Are you coming to Grand Cayman with a non-diving partner? Are you looking for non-diving activities to do on your dry days? Whether it’s your first time in Cayman or you’ve been coming here for years, our staff have compiled a list of non-diving activities for you! Some of which you may have read about, and others you might never have thought of….
Walk A Dog At The Humane Society
Do you miss your pet while abroad? The Cayman Islands Humane Society does a wonderful job of caring for, and finding forever homes for hundreds of dogs and cats every year. The Humane Society is a non-profit organization and relies mainly on donations and volunteers.
They always have a need for volunteers to walk and foster their animals, and vacationing tourists are allowed to foster animals for the day. There's nothing more exciting for a shelter dog than a day on the beach! Who knows, you may fall in love and return home with a new friend. The Cayman Humane Society sends hundreds of dogs to their forever homes in North America every year, and will be more than happy to make the arrangements in getting your new friend off-island. Learn more at caymanhumane.org. And while you’re there…
Buy or Donate Used Books at the Book Loft
Right above the Humane Society is the Book Loft, a used book shop bursting with hidden gems. Whether you’re looking for a good book for the beach or in need of a jigsaw puzzle or board game for a rainy day, this is your place to go. Most books are only $2CI ($2.50US), slightly more for new hardcovers, and all the proceeds go towards food and health care for the rescued animals downstairs at the Humane Society. They also happily take donations, and leaving your used books and games with them is a great way to make luggage space for all the great souvenirs you want to bring back home! Learn more here.
Cayman Spirits Company Distillery Tour
If you have an afternoon to kill (and possibly the next morning), the Cayman Spirits Company offers very popular distillery tours for $15. Founded in 2008, Cayman Spirits has been producing top quality rum and vodka on-island using traditional West Indies distilling techniques. Their 30-40 minute tour of the distillery is capped off with a visit to the sampling room, where you may sample all of their products, including their seasonal "Distiller's Special" – a rare creation only available at the Cayman Spirits Company Distillery. Seldom do guests leave this tour in a state to drive, so be sure to take public transportation to this outing! Learn more at caymanspirits.com
Take a Tour of the Cayman Parrot Sanctuary
Over in East End is a hidden treasure - the Cayman Parrot Sanctuary. They rescue and
rehabilitate (and sometimes even release!) a wide variety of island birds, including the Cayman Parrot aka the national bird of the Cayman Islands. Take a tour of the
Sanctuary to see and interact with the different species of birds and reptiles in their care. You can also visit some guinea pigs, and make sure to stop and say hi to the curious and friendly Little Bit, their adorable rescued agouti! Learn more by visiting their Facebook page here.
Bioluminescent Bay Tour
We tried to avoid watersports activities in our recommendations, but Cayman's Bioluminescent Bay is not to be missed. Near Grand Cayman's rum point is a man-made bioluminescent bay - the conditions for which occurred quite by accident. In this 7-foot deep bay are billions of bioluminescent plankton which glow with a blue light when disturbed. It is one of the most amazing experiences you will ever have! There are a number of tour operators that run trips to Bio Bay, some as kayak tours and some as snorkel tours. Divetech recommends booking your tour with Six Senses Cayman or Crazy Crab. Regardless of who you choose, most operators will leave from the Cayman Islands Yacht Club in West Bay. Many will also have complimentary pick up service from your hotel.
Golf
Grand Cayman features an 18-hole golf course - The North Sound Golf Club, and a 9-hole course for seasonal and annual members at the Ritz-Carlton. According to Golf Digest magazine "Grand Cayman is not known as a golf destination, but its courses certainly are worthy of your time." Both courses offer public tee times, along with rental equipment, lessons, pro-shop, and stunning ocean views. Visit North Sound Golf Club or Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort for more information or to book tee times online.
