Stingray City Snorkeling Tour: Swim and Feed Stingrays

Three stops, three animals: stingrays at the sandbar, coral and fish at the reef, starfish in the shallows

This snorkeling tour departs from Royal Watler Cruise Ship Terminal and visits Stingray City, Coral Gardens and Starfish Point, with a live English-speaking guide leading the way. You'll feed and swim alongside southern stingrays in 3-foot-deep water at the sandbar, snorkel a coral reef thick with tropical fish and the occasional sea turtle, then wade into shallow water to hold starfish by hand. The tour runs 3.5 hours total, including 30 minutes by boat to the first stop, 45 minutes returning to the dock, and shuttle service from local resorts if you need it. Snorkeling gear, life vests, bottled water and squid for the stingrays are all included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Stingray City35m · entry included
2. Starfish Point20m · entry included

Stingray City and Coral Gardens Tour

• Depart from Royal Watler Cruise Terminal
• Boat ride to Coral Gardens
• Snorkel among coral and fish
• Short boat ride to Stingray City Sandbar
• Swim and feed southern stingrays
• Boat ride to Starfish Point
• Handle starfish with guide instructions
• Return to shore

The experience

Stingray City sits 4 to 5 miles offshore on a sandbar where southern stingrays gather in water so shallow you can stand and touch bottom. The boat ride out takes 30 minutes from the cruise terminal. Once you arrive, the guide hands you squid and shows you how to hold it so the stingrays glide up and feed from your hand. They're curious and gentle, and the water is clear enough to watch them move. You'll spend time swimming alongside them, getting close enough to see their patterns and the way they move through the water.

Before heading to the stingrays, the tour stops at Coral Gardens, a barrier reef in the north sound with coral heads so dense you see fish constantly: parrotfish, snappers, groupers, and sometimes sea turtles, eagle rays, eels or lobsters. The snorkeling gear and life vests are provided, and the crew will fit you with both. The water here runs 8 to 10 feet deep, so you're floating over the reef rather than standing.

The final stop is Starfish Point, a shallow protected beach 15 minutes by boat from Stingray City. The water is so clear and so shallow you can walk and hold starfish in your hands: the guide teaches you how to handle them without harm, and it's the kind of moment families photograph. The whole day, including the bus rides to and from the terminal, takes 3.5 hours. Bottled water and juice are complimentary throughout, and if you're staying at a local resort instead of on the ship, pickup and return are included.

What’s included

• Snorkeling gear and life vests.
• bottled water and juice.
• squid to feed the stingrays.
• a live English-speaking guide.
• pickup and return shuttle service from local resorts.
• air-conditioned transport to and from the boat.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 12:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 17 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cayman Stingray City Safari

Is this one for you?Most stingray tours here run the same two stops: the sandbar and the reef. This one adds Starfish Point, so you get the animals you came for plus a third moment with a different kind of interaction, all inside the same afternoon without building the day yourself.

Traveler reviews

4.77★★★★★★★★★★

694 verified traveler reviews

5 ★607

4 ★48

3 ★18

2 ★8

1 ★13

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

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 exactly do you do with the stingrays at Stingray City?

At Stingray City, you feed the southern stingrays squid by hand in 3-foot-deep water, then swim alongside them. The stingrays are accustomed to human interaction and approach willingly. The guide shows you how to hold the squid so they feed from your palm.

Can you see sea turtles on this tour?

Sea turtles sometimes appear at Coral Gardens, the reef stop, though they're not guaranteed. The reef is thick with tropical fish, and you may also spot eagle rays, eels or lobsters while snorkeling there.

How long is the boat ride to Stingray City?

The boat ride to Coral Gardens, the first stop, takes 30 minutes from Royal Watler Cruise Ship Terminal. From there, it's a short ride of less than 10 minutes to Stingray City, and then 15 minutes more to Starfish Point.

What's included in the tour price?

Snorkeling gear, life vests, bottled water, juice and squid to feed the stingrays are all included. The tour also includes pickup and return shuttle service from local resorts if you're not departing from the cruise terminal.

How much time do you spend actually in the water?

The tour runs 3.5 hours total, but that includes 30 minutes to the first stop, 45 minutes returning to the dock, and 15 minutes by bus each way. Most of your time in the water is split between Coral Gardens, Stingray City and Starfish Point, with the guide controlling the pace at each stop.