The Cayman Islands are known as a more expensive travel destination; however, it’s completely possible to plan a trip with a few free things to do in Grand Cayman with kids! We travel there every spring and have found some great free or low-cost options for activities to do with kids.
Read on for our top 20 recommendations! And when you’re done, make sure to check out my full guide to visiting Grand Cayman with kids.
1. See all the starfish at Starfish Point Beach
Starfish Point Beach is a secluded beach with shallow water on the north side of Grand Cayman (near Rum Point). It’s a popular stop for starfish, and you’ll usually be able to see some in the shallow water along the shore. If your kids are older and strong swimmers, there’s also the option to snorkel as the water gets deeper, where you’ll likely see even more starfish!
Two things to be careful of. If you do snorkel, it’s a heavily trafficked boat area as many Stingray City boat tours stop here. Also, it’s illegal to remove the starfish from the water, even for photos.
2. Walk along Seven Mile Beach
Seven Mile Beach is truly one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The water is calm, the beach is clean and perfect for walking on our building sandcastles. This is the most popular tourism area, with lots of hotels, condo rentals and restaurants along the beach. Despite that, it is never too crowded and very family-friendly.
3. Day trip to Rum Point
Located on the north side of the island, Rum Point is another family-friendly beach that is a great add for visiting Grand Cayman on a budget with kids. It’s even quieter than Seven Mile Beach and has pockets of very shallow water – perfect for kids! If you’re staying on Seven Mile Beach, plan for it to be a half- or full-day trip. It’s either a 45 minute drive or you can take a ferry from Camana Bay. There’s a restaurant, showers and changing rooms available.
4. Splash in the fountains at Camana Bay
Camana Bay is an area in the Seven Mile Beach region that has great shopping and restaurants. They also have two fountains that kids can splash in. There’s a larger one, the Crescent Fountain, and a smaller one for babies and toddlers. Make sure to bring a towel and change of clothes in case you want to stay for shopping or dining!
Read more about why we love Camana Bay here.
5. Swim in the calm shallow waters of Smith Barcadere
Smith Barcadere is a great kid-friendly beach in Grand Cayman. The water is surrounded by limestone formations, which keeps it very calm and shallow. It’s also near the main town of Georgetown where cruise ships dock, so a convenient stop if you’re visiting by cruise or taking a stroll through Georgetown.Â
6. Visit the Children’s Garden at Queen Elizabeth II Royal Botanic Park (free for kids 2 and under)
The Queen Elizabeth II Royal Botanic Park is a natural trail and garden area near the center of the island. There’s plenty of space to stroll and relax, and you may even see a Grand Cayman Blue Iguana (an endangered species).
Hours are 9am-5:30pm; Admission is $20CI for adults; $10CI for children 3-12; and free for children 2 and under.Â
7. Go snorkeling
There are SO many great beaches in Grand Cayman to go snorkeling – you really can’t go wrong at any of them! If you’re staying on Seven Mile Beach, you can snorkel on the water right off your hotel or condo. Other great snorkeling beaches include Smith Barcadere, Rum Point Beach and East End Beach.
8. Take a hike on the Mastic Trail
The Mastic Trail is an untouched nature area near the center of the island. It’s a little over 2 miles and a great way to see Caymanian wildlife and plant species. It takes about three hours to complete and the trail is rugged in some areas, so gauge if it’s the right fit for your family and your kids.
You can take a self-guided tour for free, or can pay for an official guided tour.
9. Explore the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands
The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands is an art museum located near the Seven Mile Beach area of the island. In addition to art exhibits that feature local Caymanian artists, there are also family-friendly activities. While admission to the museum is free, so great for visiting Grand Cayman on a budget with kids, you can book a family tour for $30CI with kid-friendly information and activities.
It’s open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Closed Sundays and public holidays.
10. Visit the Cayman Islands National Museum
(kids 5 and under are free)
The Cayman Islands National Museum is home to exhibits that showcase the natural, cultural and art history of the Cayman Islands. It’s located right in downtown Georgetown, so easily walkable if you’re visiting by cruise or staying in the Seven Mile Beach area. It’s the oldest public building in the Cayman Islands dating back to the 1800s, so even the building itself is a piece of history!
