Maybe the single most compelling reason to visit Grand Cayman traveling is to bask in the soft sand and waves of its incredible, picturesque Seven Mile Beach.
Situated on the western side of Grand Cayman, this iconic public beach has won multiple awards. In fact, TripAdvisor ranked it the fourth-best beach in the Caribbean, no less, and MSN ranked it the 12th-best beach in the world!
It is also named “one of the Ultimate Beaches in the region” by Caribbean Travel + Life, so the list of travel authorities supporting the incredibleness of these sands is solid.
When I traveled solo around Grand Cayman for over one month, I spent a lot of time along the sands, just strolling by the crystal-clear waters and occasionally chilling in one of the bars and restaurants dotted along the sands. Loved it!
📍 EpicNomadLife Tip: My favorite tour from Seven Mile Beach is swimming with stingrays at the incredible Stingray City on a day trip!
Best Things To Do Seven Mile Beach Solo
1. Seven Mile Beach Snorkeling
Snorkeling is generally not that great directly from most of the beach areas, as there are quite a few coral reefs within swimming distance.
However, there are a few good snorkel sites you can swim out to directly from the sands.
If you go to Governors Beach, you will see a white buoy off the sands, marking a reef within swimming distance, a great snorkel site with shallow water, and fun things to see.
You can also go to Cemetery Beach, a great place where you need to swim for 7-8 minutes to find the best parts of a vibrant reef outside this beach.
Lastly, you can head to the sands in front of the Marriott Hotel, where hundreds of balls have been submerged in the water to create artificial reefs.
The result is an area that now is teeming with tropical fish and marine life to enjoy.
If one of your main goals for visiting Grand Cayman solo is incredible snorkeling among colorful fish, don’t worry – there are plenty of places to go for that experience.
For the best ones, you might want to consider one of the private shore excursions or join a small group tour. This is also great for solo travelers, as it adds a layer of water safety.
Best snorkeling spots:
- Devil’s Grotto
- Sunset House
- Lighthouse Point
- Collins Beach
- Eden Rock
- Smith Cove
- Cayman Kai Beach
- Spotts Beach
- Cheeseburger Reef
- Turtle Reef
- Barefoot Beach
- Rum Point
- Stingray City
Also read: Fabulous Grand Cayman Solo Travel Itinerary | A Complete Guide
2. Take a Day Trip To Stingray City
Stingray City is a shallow sand bank off the coast of Grand Cayman, so you need to get on a boat to get here. It is totally worth it; I loved the Stingray City tour.
You will be standing waist-high in the crystal clear waters, where the stingrays swim around you up close and personal, so to speak.
The guides will even show you how to walk in the sandbank water so as not to step on one accidentally.
This is an incredible experience, in my opinion, and you will get to try to feed them (trickier than you might think) and even get a wet kiss!
3. Rent An E-Bike!
I recommend you rent an e-bike for a day on Grand Cayman and explore the West End at your own pace. As I mentioned, I did this, and it was brilliant.
There are plenty of spots you might want to stop, either for a dip in the water along the beach or go to Hell (the famous little rock formations on the island).
Visit the Turtle Center, where you can meet the green sea turtles without getting wet (you can also swim with them).
You can go swimming with horses all the way on top of West Bay, north of Seven Mile Beach.
Starting from Restaurant Papagallo on the northernmost point, this is an incredibly serene and beautiful experience.
And don’t worry if you have never been on horseback before; the horses are calm, and the guides will help you.
I chose to rent an e-bike for a day, which was a perfect way to explore the western coast by myself. Not to mention, it is environmentally friendly and a great workout session!
Along the way, you will never be far away from a place that has refreshments, a meal, or even a beach massage to offer.
4. Enjoy The Bars And Clubs Along Seven Mile Beach
For a luxurious beach bar experience, head to Saint June at the Ritz Carlton, close to Governors Beach.
Here, you will find unprecedented views of the sand and the sea while you savor exquisite cocktails and choose from a varied menu for lunch or a beautiful sunset dinner.
For a more laid-back casual experience, stop at Tortuga Beach Bar, where you will also get super fresh seafood prepared and enjoyed in the open air at the beach alfresco.
I recommend you go here at the end of your beach day for an absolutely stunning sunset, sand between your toes, and the best food, drinks, and service.
Ms. Piper’s Kitchen and Garden, situated right behind the South Bay Beach Club, is a slightly hidden gem that consistently receives five-star reviews.
The lunches here are super tasty, with a charming interior and great service, and accompanied by a tropical cocktail, it gets even better.
Also read: Is Grand Cayman Safe For Solo Female Travelers?
5. Explore At Your Own Pace
Even with the sandy paradise right outside your door, remember that Grand Cayman has many adventures and sights beyond the sands to offer solo travelers.
If you are staying on Seven Mile Beach or close to the beach, you can easily walk around and explore by yourself. Also, the local bus (a minibus that “shuttles” up and down West End Road) is super helpful to get around, too!
There are no formal bus stops; just keep an eye out for the bus and stretch out your hand if you want to jump on board.
