti. The park is a 45-minute drive from George Town.