Stingray City

Duration: Stingray City tours are usually around three to four hours, depending on the type of trip you book.

Types: You can choose from group charters, which are a cost effective option, or a private charter which is a great way to spend the day with family and friends.

What to expect: Trips are often combined with a snorkelling stop at Coral Gardens, Starfish Point and lunch at either Kaibo or Rum Point. Some operators offer lunch on-board, and during Conch season (November to April), the crew will dive for conch and serve this Cayman delicacy on-board.

White Sand Water Sports offers a unique opportunity to visit Stingray City with smaller, more intimate tour groups, enhancing the experience by avoiding the typical crowds. They provide several options for the tours, including a popular Sunrise trip that departs at 7 AM from Kaibo Yacht Club. Alternatively, there are tours at 10:30 AM and 2 PM for those who prefer a later start. These tours last between 2.5 to 3 hours, catering to all ages, making it a family-friendly adventure.

Cayman Islands Sailing Charters offers you a personable, private sailing charter, tailored to your specific needs at competitive prices. Visit Grand Cayman’s most famous attractions, and its more hidden ones, and you can enjoy sailing, snorkelling, paddleboarding and fishing on their 37’ Prout Catamaran ‘Be Happy’, skippered by a US Coast Guard licensed Captain.

Ray Dayz Charters offers personalized and flexible private boat tours around Grand Cayman, tailored to your preferences. They operate with two vessels: a 23ft Starcraft and a 32ft twin-engine Pursuit, providing a range of experiences from snorkeling at vibrant coral reefs to sunset cruises. Special highlights include visiting the Stingray City Sandbar, exploring the serene Starfish Point, and experiencing the magical bioluminescence tours.

Ocean Frontiers offers specialized trips to the iconic Stingray City, providing an intimate and engaging experience with these majestic creatures. Their tours are designed to avoid the crowds, ensuring a more personal interaction at the sandbar where you can feed and swim alongside the stingrays. These tours are suitable for all ages and skill levels, making them perfect for families or groups looking to experience one of the Cayman Islands' most famous attractions.

Blue Sky Sailing offers a variety of private sailing charters that include visits to the famous Stingray City, allowing guests to swim and feed the stingrays in a beautiful setting. These charters are available as half-day or full-day options, providing flexibility depending on your schedule and interests. The half-day charter includes two snorkel stops at Stingray City and other nearby reefs, while the full-day charter includes the same plus an additional stop at Starfish Point, offering more time to explore and relax.

Blue Haven Charters offers customized private boat tours to Stingray City, providing an intimate and engaging experience with the Southern Stingrays in the shallow waters of the North Sound. Their tours include opportunities for both snorkeling at secluded coral heads and interacting with the friendly stingrays, making it a unique adventure for all ages. The tours are tailored to avoid crowds, ensuring a more personal and enjoyable experience. Each charter can accommodate different group sizes and includes amenities like snorkeling equipment and refreshments onboard. This family-operated charter aims to create memorable experiences with a focus on personal touches and local knowledge.

The Stingray City helicopter tour offered by Cayman Islands Helicopters provides a unique aerial view of this famous attraction. The tour, which lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, allows you to fly over the North Sound and circle the Stingray City Sandbar, offering a perspective unlike any boat tour. The helicopter ride not only showcases the stunning Caribbean waters and marine life but also provides insights into the natural habitat of the Southern Stingrays. This tour is highly praised for offering breathtaking views and a memorable experience.

There are in fact two separate sites: Stingray City lies in 12 feet of water, so is ideal for snorkellers and divers; indeed, it is often billed as the best 12 foot dive in the world. Stingray City Sandbar is where the majority of visitors are taken. Here the water is just 2-4 feet deep, so even non-swimmers can safely stand in the shallow water, surrounded by stingrays. The sandbar is suitable for all ages and offers the best photo opportunities.

In the past, local fishermen would anchor their boats in the calm shallow water inside the reef while they gutted their catch and threw scraps overboard. Over time, Southern Stingrays came to realise there were free daily meals in certain spots of the North Sound and so they returned day after day. Today, dozens of rays continue to visit the two sites, although nowadays it is mostly divemasters and boat captains who feed them squid.

Southern Stingrays are large creatures, their wingspans can reach two metres across, however, males are noticeably smaller than females. Their wings are soft and silky and feel like velvet as they brush past you. Stingrays are incredibly gentle animals and their instinct is to flee from danger. Their poisonous sting in their tail is only used for defensive purposes, mainly against sharks, which are their only predators in the open water outside the reef.

When you reach Stingray City your crew will explain how to interact with the rays and put you at ease. The rays love to be petted and you will even get the chance to feed them their favourite dish: squid. After the rays get a whiff of the squid and swim towards you, it can feel intimidating, but as they vacuum it off your hand (remember to keep your thumbs tucked in) you’ll fall in love with this amazing experience and will not want to leave the water! You may even be tempted to give your favourite stingray a kiss – if you do, you will be rewarded with seven years of good luck!

If you are looking to make your dollar go even further then we have partnered with some great local Stingray City Tour operators to offer you these extra discounts off their Stingray City tours. Offers range from 10% off your tour, to a free drone video, to free snorkel gear and even free beer.