6. Join An Organized Tour
There are plenty of island tours to choose from. The most famous one is visiting Stingray City to go swimming with stingrays!
If you love watersports, the Cayman Islands Yacht Club offers kite surfing equipment rentals, lessons, and kayaking tours of the mangroves.
For a special snorkeling experience, join a night snorkeling tour to swim with bioluminescent plankton.
Many tour operators offer boat trips, and the most popular destinations are Starfish Point and Stingray City, which are often part of a multi-stop boat tour – like the ones in Stingray City.
However, you can also spend time on land, exploring caves, join an e-bike tour, or a rum and beer tour.
There are a wide variety of tours that will take you on the best experiences not only around Seven Mile Beach but also the entire island (which is not really that big).
7. Make A Road Trip For A Day
You can also rent a car and explore the island on your own. Mind you, it is not really a big island, so if you are staying for a few days or a week, renting a car for one day will probably be enough.
The eastern part of the island is the more “rugged” part of Grand Cayman and is best explored with a rental car if you want to set your own itinerary.
Start by driving out to Bodden Town along the southern shores. This is actually the original capital of the Caymans, where you can see remnants of the early colonial history on the island.
Stop at the blowholes outside Half Moon Bay. The sea rushes through holes in the rocks on the shore, creating almost a geyser effect.
Take the scenic route along the coast up to the north side of the island and make a stop at Barefoot Beach (yes, the one for snorkeling).
Then, end your sightseeing day at Rum Point, a beach village where you can relax in a hammock or go snorkeling. Have a late lunch at Rum Point Club or The Wreck Bar and Grill, and watch the sunset from the pier.
8. Go (Window) Shopping In Camana Bay
Definitely spend a day at Camana Bay, a nice suburban coastal town near George Town.
Camana Bay is modern and elegant yet still has a villagey feel, with a charming square facing the mangroves just inside Seven Mile Beach.
At Camana Bay, you find great shopping, but you also find fine dining and cafes for a quick stop or a long, bottomless mimosa lunch. If you travel with the love of your life, come here for a romantic dinner by the water.
9. Just Hang And Do Cool Beach Stuff!
The seven miles of beach is a very visitor-friendly area of Grand Cayman.
You will find a variety of activities readily available all along the sandy shore, and you can even book several of them directly on the beach.
So when you get tired of tanning, try a kite surfing lesson, or go jet skiing, parasailing, paragliding, water skiing, a leisurely stand-up paddleboard experience, or snorkeling – the options are endless!
Three Top-Rated Hotels Along Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach
Although you will find nice and highly rated accommodation pretty much anywhere on Grand Cayman, the western coastline is home to the vast majority of hotels and resorts.
Many have direct beach access and pools, and some also have their own beach bars and restaurants.
You will find both holiday homes, smaller hotels, and top-rated bigger resorts, depending on what kind of accommodation you prefer. However, there are not a lot of cheap options, hostels, or backpacker-friendly accommodations.
That said, here are three top-rated places to stay along Seven Mile Beach.
Hampton By Hilton
Starting in the southern part of the beach near Camana Bay, you will find the Hampton by Hilton with top reviews and direct access to the beach.
The pool area and garden are beautiful, the rooms airy and delicate, and there is a fitness center if you are so inclined.
You can actually walk to the charming Camana Bay shopping area from here, where you will find lots of nice cafes, restaurants, and bars.
Caribbean Club Luxury Condos
A bit further north, you can opt for a pampering luxury experience at the Caribbean Club Luxury Condo Hotel.
Here, you will live in “your own” luxury home with all necessary and unnecessary amenities while enjoying the ambiance of a luxury hotel, a stunning pool, and just steps from the beach.
Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa
Even further north, you find the Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa.
With amazing, elegant rooms with large windows, a stunning pool area on the property right by the beach, and, of course, the spa, this is a paradise resort along Seven Mile Beach.
Also read: Best Areas To Stay In Grand Cayman
How to get to Seven Miles Beach
The Seven Mile Beach starts around a mile from the outskirts of George Town, so it is a stretch to walk here from the island capital.
As Grand Cayman does not have Uber or Lyft (it does have an app called Flex, but it has few drivers, so you might need to wait a bit), the most convenient option is to call a taxi.
Travel By Bus
If you want to travel from one place to another along Seven Mile Beach, minibusses also drive up and down the West End along West Bay Road.
The routes along West Bay are the 1WB yellow and the 2WB green, running every few minutes.
As there are no designated stops, you can hail a bus anywhere by looking for the “bus” sign in the window. The fare is just $2,50, and you can hop on and off wherever you need to.
Seven Mile Beach By Car
If you book a rental car, driving on Grand Cayman is easy. You can book online and pick it up at the airport when you arrive.
Cars drive on the right, so for most people, that is no issue, and there are several parking areas close to the most popular spots along the beach.
How to get to Seven Mile Beach from Grand Cayman Airport.
From Owens Roberts International Airport, it is about a ten-minute drive by taxi or rental car to Seven Mile Beach. You can hail a taxi outside the arrivals area at the airport, and the fare is $25.