Crystal Caves
A few years ago, several hundred acres of privately owned property was opened to the public by the land owners. On it were over 150 cave systems, decorated with beautiful formations dating back millions of years. Crystal Caves has become one of the premier attractions on Grand Cayman. It features a number of caves that have been open to the public, along with modern facilities, gift shop and snack bar. Tours are guided by knowledgeable locals, many of whom grew up exploring the very same caves as small children. Tours are very popular, so all must be pre-booked to ensure space. For more information and to book your spaces, visit www.caymancrystalcaves.com
Helicopter Tour
The closest thing you can get to a roller coaster in the Cayman Islands, is a ride on the tourist helicopter. Cayman Island Helicopters offers a variety of different tours, at a price point for all budgets. See Seven Mile Beach, the wreck of the Kittiwake, and Stingray City from a whole new perspective! Learn more at caymanislandshelicopters.com
Kiteboarding
The area around Barkers National Park on Grand Cayman is shallow, and protected with a barrier reef. The predominant winds blow into this area, making it an ideal site for kiteboarding - which is why Barker's is home to Kitesurf Cayman. It's a full service kiteboard facility, offering instruction, support and rental equipment. If it's too windy for diving, it's probably perfect for kiteboarding. Learn more by visiting www.kitesurfcayman.com
Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Gardens & Blue Iguana Habitat
Located in North Sound, this beautiful botanic park is home to the endangered Blue Iguana, an endemic species only found on Grand Cayman. Get up close and personal with these “blue dragons” as well as the beautiful flora and fauna of Cayman. The park is open from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and offers self-guided tours all day as well as guided tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 PM. Admission for the Park includes the Blue Iguana Habitat, but we recommend checking the Habitat’s opening hours as they can differ. For more information visit here for the QEII Botanical Park and here for the Blue Iguana Habitat.
Horseback Riding
For the quintessential romantic beach experience, nothing beats riding a horse in the clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. There are even horse-back swimming and full moon ride tours! Experience the beach and ocean in a whole new way. For more information, visit http://ponies.ky
Mastic Trail
The Mastic Trail is a hiking trail in an expansive nature reserve home to plants, trees & wildlife unique to the island. Anyone who enjoys nature and hiking will find this 7.4 kilometer trail an enjoyable trip through the heart of Grand Cayman. The trail is quite rugged so bring good shoes, and plenty of water - there are no facilities along the trail, and cellular service in the middle can become spotty. For more details, visit the National Trust for the Cayman Islands website here.
Go to Hell! (Literally)
Located in West Bay, just a few minutes away from our dive shops at Cobalt Coast and Lighthouse Point, is a small quirky geological formation officially known as Hell. These jagged limestone and dolomite rock formations are stained black by algae and make for a stunning landscape. While you’re there, make sure to visit the Hell-themed gift shops - and even send friends and family back home a postcard from Hell! Learn more here.
Pedro St James
Located on the southern coast of Grand Cayman, Pedro St. James, or Pedro's Castle, is the oldest existing building in the Cayman Islands. Having fallen to neglect in the 1970's, a massive restoration effort returned the building to it's 18th-century glory. Today, the historic site is open for daily tours and contains a visitor’s centre, theatre, exhibits, a gift shop, and cafe. It is a popular venue for weddings and social events. To learn more, visit https://pedrostjames.ky
Rum Point
Located on the far north side of Grand Cayman, Rum Point is perfect if you want to get away from the “hustle and bustle” of Seven Mile Beach for a day or an afternoon. With a beautiful, white sand beach dotted with hammocks and beach loungers as well as a bar/restaurant on site, it is a perfect destination on a lazy day. It’s also know as the ‘birthplace of the mudslide.’ For more details visit https://www.rumpointclub.com/
Shop Local!
Grand Cayman is home to many incredible artists who create beautiful and unique locally-made items. You can support these local artisans by visiting their shops, whether you are looking to buy souvenirs or even just to browse. There are more amazing places to shop local than we can list here, but some of our favorites are Pure Art, Goodness, Cayman Scents, Chasing the Sun, Mermaid’s Touch, and the gift shop at the QEII Botanical Gardens and the National Trust. For local spirits, beer, and rum cake check out Cayman Spirits, Caybrew, and Tortuga.
Dining and Relaxing
For those of you who just want to relax with a cocktail or enjoy the delightful Cayman culinary scene, there are hundreds of restaurants and bars offering a variety of local and upscale food and drink. Learn what our favorite restaurants are by visiting our post Where should we eat?