Stingray City Catamaran Sunset Tour: Hold & Feed Stingrays

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.81 (80 reviews) 94% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/45

Duration2h

GroupUp to 30

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Hold a stingray in the shallows, then watch the sunset from the boat on the way back.

A 2-hour catamaran tour from Grand Cayman to Stingray City Sandbar, where you wade into shallow water to hold, feed and interact with stingrays, or stay aboard to watch from the deck. The Buccaneer is a stable 50-foot catamaran, so seasickness is unlikely; life vests, squid for feeding, soda, water and fruit punch are included. The tour suits all ages and fitness levels—no strong swimming required, and you can stay dry if you prefer.

Step-by-step itinerary

Catamaran tour and stingray interaction

Board Buccaneer Catamaran
Sail to Stingray City Sandbar
Hold, feed, and kiss stingrays
Enjoy marine life and Caribbean waters
Stay dry and view stingrays from boat
Relax during sunset return to marina

The Experience

Can you actually touch a stingray? Yes—the whole point of Stingray City is wading into waist-deep water where the stingrays glide around your legs. You hold them, feed them squid, and some people kiss them for luck. The sandbar sits in calm, shallow water off Grand Cayman, so the experience is gentle rather than thrilling. If you don't want to get wet, stay on the Buccaneer and watch from the deck; the stingrays are visible from above, and you get the same sunset ride back.

The catamaran leaves the marina and takes about 45 minutes to reach the sandbar. Once there, you spend roughly 45 minutes in the water with the stingrays—long enough to get comfortable but not so long that the novelty wears thin. A guide is aboard to show you how to hold them safely and hand out squid. The boat carries life vests for everyone, and the crew keeps an eye on the group. On the return, you're back on deck as the sun drops, and the ride back to the marina takes the remaining time.

The 10-minute drive from most Grand Cayman hotels means you're not spending half the day in transit. Infants and small children can come along—they can stay aboard or wade in with an adult. The tour runs for all ages, from young children to grandparents, and the operator notes that you don't need to be a strong swimmer. Soda, water and cold fruit punch are on board, so you're not thirsty between the sandbar and the sunset.

What’s included

Life vests for all passengers.
squid to feed the stingrays.
soda, bottled water and cold fruit punch.
a restroom on board.
a live English-speaking guide.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Acquarius Sea Tours

Is this one for you?At 2 hours total, this tour leaves most of your day free—you're back at the marina by early evening, with time for dinner or another activity. The shallow water and stable catamaran mean you're not fighting seasickness or strong currents, so the focus stays on the stingrays rather than the conditions.