Exploring the Cayman Crystal Caves in Grand Cayman

Though the Cayman Islands are mostly known for their beautiful beaches, there are definitely some other things to do on Grand Cayman if you need a break from the sun. One of those is exploring the Cayman Crystal Caves, a newer attraction that takes you underground to see natural formations.

If you’re staying on the west side, it’s a bit out of the way to get to, but if you’re renting a car, you’ll likely be exploring around the island anyway. And this is an easy stop when exploring the Northside or East End.

About Cayman Crystal Caves

Like most cave systems, the Cayman Crystal Caves were formed over millions of years. Fossilized shells were found within the cave walls indicating that the entire thing was once under the sea. The cave rooms were formed by water erosion as the sea levels changed.

At one point in history, there were seven families who had settled in the area who likely used the caves as a water source. There’s a tree next to the attraction meeting place with wooded plaques dedicated to each of the families. It’s also said that pirates used the caves as hideouts.

In the 90s, Christian and Ole Sorensen began exploring the caves in Grand Cayman and spoke with the government about establishing a cave attraction as they had already done in Barbados. It took them nearly 20 years to purchase the land and develop it.

Today, you can find impressive rooms of stalagmite and stalactite formations. Don’t forget to look up! You’ll also find many bats within the caves.

How to Get There

By Car: The Cayman Crystal Caves are located towards the center of the island near the north coast. From George Town, the Crystal Caves are about a 40 minute drive. From Seven Mile Beach, it’s about a 50 minute drive. The best way to get there is if you have rented a car and can drive yourself. It’s an easy, but longer drive along the coast and up Frank Sound Road.

By Bus: If you’re doing Grand Cayman on a budget, they have a bus system that goes along the road to the north side that will cost a couple dollars per person. You can likely have the bus drop you off directly there if you ask them to stop and pay a couple extra dollars. However, the buses may not be entirely reliable or show up when they are supposed to.

By Taxi: Another option is to get a taxi there, but since it’s a longer drive, it will likely be pretty expensive. Another factor is the price of gas which is about $7/gallon. It will cost you around $125 one way to get there.

By Tour: If you haven’t rented a car and don’t want to rely on the bus system, a good option would be to book your tickets through a tour. This cave tour includes the cost of the ticket plus hotel pickup from the Seven Mile Beach area. It’ll cost you an extra $85 per person but it might be slightly cheaper than a taxi if there’s only two in your group.

Additionally, the Crystal Caves has their own shuttle service (the West Shuttle). It’s $79.50 per person and picks up from the Seven Mile area, George Town and the cruise terminal.

What to See at Cayman Crystal Caves

The Cayman Crystal Caves tour is an hour and a half long and takes you through three different caves. When you arrive, you’ll wait at the meeting area where you’ll get some history and information about the caves from a guide. They also have bug spray to put on in case you forgot yours!

Then they’ll load you on to a bus (or you can follow in your car) to drive a few minutes down a rocky road to where the caves are. Your tour includes a nature walk where they’ll point out different native plants along the way in between caves.

There’s also the Tree House restaurant with tables outside that has food and drinks available for purchase after your tour.

Cave 1: Open Ceiling Cave

The first cave is the smallest cave and has a spiral staircase that lowers you down into the cave. It opens up into a small room with only a small passage to take. But the interesting part is the ceiling, which I somehow didn’t really get in a photo. The ceiling has an opening that lets in sunlight into the room.

Cave 2: Roots Cave

Next, you’ll go to the Roots Cave which is the medium sized cave. This one has a walk through entrance with no stairs. There are a lot more stalactites and stalagmites here and you’ll see some bigger formations and more dramatic ceilings. The pathways take you around different sections and it’s a longer walk through.

Cave 3: Lake Cave

The Lake Cave is the largest of the three caves and is another walk-in entrance without any stairs. The pathways here lead all over and there are many different sections to explore.

One of the paths will lead you to the crystal clear lake that reflects the formations in the still water. It has a turquoise hue and is a really picturesque spot on the tour.

The last part of the Lake Cave leads you to a large opening where bats were flying all around the ceiling. There’s also huge roots sprawled over part of the exit and tropical plants along the way. It’s a great cave to explore.

What to Bring

• Good walking shoes – you’ll be doing some walking on this tour between caves and within the caves.
• Bug spray – you’ll be walking through the forest in between caves

How long does it take to walk through the caves? The whole tour takes around an hour and a half. Add on more time if you are using transport there and back.

Is it worth visiting? We thought the Cayman Crystal Cave tour was well done and enjoyed exploring the caves. The tour is the perfect length with plenty of time to explore and take pictures. We were staying relatively close so it wasn’t out of the way for us to get to. But it’s nice to do something different on Grand Cayman if you have the time.

What’s Nearby

• Good Mood Swing + Barefoot Beach – a swing overlooking the coast and a secluded beach near a stone wall on the East End.
• Rum Point – A little further along the road on the north coast is Rum Point, a beach with a restaurant and bar on the sand.
• Starfish Point – A shallow beach area where it’s common to find starfish in the water.
• Bioluminescent Bay – Where you can take a tour to see bioluminescence in the water.

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