The reality is that travel just isn't accessible to all. There are so many unfair social and economic structures that prevent people who deserve to travel from doing it.
Working out the two most expensive costs of travel—flights and accommodation—is difficult. I've written about how to accrue frequent flier miles and lower the cost of flights and accommodation. Both were challenging for my trip to Grand Cayman during peak season. But I also had to find things to do that are both fulfilling and low-cost.
The activities you choose when you get to your destination can break your budget if you're nor careful. When traveling to Grand Cayman is in the cards for you, this post includes some ways you can have a great time and still save.
1. Road Trip Around The Island
Hitch hiking is considered very safe in Grand Cayman, even for women. If that's not your style, though, there are two main options for traveling the whole island: bus and car rental. The Grand Cayman public buses (which are actually vans) run during the following times:
Monday through Thursday 6am–11pm
Friday and Saturday 6am–1am
Sunday – no buses
The bus costs CI $5 ($6 USD) per person on long trips from the west side of the island to the east side. Check out some stops along the way in my post about 15 beaches around Grand Cayman. But if you plan to make lots of stops, I recommend simply renting a car for a day. You only need it for a day to cover this small island.
Inside the “bus” (van)
Be careful about peak season pricing because it can get expensive. The rental car should be less expensive than the bus if you are not traveling alone and plan to make many stops. It's a balance but make the right choice for you!
2. Snorkel A Shallow Wreck Or Reef
I posted about my two favorite snorkel spots—Eden Rock and Wreck of the Cali—in previous posts. Both are easily accessed from the main 7-mile beach area in George Town. If you have your own snorkel gear with you then this experience is free! But it shouldn't cost much to rent gear either.
Take a look at those past posts for details.
Instead, I'll share a couple of photos below from Wreck of the Cali. Sadly, I lost all my photos from Eden Rock when my camera SD card malfunctioned! But trust me when I say it is E-P-I-C!
3. Explore Camana Bay & Camana Way
Walk over from the 7-mile beach area to check out the Camana Bay Market Place. The entire area was closed when I visited, but that didn’t keep me from enjoying the free, beautiful parks and public, outdoor spaces.
There is an outdoor market the pops up in this location. You don’t have to spend money at this market and the upscale shops here. Just enjoy the public spaces and beautiful gardens. I loved this one area on the far east side of the area. There is a small island with hammocks and back canals to watch boats ride in and out.
A big surprise was a walkway that goes over the highways called “Camana Bay.” The flora here is brightly colored and beautiful!
4. Try Samples at the Rum Distillery
While up in the West Bay area, check out the Tortuga Rum Distillery. I happened upon this place at exactly the right time—when a tourist bus showed up! I was able to partake in some free samples while there.
I'm not sure if they offer these to individual travelers. But it shouldn't take long for a bus to show up there. It's a very popular cruise ship tourists spot.
5. Visit Hell
Not far from the Distillery is Hell. Yes, hell!
This place is mostly a tourist trap. It's advertised heavily to tourists getting off cruise ships. So I knew it was going to be more kitschy and silly than actually worth the visit. But hey! I was in the area. It was free, good for a laugh, and the blackened and pointy, coral rock pinnacles were pretty cool!
There's even a photo op with some demon/devil figures.
Yea, it’s a little creepy.
Okay, a lot creepy!
This is not my cup of tea, but there is also a dirty, smelly gift shop here for those with some extra cash to splurge on a few silly Made in China souvenirs. Just get ready for the awkward atmosphere inside!
6. Watch The Blow Holes
This is a fun and free stop on the way out to the East End. Mark it on your map for your low-budget road trip.
You can spend some time here taking photos of the waves crashing, building cairns, having a picnic across the street, or watching the sunset.
7. Observe Starfish
There is a beach devoted to starfish viewing called Starfish Point on the North side of Grand Cayman. They are bright red/orange and stand out against the turquoise sea and white sand of the beach.
It's completely free to go to this beach and spend the whole day.
While I don't recommend bothering the starfish at all, local conservation officers allow tourists to pick them up. They just need to stay submerged in the water. Taking them out of the water is illegal!
Extra Money To Splurge?
I recommend spending your money on only 2 more expensive tourist experiences while in Grand Cayman. These are worth every penny, but also require a certain level of physical ability as well as experience.
Diving
This is always going to cost a bit. A 2 tank dive cost $150 during peak season with Dive Tech.
Two dives will give you a taste of the diving in Grand Cayman. I say a taste because there are hundreds of dive sites. It's impossible to see them all or even choose which ones you want to prioritize! Most companies choose the sites based on access (if nobody else is at the site upon arrival) and conditions. So you never really know which one you'll get!
Still, between the conditions, visibility, and diversity of underwater geography—you can't go wrong diving in Grand Cayman!
Read about my entire dive experience in Grand Cayman.
Bioluminescent Kayak tour
Before you leave the North Side starfish to head back to 7-mile beach, consider staying late into the night. Sign up ahead of time for a kayak tour on Bio Bay. You can go by boat and swim in the bay or go by kayak.
After researching a bit, I read that the less expensive and more comfortable option for me was the kayak tour ($59 vs $79 minimum). The boat tour means you risk getting stung a bit by the jelly fish that float around bio bay. While companies should give you wet suits and make every effort to avoid them, they can still be around and sting through the wet suits.
The kayak tour allows you to glide on top of the water and interact with the natural bioluminescent plankton that live in the bay. You can dip your hand and paddle in the water and safely interact with them. It's safe for you and for the plankton!
While my photos and video from this tour did not come out, this was an all-time top 5 travel experience for me! It's super rare and unique to Grand Cayman—one of the few places in the world that you can catch bioluminescence all year round.
Make sure you plan your trip to Grand Cayman during a New Moon (no moon in the sky). The usually tours do not run around a full moon because moonlight makes it so much harder to see the light from the plankton.
On the night I went, the tour guide said it was one of the darkest nights he ever saw. It was perfect conditions. I wish I had photos to show you but it looked like blue glitter or sequence bouncing all over my hand under water. They left a trail behind my hand, the kayak and the paddles. It was magical!
In Conclusion
There are a ton of activities in Grand Cayman that will not break your bank. Balance adventure, comfort, and cost and you're sure to have an amazing time on a budget!
