George Town: Stingray City & Starfish Beach Private Boat Tour
What's it like to hold a stingray in waist-deep water?
You board a private boat and spend a half day at three water stops: Stingray City (where you wade and interact with stingrays), the Barrier Reef (snorkeling among tropical fish and coral), and Starfish Point (a calm beach with starfish in the shallows). Your guide, equipment, water, and stingray food are included. You avoid the larger tour groups and move on your own schedule. The whole experience fits a morning or afternoon without eating your whole day.
Options for this experience
3 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Stingray City, Snorkeling, and Starfish Beach
- Start tour at meeting point
- Meet and greet stingrays
- Snorkel at Barrier Reef
- Relax and walk at Starfish Beach
- Stingray City 35m
- Starfish Point 30m
What’s included
- Your half-day tour includes a local guide and private boat with crew, snorkel equipment and life jackets, bottled water, and food for the stingrays.
- Hotel pickup is arranged at the time of booking.
- All three stops (Stingray City, the Barrier Reef, and Starfish Point) are covered in a single outing.
Times
- Every day 08:30 13:30 18:30
Before you book
Operated by Island Splash Watersports
Prices and times updated 10 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
A half-day private boat tour in George Town takes you to three stops that most visitors come to Cayman Islands to see, and you're doing it without fighting the crowds on a shared vessel. Your own boat and crew means you move at your own pace, which matters when you're trying to get comfortable with stingrays gliding past your hands at Stingray City. The water there is shallow (you'll be standing), and the stingrays are used to people, so it's less like a wildlife encounter and more like being in a tank with them, except you're the one in the water. It sounds stranger than it feels.
After Stingray City, the boat heads to the Barrier Reef in the North Sound for snorkeling. The water runs about 8 to 10 feet deep here, which is manageable for average swimmers, and the coral is thick with tropical fish. You might see a sea eel or a Cayman lobster if you're patient. Your guide handles the navigation and points out what's worth looking at. You bring the snorkel gear they provide and the willingness to float and watch. It's not a long stop, but it's the kind of reef where you don't need to be an expert to see something worth the trip.
The last part of the tour lands you at Starfish Point on the north side of the island, a quiet stretch of beach where red and orange starfish sit in the shallow water like they're waiting to be photographed. Kids and adults both spend time here wading and collecting shots. It's the easiest part of the day: no gear, no boat motion, just walking the shoreline and looking down. By then you've been out for a few hours, so the stillness feels earned.
Your guide is local and knows the timing of each stop, which boats are where, and how to keep a small group moving without rushing. Life jackets, bottled water, and snorkel equipment are included. The stingray food is provided so you don't show up empty-handed. If you're arriving by cruise ship, you'll need to give your ship name, docking time, and re-boarding time at booking so the tour fits your port window. Hotel pickup is arranged based on where you're staying in George Town.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want the three main water attractions in George Town without coordinating transport, timing, or sharing a boat with thirty other tourists: the private vessel and small group size are what make the whole half-day feel unhurried.
More experiences you might like
Top questions
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How deep is the water at Stingray City?
Shallow enough to stand. You'll be waist-deep, which is why it works for all ages and fitness levels.
Do I need snorkeling experience?
No. The Barrier Reef snorkeling site is about 8 to 10 feet deep and suited for average snorkelers. Your guide will be with you.
What's included in the tour?
Local guide, snorkel equipment, life jackets, bottled water, and food for the stingrays. Hotel pickup is arranged at booking.
How long is the tour?
It's a half-day tour. The exact duration depends on your hotel location and which time slot you book, but plan for a few hours on the water and at the stops.
Can I bring my own snorkel gear?
Equipment is provided, but you can bring your own if you prefer.
Is this suitable for cruise ship passengers?
Yes. At booking, provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time so the tour fits your port window.
Are there age restrictions?
The tour is suitable for all ages. It's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.
What if the weather is bad?
Check your booking confirmation for the operator's weather policy. Most tours reschedule or offer refunds if conditions are unsafe.
George Town: Stingray City & Starfish Beach Private Boat Tour
3h 30m · EN
from US$ 600 per group
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.