Open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm & Saturdays 10am – 5pm. It’s free for kids 5 and under, $10USD for kids 6-12, and $15USD for adults.Â
Looking for more info about planning a trip to Grand Cayman with kids on a budget? Read more of my suggestions here!
11. Interact with farm animals at The Pony Park
The Pony Park is part of an equestrian center that offers opportunities to interact with animals on Saturday mornings from 9-10:30 a.m. They have a donkey, a miniature horse and goats. It costs $5CI (so not totally free, but very well priced!) and includes a pony ride.
12. Visit the Hell Geological Site
The Hell Geological Site isn’t quite as scary as it might sound. It’s an area filled with blackened limestone rock that are predicted to be 10-15 million years old. Due to erosion, they have formed an area that is evocative of what Hell might look like, hence its name.
It’s free to visit, but be sure to stop in the gift shop and buy a postcard to mail back home from the Hell Post Office to tell people you visited.
13. Go to the Pedro St. James Historic Site
(free for kids under 2)
Pedro St. James is a restored home from the 1800s. Once owned by a wealthy Englishman, it has been restored to give visitors a look back in time at what it would have been like to live there in the 18th century.
It’s open daily from 8:30am-5pm and is free for kids 2 and under, $6.25USD for kids 3-12, and $12.50USD for adults.
14. Visit the Farmers Market at Camana Bay
Wednesdays from 12-7pm, head to Camana Bay and take a stroll through the farmers & artisans market. There are a bunch of vendors selling Cayman-made products, so while it’s free to stroll, you’ll probably want to pick up a souvenir or two to take home. Make sure to explore around Camana Bay while you’re there. There are tons of restaurants where you can grab lunch or dinner when you visit!
15. Walk to the top of the Observation Tower at Camana Bay
While you’re at Camana Bay, walk to the top of the 75-foot tall Observation Tower. Not only are the views stunning from the top, it’s a beautiful walk up as well. The interior walls of the tower are lined with an underwater tiled mosaic that were designed to go from dark to light the higher you go, mimicking the sea.
16. Take a picnic to the Public Beach and play on the playground
The Public Beach is located near the top of Seven Mile Beach, so very conveniently located for many hotels and condos. Not only is this part of the beach a great spot to play in the sand, it also has a playground, restrooms, beach volleyball courts and several restaurants within walking distance. You can also pack a picnic and take it with you. I’d recommend the hot bar at either Foster’s or Kirk Market (the two main grocery store chains in Grand Cayman).
17. Visit the Blowholes
Located in East End, the blowholes are a patch of eroded limestone. The erosion has created holes that allow water to shoot up from them when the waves come in. For families with little kids, this might be better to watch from afar. Technically you can walk on the limestone, but it’s very uneven and could be difficult to walk on, especially for young children.
18. Walk through Georgetown and watch the cruise ships
In all candor, I wouldn’t spend too much time exploring central Georgetown. It’s really the only part of Grand Cayman that’s overly touristy and you can find much better shopping elsewhere on the island. Georgetown is where the cruise ships come in, so while I wouldn’t spend a ton of time there, it could be worth heading into town to get an up close look at them. A few of the attractions I mentioned earlier, like the Cayman Islands National Museum are in Georgetown so would be good to add to your itinerary for the day you visit.
19. Play at Dart Family Park Playground or Airport Park and watch planes come in
Both of these playgrounds are located near the incoming flight path for the airport and have tons of great equipment. Both have restrooms, spots to get cool in the shade and are a great spot to get energy out.
20. Watch the sunset from Seven Mile Beach (with a bottle of wine for parents)
I’d be remiss to not mention the most important free activity that you need to do with kids when you’re in Grand Cayman. Sunsets along Seven Mile Beach are simply incredible. If you’re anything like me and my husband, grab a bottle of wine, camp out in front of your hotel if you’re staying on Seven Mile Beach and take in the incredible view.Â
In summary, it’s totally do-able to visit Grand Cayman on a budget with kids, and there are many free (or almost free!) activities for the whole family.
