Cayman Crystal Caves: the underground island
Beneath the tropical forest at Old Man Bay, guided tours walk you through three spectacular caves of stalactites, stalagmites and a crystal-clear underground lake. Here is how a visit works and how to plan it into a North Side day.
What the Crystal Caves are
Grand Cayman is built on limestone, and at Old Man Bay on the North Side that limestone opens into a run of caves millions of years in the making. Tours take you through three of them, chambers hung with stalactites, floors rising in stalagmites, and a still, crystal-clear lake reflecting it all back at you.
The walk between caves is its own attraction: a shaded tropical forest of banyans, air plants and birdsong, with guides who tell the story of the island above and below ground.
How a visit works
Visits are by guided tour only, which is what keeps the caves pristine. Tours run daily between 9:00am and 5:30pm and take roughly an hour and a half at an easy pace. Wear proper footwear, paths are natural stone and can be damp, and bring water for the forest walk.
Book ahead in high season and on cruise-ship days; the caves have become one of the most popular attractions on the island.
Book a morning tour: cooler in the forest, quieter in the caves, and you keep the afternoon free for Rum Point ten minutes up the road.
Make a North Side day of it
The caves sit minutes from the best of the quiet north: pair your tour with a lazy afternoon at Rum Point, the gardens and blue iguanas of the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park down Frank Sound Road, or carry on along the coast to East End for dinner above the sea.
Frequently asked questions
Can you explore the caves on your own?
No, access is by guided tour only, which protects the formations and is genuinely better: the guides make the geology and island history come alive.
How long does the tour take?
About 90 minutes, covering three caves and the forest walk between them, at an easy, family-friendly pace.
What should I wear?
Closed, grippy shoes and light clothing. The paths are natural stone and can be damp, and the forest walk is warm at midday.
See every island experience in one place
Browse island experiences