Here’s What to Expect at the Cayman Turtle Centre
Grand Cayman is such a kid-friendly vacation destination. It has so many family-friendly resorts, restaurants are very welcoming to kids and there are a bunch of activities tailored to everyone in the family. One of our favorites is the Cayman Turtle Centre.
At the Cayman Turtle Centre, you can see and interact with a ton of Caymanian wildlife close up, including turtles, birds and many species of fish.
In the past, Grand Cayman was the location for one of the world’s largest breeding colonies for green sea turtles. Due to pollution, climate change, and other reasons, turtles are now at risk not just in Cayman, but worldwide. Through conservation efforts and education, one of the main focus areas is to ensure turtles stay around for much longer.
Interacting with the turtles at cayman turtle centre
There are two ways to interact with the turtles during your visit.
- The first is better for young children – simply a self-guided tour of the grounds. You’ll be able to:
- See the breeding tanks
- Check out predator reef (a giant tank with a bunch of predatory fish species like nurse sharks and barracudas)
- Visit the aviary and learn about the bird species present in Cayman
- For more of an immersive experience (better for older kids who can swim), choose the package that includes everything above, plus swimming in the turtle lagoon. It’s a saltwater lagoon with turtles and other marine life, so you get an up-close view of many amazing creatures. You also get access to several other pools, one with a waterslide. This is a great option if you want to make a day of your visit.
Read more about both options here.
Want more planning tips for visiting Grand Cayman with kids? Check out my full travel guide for hotel, restaurant and activity recommendations!
Events and activities on-site at cayman turtle centre
Each day, there are opportunities to hear firsthand from experts about the animals. A few examples include a shark talk, (we loved this!), a presentation from the bird keeper, and feedings for the predatory fish and turtles.
cayman turtle centre Turtle releases
Since the Cayman Turtle Centre’s primary focus is conservation for turtles and other species, they release a minimum of 500 sea turtles back into Cayman’s waters each year. Since inception, they’ve released more than 36,000 turtles back into the wild and their efforts are paying off! Divers across the Caribbean report seeing turtles much more frequently and many of the turtles return to Cayman to nest.
Overall, the Cayman Turtle Centre is a great way for the whole family to see Cayman’s wildlife up close. And better yet, at a destination that is doing so much good for the ecosystem and turtle population.
