Grand Cayman is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. Its crystal-clear waters surround it, and it has some of the best beaches in the world.
If you’re lucky enough to have this port of call on your cruise itinerary, consider booking an excursion to the Cayman Turtle Centre.
Booking the Excursion
We booked the “Stingray Encounter & Turtle Swim” through Carnival. But since we’ve already reviewed Stingray City, this review focuses solely on the Cayman Turtle Centre, a stop on various excursion options offered in Grand Cayman.
Tendering Process in Grand Cayman
Because Grand Cayman is a tender port, we received tickets in our stateroom at the start of our cruise that directed us to meet in the ship’s theater at 7 a.m.
We ordered an early room service breakfast and met in the theater at 6:45. Luckily, we went early, because our group left promptly at 7 to board the very first tender from the ship.
Once we got onto the island, we followed the sign for our excursion and were given wristbands. Then, we boarded a bus that took us to the first stop on our tour: the Cayman Turtle Centre.
Arrival and First Impressions
On the way to the Turtle Centre, the bus driver spoke of the island’s history, local inhabitants, and the Cayman Islands’ relationship with turtles. The 20-minute ride took us along the world-famous 7-Mile Beach, which was lined with condos and resorts.
Upon entering the Turtle Center, a large pond is at the front and center, home to the largest and oldest turtles.
We were encouraged to take pictures while a staff member greeted us and explained to our group the Centre’s purpose: sea turtle research and conservation. There’s also a kiosk selling turtle food nearby if you’d like to feed the turtles. (The sea turtles definitely like this venture!)
Exploring the Cayman Turtle Centre
After a short introduction, visitors are free to explore the grounds independently, as long as they return to the front gate at the time their bus driver designated.
Initially, we were guided to the right-hand side of the facility, where mini-pools housed younger turtles. We lined up and waited our turn to hold a turtle and take photos—a highlight of our visit.
As we continued exploring, we passed a lagoon where you can snorkel with turtles. We chose not to swim that day because our next stop was Stingray City, and we didn’t want to stay wet for the rest of the excursion.
This was a bit of a regret, as the facility’s amenities are beautiful. The lagoon winds through the property, and there’s a man-made beach with lounge chairs at one end. In another area, a swimming pool with a water slide looked ideal for younger children.
If you prefer not to snorkel, a pathway dips beneath the lagoon and features a large glass window, offering underwater views of the turtles, fish, and snorkelers.
We continued on the path to a birdhouse. This large structure is enclosed in nets so the birds can fly freely inside.
There are double doors so you can enter without letting the birds out. It was a nice surprise to see so many species of exotic birds up close – I hadn’t expected to see that at the Turtle Centre.
After wandering through the birdhouse, we made our way into a small building, which gave us a welcome reprieve from the heat. On the left is an educational video about the Centre, its research, and its conservation work. To the right is part of the turtles’ hatchery. Visitors can view little turtle hatchlings that are just days old through a window. There are even eggs still in incubators.
There’s also a bar and restaurant overlooking the turtle lagoon. Unfortunately, we arrived before 9 a.m., so it wasn’t open yet. It started to open as we wrapped up our visit, but by then, we had already moved on to the gift shop to pick up some souvenirs.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Cayman Turtle Centre was a fun and memorable stop. While our swim with the stingrays at Stingray Bay was the true highlight of the day, that doesn’t take away from our experience at Cayman Turtle Centre.
This makes a perfect low-key option for anyone seeking an animal encounter without swimming in the open ocean. The water park, turtle lagoon, and on-site restaurant make it especially appealing for families.