You can also book a private airport shuttle from the airport online before you arrive; several companies offer this service online.
It is possible to find a public bus as well, but it has fixed routes that might not stop anywhere close to you. The route West Bay 3’s nearest stop is at David Foster Drive outside the airport, and the bus drives along West Bay Road.
Why Choose Seven Mile Beach Grand Cayman
The Seven Mile Beach stretches along Grand Cayman’s western coast for just around six miles (weirdly), but it is also the largest and most popular beach in the Caymans.
The western shores are where you find most of the lively Caribbean vibe, beach, and water activities, as well as shopping, which are all good arguments for staying here in my book.
This area is perfect for solo travelers, with lots of vibrant life and things to do.
It is a great spot for lounging, beach-bar’ing, lounging in beach chairs, swimming, and a variety of water sports – whatever you want to put on your itinerary.
The majority of the hotels and resorts are also located along the western coast, only a stone’s throw from Seven Miles Beach.
FYI, the Caymans is not really a cheap destination, which you will notice particularly as a solo traveler. However, what makes up for that is incredible experiences and lots of things to do above and below water.
The Caymans (There Are Three)
The Cayman Islands, or just the Caymans, is a small island group consisting of three islands in the Caribbean Sea, situated south of Cuba and west of the Dominican Republic.
These three islands are Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Grand Cayman, and the biggest one is exactly as you may have guessed: Grand Cayman.
Cayman Brac to the east is especially popular among nature enthusiasts and the ultimate destination for scuba divers, water sports lovers, and travelers who enjoy deep-sea fishing.
Little Cayman is also famous for spectacular scuba diving, especially in the area called Bloody Bay Marine Park, which has the Bloody Bay Wall chimney and archway dive sites.
What is Grand Cayman Known For
Grand Cayman is the largest island and home to George Town, the capital of the Cayman Islands.
It is also home to the Grand Cayman cruise port and places like Hell (a small crazy rock formation) and Stingray City, where you can get a wet kiss from a stingray.
Apart from being a tropical paradise, the Caymans are known for being a sparkling tax haven, and as a British overseas territory in the Caribbean, it is also one of the world’s largest financial centers.
The island is said to have more businesses than people!
Lastly, Grand Cayman is known to be a very safe destination, even for solo travelers, including solo female travelers. I once asked a taxi driver if there was something I needed to be careful about, and he actually started laughing!
And yeah, of course, it is known for the coveted white sands of the Seven Mile Beach.
FAQs Seven Mile Beach and Grand Cayman
What is the best part of Seven Mile Beach?
The north to middle part of the Seven Mile beach is considered the best area, as it has a wider beach with the most sand.
When is the best time to visit Grand Cayman?
The best time to visit Grand Cayman is during the dry season, which runs from December through May each year.
Within this period, the nicest time to visit is between February and May, when the temperatures are super friendly and rain showers are scarce.
Grand Cayman is situated in the hurricane belt, and half the year is considered the wet season.
This period runs from June through October, which is the cheapest season to travel here, but you need to expect rain and “a lot of” weather.
Is Grand Cayman Safe?
Grand Cayman is considered one of the safest islands in the Caribbean, with a very low crime rate, and that is in line with my own experience there.
I stayed on the island alone as a solo female traveler for over one month, and I never had any remotely uncomfortable situations.
That said, it is smart to educate yourself and research general solo travel tips from people who have been here before you (like you are doing now!).
Is Grand Cayman expensive?
Yes, truth be told, Grand Cayman is generally among the most expensive destinations in the Caribbean.
While some nice places to stay within a reasonable budget are available, there are no really cheap options, like backpacker places or hostels.
When is hurricane season in Grand Cayman?
The highest risk of hurricanes on Grand Cayman is between August and October each year.
How to get to Grand Cayman?
To get to the iconic Seven Mile Beach, you first need to get yourself to the island in the first place.
Traveling from Miami in the United States to the Grand Cayman Airport: Owen Roberts International Airport is a flight of around one and a half hours.
A variety of airlines have direct flights from most major travel hubs in the US, making the journey easy and swift.
How to get from Grand Cayman to Little Cayman
If you want to travel from Grand Cayman to Little Cayman, you need to get on a flight, as there are no ferries available.
You can book a domestic flight with Cayman Airways, which has regular flights between Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman.
How To Get To 7 Mile Beach From A Cruise Ship
Cruise passengers can travel to Seven Mile Beach from the George Town cruise port. It is about a ten-minute drive from the terminal to the expansive waterfront and sparkling waters.
Wrap-Up Seven Mile Beach Grand Cayman
Not only is Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach one of the best beaches in the world, but there are also a lot of fun things to do, wonderful places to stay, and amazing food to try when visiting the island.
Whether you prefer to explore on your own by car or bike, join a tour, or just relax by the pool or on the pristine beaches, Grand Cayman will not disappoint anyone looking for an epic tropical vacation.
So start planning your Caribbean getaway to this amazing little place, bring sunscreen and your swimsuit, and prepare for a truly paradisiacal holiday.
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