Grand Cayman Snorkeling Tour: Private Boat, Stingray City
Stingrays, tropical fish and starfish in one half-day on the water
Private snorkeling in Grand Cayman aboard a Sea Ray 420 Sundancer with a live guide in English or Spanish, snorkel equipment, life jackets and food for the stingrays included. You board at an upscale marina, hand-feed stingrays at Stingray City, snorkel Coral Gardens where the water runs 8–10 feet deep and tropical fish dart through colorful coral, then walk the shoreline at Starfish Beach to see red and orange starfish. The boat seats up to 12 guests and carries a restroom, cooler with ice and water, and a heavy-duty ladder for easy entry and exit. Choose the 9am or 2pm departure to fit your schedule.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Private boat tour with snorkeling and beach
- Board boat at upscale marina
- Visit Stingray City and interact with stingrays
- Snorkel at Coral Gardens with tropical fish
- Relax and explore Starfish Beach
What’s included
- Snorkel equipment and life jackets for everyone.
- bottled water, sodas and two six-packs of local beer.
- food for the stingrays.
- a live guide in English or Spanish.
- restroom and cooler with ice on board.
- the heavy-duty ladder for easy water entry and exit.
- Every day 09:00 14:00
Information
Private snorkeling in Grand Cayman on your own boat with guide, snorkel gear and life jackets included: hand-feed stingrays at Stingray City.
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The experience
What makes this different from the crowded group boats is the private charter: you're on your own boat with your own guide instead of packed in with thirty other people. The Sea Ray 420 Sundancer holds up to 12 guests comfortably, which means you're not fighting for space at the rail or waiting your turn to get in the water. The boat leaves from a clean, upscale marina and heads straight to Stingray City, where you'll hand-feed the stingrays in the shallow sandbar: a moment that works for kids and adults alike because the water is calm and the stingrays are used to people.
From there you move to Coral Gardens, a snorkeling site where the water sits 8–10 feet deep and holds enough tropical fish, moray eels and Cayman lobsters moving through the coral that you'll stay in longer than you planned. The boat carries all the snorkel gear and life jackets you need, and the heavy-duty ladder makes getting in and out of the water easy: no scrambling or hauling yourself up. About 10 minutes by boat from Stingray City is Starfish Beach, a quiet stretch where you can walk the shoreline and find red and orange starfish in the shallows. It's the kind of place where the photos actually turn out.
The half-day runs four hours and includes a local guide who speaks English or Spanish, snorkel equipment, life jackets, bottled water, sodas, two six-packs of local beer and the food the stingrays eat. The boat has a restroom on board and a cooler with ice, and you're welcome to bring your own food or drinks if you want. You can book the 9am or 2pm departure depending on when you want to be on the water.
Top questions
Can I be picked up at my hotel?
You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 16 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you arrange it with the operator after booking. Pickup is about 15 minutes before departure.
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
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.
What's the water like at Coral Gardens where you snorkel?
Coral Gardens sits in 8–10 feet of water and holds tropical fish, moray eels and Cayman lobsters moving through colorful coral: deep enough to feel like real snorkeling but shallow enough that you can see the bottom and the life around it clearly.
Do I need my own snorkel gear or is it provided?
Snorkel equipment and life jackets are included on the boat, so you don't need to bring your own or rent separately. Everything is there and fitted for you.
How long is the boat ride from Stingray City to Starfish Beach?
Starfish Beach is about 10 minutes by boat from Stingray City, so you're not spending half the day traveling between stops.
What's included to eat and drink on the boat?
The boat carries bottled water, sodas and two six-packs of local beer included in the price, plus a cooler with ice, and you're welcome to bring your own food or drinks along if you prefer.
Can I bring my kids on this snorkeling trip?
Yes, Stingray City is described as ideal for all ages, the water at Coral Gardens is manageable for children, and Starfish Beach is a quiet, relaxing spot that works well for families with kids.
What time do the departures leave and how long is the whole experience?
You can choose either the 9am or 2pm charter, and the half-day experience runs four hours total from the time you board at the marina.
Operated by Island Splash Watersports. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated yesterday
Grand Cayman Snorkeling Tour: Private Boat, Stingray City
4h · EN · ES
from US$ 1,600 per group
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.