Family lies in the heart of life in the Cayman Islands. Both land and sea offer limitless opportunities for excitement. For sea-faring families, climb aboard a pirate cruise on the Jolly Roger or the Annie Bonnie. Pet a stingray at Stingray City, Cayman’s most famous attraction. The turtle is sacred on the islands, and you can’t miss them at the Cayman Turtle Farm. Those clans in search of natural treasures will be fascinated by the birds and botany of the Mastic Trail on Grand Cayman, the Bobby Pond Nature Reserve in Little Cayman or the Parrot Reserve of Cayman Brac. Cultural adventures are also around every turn — children will enjoy a hands-on experience at the Cayman Craft Market under the mastery of local artisans.
Get Active
Water sports are at the heart of every Cayman vacation so get rowdy and wet kayaking, snorkeling, renting wave runners, waterskiing, taking a banana boat ride, sailing, parasailing and windsurfing. Red Sail Sports is available on both Seven Mile Beach and Rum Point, which offers dive boats, catamarans, equipment, beach toys, and more for a fun day in the blue waters.
If you want to stay on dry land, Black Pearl Skate and Surf Park is the second largest skate park in the world with 64,000 sq. ft. of concrete bowls and half and quarter pipes. Test your prowess on the Waveloch Surf Machine, a standing wave generated by a flow of fresh filtered water that can create up to 11 ft waves. Summer camps and visiting pros make the Black Pearl an appealing spot for teens.
Many of Cayman’s best attractions are found away from the hustle and bustle of Seven Mile beach. In Grand Cayman, hikers will delight in a trip down the Mastic Trail, a two-mile stretch through one of the last remaining dry, subtropical forests in the Caribbean. For an easy-going nature experience, Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is an enthralling showcase of tropical color and native vegetation. With 35 acres of gardens, natural wetlands, an herbarium and Woodland Trail, observe 56 species of butterflies, 10 types of orchids, blue iguanas and many other creatures in their natural habitats, many of which are endemic to the island. Don't want to walk? See the islands on horseback.
Get Educated
Cayman Turtle Farm, one of the most popular attractions is a facility designed to raise the green sea turtle population, while promoting public awareness and involvement. Children can interact with sea turtles, take a ride down the Turtle twister Water Slide, and spend the afternoon swimming in the breaker’s Lagoon, the island’s largest swimming pool. The farm also has a predator reef full of sharks and barracudas and a free flight zone filled with local and exotic birds.
Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment introduces guests to the natural wonders and rich cultural traditions of the Cayman Islands. Throughout these unique Caribbean eco-tours, the islands’ ecological resources become a natural classroom and living laboratory in which adults, families and kids learn while having fun. Based at the Ritz-Carlton Heritage House, the traditional cottage is surrounded with innovative examples of ecologically responsible living, including native flora, edible landscaping and alternative energy exhibits.
A part of the annual Summer Splash program, Cayman Islands Sea School, gives kids a chance to learn about Cayman's legendary marine environment, historic shipwrecks, and heritage. They can participate in hands-on storytelling, submarine rides, arts and crafts, and treasure hunts.