Everything you need to know about visiting the Cayman Turtle Centre including how to get there using public transportation.
On our recent cruise on the Disney Dream, one of our ports of call was Grand Cayman and we were very excited to revisit this island.
This was not our first time visiting the Cayman Turtle Centre, however last time (in 2015) we visited as part of an excursion with our cruise ship that also included the Dolphin Discovery and you can read all about that trip here. While we enjoyed that trip, I felt like we did not get to really see all of the Cayman Turtle Centre and did not get to experience some of the best parts. We were really excited to return to Grand Cayman.
Tendering
There is no cruise ship dock in Grand Cayman, therefore all cruise ships must tender. Tendering is where you have to board a smaller boat to get onto the island. We found the process of tendering to be fairly easy. We had mostly calm water, but I would recommend holding onto young children getting on and off the tender boats because the ramp can shift.
Public Transportation
Public transportation in Grand Cayman is so easy to use and inexpensive. The bus terminal is only a couple blocks from the cruise terminal and from there you can catch a bus along the various lines on the island. However, if you just wait out front of the cruise terminal within a couple of minutes you should see a yellow or green bus (they look more like vans with a color stripe across the front). You can take either the yellow or green bus both head to the West Bay area of Grand Cayman. The difference is the yellow bus goes more along the coast, while the green bus goes a little more inland.
When you see a bus with the correct color going in the right direction just raise your arm and the bus driver will pull over. *Remember that Grand Cayman drives on the opposite side of the street as we do in the US.
Since the buses only stop when flagged down or when a rider asks the driver to stop, I highly recommend telling the driver where you are headed (aka Cayman Turtle Centre) so that he can tell you when you have arrived. This also makes sure that you are getting on the correct bus.
When it’s time to head back to the cruise terminal, just wait out front for a bus to drive by and raise your arm for them to pull over. We found the buses really easy to use, the drivers were very nice and inexpensive. The bus fare is $2 Cayman Islands dollars a person or $2.50 US per person (yes, they do accept US currency.
Cayman Turtle Centre
The main reason we wanted to revisit the Cayman Turtle Centre was to snorkel with sea turtles, however, there is a ton of things to see and do beyond snorkeling.
Breeding Bay
The Breeding Bay is the first exhibit you will spot when you enter the facility. It is home to green sea turtles that have reached reproduction age (typically about 16 years).
Turtle Encounters
There are several concrete pods across the breeding bay where you can have first-hand encounters with the yearling turtles. Currently, you can touch the sea turtles after washing your hands and with a couple of the pods you can get into the water with the turtles. However, you can no longer pick the turtles up.
Smiley’s Croc Cove
This exhibit is home to an 11 ft Cayman crocodile.
Turtle Lagoon
At the Turtle Lagoon, you can swim and snorkel in the saltwater lagoon with green sea turtles and various fish. This is such an amazing experience!
You will grab a snorkel mask and lifevest from the small building near the beach. They will also give you a rundown of the rules.
Then go out and explore the lagoon and enjoy the experience of snorkeling with sea turtles. We found that the majority of the sea turtles are in the deeper water and towards the back of the lagoon.
Predator Reef
You can watch sharks and other predators through the viewing panel at predator reef. They also have Shark Talks and feeding time during the day.
Breakers Lagoon
This huge swimming pool has two waterfalls and an underwater view of the predator tank. A great place to hang out and relax. It is also home to the Turtle Twister Waterslide which is a figure 8 water slide.
Caribbean Free Flight Aviary
In this aviary, colorful birds of the Cayman and the Caribbean fly freely including the national bird of the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Parrot.
Goldfield Galley
If you are looking for something to eat while at Cayman Turtle Centre, Goldfield Galley is the perfect spot. It’s an open-air eatery overlooking the Turtle Lagoon. The menu has a large selection of Caribbean and international items.
We had a fantastic time at the Cayman Turtle Centre and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something to do on the island beyond the beach.
Have you visited Grand Cayman?
