There’s nothing quite like a close encounter with marine creatures, whether it be a colorful school of fish off the islands of Raja Ampat or floating in the presence of enormous whale sharks in Cancun. But, in the Caribbean’s Grand Cayman sea life is all about swimming with stingrays in Stingray City. At least it was for me.
What is Stingray City?
Picture standing on a sandbar in the shallow turquoise-blue waters of Grand Cayman, surrounded by dozens of southern stingrays. Sounds like a pretty fantastic bucket list encounter, doesn’t it? Well, it gets even better. Also, imagine being able to interact with them—that’s what the Stingray City experience is all about.
In reality, this ‘city’ is a collection of sandbars off the Grand Cayman island, where a flourishing community of stingrays calls the crystal-clear waters home. It all started many years ago when fishermen would throw the remains of their catch into the shallow waters drawing in hungry stingrays for a feast. Over the decades, these stingrays have become accustomed to the presence of boats and humans, creating a remarkable symbiotic relationship.
For me, Stingray City became an unmissable highlight of a popular cruise excursion, although you don’t necessarily need a cruise to participate in this adventure; booking a tour independently is just as accessible.
Top Tours to Stingray City
There are plenty of choices for tours to Stingray City in Grand Cayman, so do your research well before selecting a tour. Some of them offer the main Stingray City experience where you can interact with stingrays while others include activities like snorkeling, diving or sailing as well. Although there are tours available through the daytime, if you wish to avoid the crowds, go for an early morning tour.
Some popular and highly rated tours:
- Stingray City Experience Plus Two Snorkeling Stops on Grand Cayman
- Starfish and Stingray City Fun Tour with Reef Snorkeling (3 stops)
- Starfish Point, Stingray City and Coral Garden
Highly rated tour companies:
About Grand Cayman
Islands in the Caribbean have an amazing appeal with their crystal-clear waters and natural attractions. With so many islands in the region, there are several things to see, do and experience. The Cayman Islands is located in close proximity to Cuba and is very popular with tourists.
Consisting of three islands–Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman–it is an ideal place to relax and also have some bucket list worthy adventures. Of the three, Grand Cayman is the largest island dotted with many places of interest including the capital George Town.
A major hub on the island is the Seven Mile Beach with its beautiful sandy beach, many swanky hotels, resorts and shops. George Town is a stop for cruise liners arriving from various places, with passengers looking to have a good time on the island. While it attracts the wealthy, it is also a magnet for tourists who want to enjoy snorkeling, diving, kayaking, parasailing or a cruise on a catamaran. Due to its rich marine life, coral reefs, and places like Stingray City, Grand Cayman is a favorite with travelers.
My Experience Visiting Stingray City
For me, heading out on a tour to Stingray City wasn’t just the average run-of-the-mill touristy affair—it was a wild journey. On my tour, we had a 15-minute boat ride from the north end of the island to our destination.
The experience wasn’t your average swim with the fishes—here, it’s an interactive adventure with southern stingrays, the true rockstars of the waters.
To start about twenty of us entered the water for our and formed a circle as if we were going to play ring around the rosie. For a second I was afraid that there would be no stingray to swim with, but, that was not the case. The ray swarmed us as if they were killer bees and we were dipped in honey.
These creatures who are accustomed to humans, glide beneath the surface and right next to you—it’s quite a thrill! But the real kicker? Feeding them. Picture this: you, knee-deep in the water, hand outstretched, feeling the sleek slide of a stingray swooping in for a snack. It’s not your typical marine meet-and-greet! Just be careful not to step on one.
For those of you concerned about motion sickness, I did not see one passenger get sick throughout the tour (thank God!) and even my husband, who gets crazy car sick, only felt slightly queasy…once.
If you are looking for a unique wildlife activity, an up close and personal encounter with stingrays on a tour to Stingray City is a must. Friendly stingrays, beautiful waters and the best of island life–I couldn’t ask for more!
Traveling Soon? Use my Favorite Resources for Booking Your Trip!
Book Your Flight
Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine, because it checks dozens of airlines so you can easily find the best fare deals. You can also select ‘cheapest month’ to find the lowest fares for your destination (I use this all the time!).
Book Your Accommodations
I use both Booking.com and Expedia for hotels, because each offers a couple different hotel choices and I like to compare the reviews on each one. If you have a group or are looking for more of a home atmosphere, head over to VRBO or AirBNB that has houses, apartments and even just a room for rent in every price range.
Book Your Rental Car
If love the freedom to explore like I do, driving from place to place is the best option! I always book with Discover Cars for the best prices and top brand options.
Book Some Fun Tours!
Viator and Get Your Guide are my go-to search engines for cool bucket list experiences! Each one can have different tours, so check both—why limit yourself, right?
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel can be unpredictable. Whether it’s a last-minute cancellation, an injury, or (ugh) theft, things happen. That’s why I recommend never leaving the country without travel insurance. Here are my faves: Safety Wing and World Nomads.
Get Packing & Travel Essentials Ready
Check out the Bucket List Journey Amazon Store to find all my favorite travel essentials. Everything from Packing cubes, to travel adapters and toiletry containers to walking shoes.
*Lastly, check travel.state.gov for visa requirements and safety information.
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Amazing Job!! Keep up the good work.
Swimming with stingrays might be fun for people but it is real bad for the stingrays. I just wrote an article about how swimming with stingray attraction are detrimental for the rays, in case anyone is interested.