North Side & East End, Grand Cayman

If you want to have a truly local experience in Grand Cayman then head east and visit North Side and East End. Both of these districts hold a special place in my heart because this is where the majority of my family comes from. Whether it’s for a few hours or days, a trip to North Side and East End is a surefire way to reset from the hustle and bustle, get in tune with nature and indulge at a handful of niche restaurants. This district guide is based on my personal experiences and recommendations on where to stay, sightsee and eat when you are visiting both of these districts.

getting around

If you’ve already searched Google Maps then you know that East End and North Side are the furthest away from the airport and Seven Mile Beach. You may have considered hiring a taxi or catching a public bus, but I can honestly say that the former will cost you an arm and a leg and the latter is inconsistent in the eastern districts. Your best option is renting a car to enjoy the 40+ minute (mostly) coastal drive from the western side of the island.

If you happen to be staying along Seven Mile Beach and just want to visit Cayman Kai for the day without driving, then I would suggest you use Cayman Ferries at Camana Bay. This 25 minutes ferry ride runs between Camana Bay with stops at both Kaibo and Rum Point. Once you arrive in Cayman Kai you can walk around and visit restaurantsYou can also add on a bike rental through Cayman Ferries to utilise in Cayman Kai; inhave also added on an option to rent a bike while visiting Cayman Kai area and it turns out that Kaibo and Rum Point are only a mile away from one another so you could walk to visit the other one if dropped at one.

accommodation

Beach villas and condos are king when staying in this part of the island, so do a search on Airbnb to find a great rate. My family owns a collection of 1-bedroom villas adjacent to Rum Point so I always stay there because they’re centrally located, reasonably priced and well-maintained. You can check them out if you are looking for something along those lines: Rum Cove and Rum Haven.

If you are looking for a resort you’ll enjoy staying at Compass Point in East End as much as I do. This casual dive resort has cozy condos, an on-site restaurant, two pools, beach activities and some of the best scuba diving on island.

The first and only hotel to be built in North Side is Rum Point Club Residences. It is a boutique hotel with 31 rooms ranging from one to four bedrooms that have seaside balconies and full kitchens. Explore the property and visit the Lobby Bar for food & drinks by Tomfoodery, a wellness centre and an infinity pool overlooking their private beach.

activities

Aerial view of Stingray City Sandbar. Photo credit: This Is Cayman

Ocean Frontiers: This dive company is located at Compass Point Dive Resort and offers some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling in Cayman. When diving along the eastern side of the island expect to see vibrant coral heads and a ton of sea life that ranges from schools of fish, eagle rays, turtles and even reef sharks. If you want to interact with the wildlife then you have to visit my favourite destination, Stingray City, to swim, kiss and snorkel with our friendly rays. Pro tip: Always shuffle your feet when at Stingray City to avoid getting whipped by their tails and don’t rub squid on yourself as that’s a sure fire way to get a ‘hockey’. I’ve been going my entire life and have never had either of these things happen to me.

Red Sail Sports: This respected watersports company has a stand at Rum Point if you are looking to rent snorkelling gear, kayaks, sailboats and more. They also have a handful of tours that leave from this location, including Stingray City trips on a catamaran or glass bottom boat to sipping cocktails on a Sunset Sail.

ECO rides tour around East End with a stop at the Blowholes

ECO Rides: Take a bicycle tour of the quaint district of East End with local resident and ECO Rides owner, Shane Edwards. He’ll take you to historical sites, such as the Wreck of the Ten Sails and The Lighthouse, as well as natural wonders, like the Blowholes and Colliers Wilderness Reserve. To minimise the heat, your tour will start at 7am and can last from 2.5-4.5 hours, depending on which one you choose. We opted for the 2.5-3 hour ‘Cayman Sunrise’ tour where most of the stops occurred from Wyndham Reef Resort to the Blowholes, and more continuous cycling happened on our return. There were many places that I had not been to or knew the history of, so touring with ECO Rides really opened up a new perspective of East End.

Rum Point Club: After a renovation in late 2023, Rum Point Club reopened. With a modern deck fitted with a 50ft long bar, plus beach chairs and picnic tables scattered seaside, there’s something for everyone. You can also head inside to their more upscale restaurant, Solis, to have elevated dishes that include ceviche and octopus and Caribbean favourites. Red Sail Sports does Catamaran visits to the property a few nights a week, which also includes a dinner at the restaurant before taking you back to Seven Mile Beach.

Cayman Kayaks: Depart Rum Point on a kayak or their electric boat for a standout bioluminescence tour. They base their tours on the phases of the moon to ensure you get the best bioluminescent experience.

Crystal Caves: A guided walking tour of three caves with rock formations, bats and an underground lake all surrounded by lush forest in Old Man Bay, North Side.

Starfish Point: Accessible by land or sea you can find this sandy point where orange starfish congregate. If you decide to hold them for a quick photo make sure that you keep them in the water because, firstly, it’s the law and secondly, they are living creatures who don’t deserve to be overhandled.

The Mastic Trail: For the more outdoorsy types you can walk this two mile trail and get up close with Cayman’s foliage, wildlife and birds. Make sure you bring water, hats and bug spray!

Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park: This stunning park, located at the entrance of North Side, has an array of natural features for visitors to enjoy. It’s known for its 1 mile stroll around the Woodland Trail, the Heritage Garden to showcase Caymanian home and plants, Colour Garden that changes to different themed colours as you walk through it and the Orchid Boardwalk to see these delicate flower upclose. They host an annual Orchid Show and are respected for being the site of the Blue Iguana Conservation Facilty that breeds and is a testing site for the rare and indigenous blue iguanas only found in Grand Cayman. Recently they added a Children’s Garden with a small water park, animal sculptures and bird’s nests that kids (and adults) can even fit into.