The Cayman Islands is undoubtedly an expensive place to live, but we've rounded up the best free and low-cost activities to do with your kids on this tropical island. You'll want to bookmark this! From playgrounds and plane spotting and turtle adventures and trail hiking there is some thing for everyone!
- Visit Cayman’s public parks and make it a family goal to try each park and playground in Cayman.
- Community Chess classes and open challenges are free and open to anyone, including complete beginners. Kids can join a chess class every Saturday at George Town Library from 11am-12pm.
- Grab a mask and snorkel and check out Cayman’s top snorkelling sites including Turtle Reef (West Bay), Cemetery Beach (SMB), Governor's Beach (GT), Morritt's (East End) and Rum Point (Cayman Kai). Children also love the stingrays at the Sandbar but take a boogie board so they can lie on it and look down at the stingrays.
- Hike the Mastic Trail and look out for parrots, hermit crabs and beautiful birds along the 2.3 miles. Don’t forget to pack water and bug spray! Self-guided leaflets are available from the National Trust’s visitor centre. (Not suitable for children under 10).
- Experience the thrill of hermit crab racing. Find hermit crabs (rainy season is best for this!), mark your competitor with a dab of paint, draw a big circle in the sand and place the crabs in the middle. First crab to the edge wins!
- Visit the Duck Pond on Bel Air Drive where kids will be able to feed ducks, chickens and loads of hicatees (turtles). Try not to feed them bread or crackers as it’s not good for their tummies. Instead bring corn, peas or seeds.
- Plan a family adventure to the Cayman Turtle Centre where kids can learn about these amazing and majestic creatures. Ride the Turtle Twister waterslide too! Entrance to the Turtle Centre for resident children aged two and under is free, for children aged 3-12 it costs CI$10 and an annual pass is available for CI$75.60 for resident adults and CI$50.40 for children. A valid Cayman ID is required for the adults.
- Practise your plane spotting at the Airport Park (the playground next to Foster's). Aviation enthusiasts big and small will love watching the planes take off and land. Bring a blanket, lay down in the grass and make yourselves comfortable for the full effect of feeling the rumble of the engines and the wheels upon impact!
- Lounge in the hammocks on the island at Camana Bay. Sometimes doing nothing is really, really fantastic. Encourage your kids to bring a book and spend some time just swinging away in the shade of the palms.
- Discover historic and natural sites with the National Trust’s Explorer Passport available to purchase for CI$10. With nearly 40 sites to see and explore – many hidden – adventure is calling for all to enjoy. The Passport includes a map of Grand Cayman and a fun sticker sheet to mark off the stops you’ve made along the way. They have also launched a second option which covers the Sister Island's historic properties and areas of environmental significance. This option is very popular with families visiting the Sister Islands for a staycation. The cost for the Sister Island Explorer Passport is also CI$10.
- Plan a beach clean-up with friends or family members. Bring lots of rubbish bags and see who can collect the largest bag of trash for bragging rights to Seven Mile Beach Saviour of the Year! Check out Plastic Free Cayman and join one of their monthly beach cleanups.
- Visit Pedro St. James and check out the 3D movie theatre, playground and the 18th Century Great House! Kids under 6 enjoy free entry to Pedro St. James.
- Play some beach volleyball. You’ll find nets at Public Beach (SMB) where you can teach your kids to bump, set and spike their way to victory. Follow practice drills with some healthy family competition. Don’t forget to bring a ball!
- Practise rock climbing at Camana Bay. Be sure kids are wearing some sturdy trainers with good grips and, with your supervision, they can practise their climbing skills on the rocks lining the Crescent by the fountains.
- Take a trip to Starfish Point and count how many of these fascinating marine invertebrates you can spot amongst the shallow shores. Be sure not to remove these little guys from the water!
- Visit the Humane Society and give Cayman’s homeless cats and dogs some much needed attention. The pups are always eager for a good stroll and the kitties in the cat room are always happy to receive a cuddle or two!
- Visit the Cayman Islands Museum. Learn about Cayman’s history and stroll through the children’s gallery. Take a virtual submarine dive and view a turtle nesting site. Residents enjoy free entry to the Museum on the first Saturday of each month. Children under 6 also get free entry.
- Plan a day trip out to East End. Stop along your way at the blow holes and watch your kids’ wonderment as the powerful sea water is blown into the air. Or head to Lover's Wall for a walk along the rocks, and maybe a photo or two, stopping for a picnic lunch on your way back home!
- Have a Sandcastle Building Contest. Make the most of Cayman’s beaches and host your own sandcastle building competition. May the best imagination win!
- Feed the tarpons at Andiamo. No matter the age, kids and adults are sure to be impressed by the sheer size of these fish. With nightly feedings, show up, grab yourselves some grub as well, sit back and enjoy a truly entertaining show!
- Climb the 75ft Observation Tower in Camana Bay and enjoy panoramic views of Grand Cayman. Check out the mosaic tiles, which mimic the experience of scuba diving Little Cayman’s famous Bloody Bay Wall. Spot the horse-eye jacks, the spotted eagle ray and other marine life!
- Head to Spotts Beach and see if you can find the sea turtles who come in to feed on the sea grass. The rock pools to the far right of the dock are also fun to explore when the tide is low; here you can search for whelks, crabs and tiny fish.
- Storytime. Take in Next Chapter’s Storytime in Gardenia Court, hosted monthly for free and featuring local authors.
- Play Baseball. Learn how to play baseball for free in a fun and safe environment. Coaching and the uniform are included but children must bring their own glove. Contact the Cayman Islands Little League Association to register.
- Cool down in the fountains at Camana Bay. Both operate daily on the Crescent and outside Jasmine Court.
- Head to The Local Farmers Markets. Learn to identify vegetables and learn about how they grow by talking to local farmers at the Camana Bay and The Hamlin Stephenson Farmers' Market which can be found near the Cricket Pitch in George Town.
- Enjoy free entry to the National Gallery and pick up a Family Guide filled with interactive activities such as scavenger hunts and games. Don’t forget to see the permanent collection upstairs.
- Watch the weigh-ins at fishing tournaments for a chance to see some truly impressively sized fish! Contact the Cayman Islands Angling Club to learn of upcoming tournament dates and locations for weigh-ins.
- Visit the Cayman Parrot Sanctuary in East End, to meet their resident parrots and birds, feed the tame and friendly agouti, have a local grass snake wrap itself around your wrist and play on the zipline and slides. A wonderful and educational day out for young children! Open Wednesday to Sunday from 9am-4pm. CI$10 for children from 3-15 (under 3 are free). Adults and 16+ cost CI$16. For more information check out the Cayman Parrot Sanctuary's Facebook page.
- Visit local artist Gordon Solomon's art studio, Solomon Studio, in Cayman Brac, for a truly incredible artistic experience. His studio is open by appointment. Visit www.gordonsolomon.com for more information.
