Place · Seven Mile Beach (south)
Stingray City sandbar
The island's best-known boat trip: stand in waist-deep water in North Sound while southern stingrays glide round you. Book a small boat for the first departure of the morning, before the cruise groups; it is cancelled in rough weather, so keep a spare day.
- Wild rays in waist-deep water
- First departure is calmer
- Weather-dependent
- Go first morning departure
- Timed ticket: book ahead
- Hard in a wheelchair
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bah…Traffic drives on the left and roundabouts are common
- Caribbean ↗Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bahamas and Jamaica) jail visitors for a single stray bullet or cartridge in their luggage; empty every bag and pocket before you pack.
- Caribbean ↗From August to October keep a free last day before your flight home and check the national hurricane centre daily; airports close when a named storm approaches.
- Caribbean ↗Wearing camouflage clothing is illegal for civilians in several islands, including Barbados, Antigua, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica; leave it at home, children's clothes included.
- Cayman Islands ↗The Cayman Islands set their own entry rules as a British Overseas Territory; check official Cayman Islands government sources for your passport.
- Cayman Islands ↗Marine parks are enforced: do not take coral, shells or fish, and follow the rules at Stingray City.
- Cayman Islands ↗Drug laws are strict, including for cannabis; do not carry any.
- Seven Mile Beach and George Town ↗June to November is hurricane season with the peak in August to October: buy flexible fares and cover storm cancellations.
- George Town, Grand Cayman ↗On cruise-ship days the George Town waterfront fills from about 09:00: do the waterfront early or on a day without ships (ask your hotel for the ship calendar).
- George Town, Grand Cayman ↗Traffic drives on the left and roundabouts are common: allow extra time if you rent a car, and do not drive after drinking.
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Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, best time to go, opening hours
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Usually 08:00–16:00Usually 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Crowds
Go first morning departure
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Fri · busiest Sat, Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: about US$50–100 (2026 estimate)
Price depends on boat size, length and what is included; children usually pay less.
- Time to spend
- 180–210 min · up to 270 min if you linger
Best time to go
Busiest 10:00–14:00 on cruise days, when large boats arrive together; the first departure has the fewest people.
By weekday: quietest Mon–Fri, busiest Sat, Sun.
Opening hours
- Hours
- 08:00–16:00 (typical, check)
- Note
- Trips depart by operator schedule and run only when the sea allows; times and cut-off for booking change with the season.
- Hours note
- Departures by operator; confirm the first and last time.
Which month is quietest
- Janheavy
- Febheavy
- Marheavy
- Aprbusy
- Maybusy
- Junbusy
- Julbusy
- Augbusy
- Sepquiet
- Octlight
- Novbusy
- Decheavy
Quietest Sep · busiest Dec–Mar.
Estimate: desk reasoning from cruise and high-season patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Taxi or rental car to the operator's dock; many boats leave from marinas on North Sound and near Seven Mile Beach
- Ticket
- timed advance official · official site
- Stairs
- boat ladder and a wade in shallow water
- Shoes
- Sandals or water shoes; nothing to wear on the boat deck.
Accessibility
- NoStep-free entrance · boat ladder and a wade in shallow water
- Check firstAccessible toilet
- NoWheelchair
- NoStroller · poor
Sensory load
- Sensory load3/5 Medium
Exposure: high
What to bring and the rules
- Your booked ticket or QR code · Entry is timed and sold ahead on the official site.
- Footwear that suits the rule · Sandals or water shoes; nothing to wear on the boat deck.
- Water, a hat and sun or rain cover · Rated high exposure: little shelter while you walk.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Bailouts
- heat: Boat shade and a rash vest; swim breaks between stops
- crowd: Ask for a small-group or first-departure trip, or pick a different day
- rain: Rain does not stop trips but wind does; ask your operator on the morning
Nearest rescue anchor: A — Public beach access and shade (field-verify)
Problem
Red lines
- Do not grab, pull or lift a stingray, and do not stand on the sea floor away from the guide.
- Keep your own food away from the water: only operator squid is used, and only by the crew.
- No sunscreen worn into the water unless it is reef-safe, and none on your hands before you handle rays.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
Tickets, prices and entry
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- Timed entry: book a slot on the official site; walk-up slots can run out.
- What's closed
- Strong wind or a north swellcheckOperators cancel or reroute; keep one day free in the plan.
- Hurricane season (June–November)checkStorm warnings close North Sound for days.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Stingray City half-day boat trip, per adult | about US$50–100 (2026 estimate) | Price depends on boat size, length and what is included; children usually pay less. |
| Private charter, small group | about US$500–900 (2026 estimate) | By the boat, not by the person; check what is included. |
| Snorkel gear | usually included | Confirm gear, drinks and tip policy when you book. |
Time on site, inside and your plan
Time on site
Minimum
150min
Worthwhile
180min
Typical
210min
p95
270min
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (210 min).
With the other 30 min, these are a walk away (their own visit time is on their page):
- Camana BayBack by car after the boat.0 min on foot · 30 min spare
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Step-free check, who it suits, facilities
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: no · noboat ladder and a wade in shallow water
- Accessible toilet: check · check
- Wheelchair: no · no
- Stroller: no · nopoor
Boarding is by ladder or steps and the sandbar needs a wade. Some operators help; ask before you book.
Rules on site
- marine
- The stingrays are wild animals fed by operators. Follow your guide: hold a ray only as the guide shows you, keep your hands away from the barb and the mouth, and shuffle your feet when you walk on the sand.
- safety
- Rays can injure people who step on or grab them; pregnant travellers and anyone unsteady on their feet should ask the operator before booking.
- sun
- Wear a rash vest and reef-safe sunscreen; there is little shade on the sandbar.
With kids
- with kids
- Fine for confident children over about 6 in a life vest; the water is about waist-deep for adults.
- child price
- usually a reduced child fare; ask
Combine with
Combine with
- 0 minCamana Bay — Back by car after the boat.
Walk the Seven Mile Beach (south) area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
Deep dive
Questions, photos, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Is it worth the cost?
For most first visits, yes. It is the one thing on the island you cannot do elsewhere. Pick a small boat and an early start.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Can I go on my own?
Not without a boat. Book a trip with a licensed operator; the sandbar is in open water.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Is it safe?
Guided trips are routine, but rays have barbs. Listen to the guide and never step on or grab one.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Photos
Deep dive
Sources
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Source: Price
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates. The official site has the current price.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best hour
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The quietest window written into this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.
Source: Bag rating
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Rated for the whole walking cluster, from desk research, not for this entrance.