Private Boat Tour Cayman Islands: Stingray City & Starfish Point

Touch stingrays at their sandbar, then walk a starfish beach, without the crowd of a group boat

A private boat tour in the Cayman Islands takes you to Stingray City Sandbar and Starfish Point in the North Sound, where you handle stingrays and starfish in their natural habitat. The boat is yours alone, so your captain can shift stops around the three-hour window to match what you want to do that day. Water, snorkelling gear and snacks are included; your guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour with stops in Cayman Islands

• Travel by boat to Stingray City Sandbar
• Touch and pet Southern Atlantic Stingrays
• Visit Starfish Point beach
• View and touch starfish, relax on beach
• Stop at popular restaurant for food and smoothies
• Return travel by boat

The Experience

The boat leaves with your group and heads to Stingray City Sandbar, where Southern Atlantic stingrays gather in shallow water. You wade in, touch and feed them — the operator notes that kissing one brings seven years of good luck, though the real draw is the chance to handle an animal most people only see in photos. After an hour or so in the water, you move on to Starfish Point, a beach where starfish sit in the sand and shallows. You can walk among them, pick them up and photograph them without the noise of a larger tour group anchored nearby.

Because the boat is private, your captain can shuffle the order or timing of the two main stops depending on conditions, the light, or what you'd rather do first. If you want to eat, you can stop at one of the island's popular restaurants for a Cayman burger or a smoothie instead of, or between, the wildlife sites. The tour runs three hours total, including travel time between stops. Snorkelling equipment is on board if you want to use it; water, sodas and snacks come with the booking.

What’s included

• Water, snorkelling equipment and a cooler with ice.
• sodas and snacks throughout the tour.
• a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• the option to stop at a local restaurant for food if you choose.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Otta Control Charters

Is this one for you?Your captain adjusts stops around what you want to see and how long you linger at each site, with stingrays and starfish all to yourself.

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Top questions

What exactly do you do when you visit Stingray City?

At Stingray City Sandbar, you wade into shallow water where Southern Atlantic stingrays live and interact with them — you can touch, pet and feed them. The sandbar is their natural habitat, and the stingrays are accustomed to visitors.

Can you snorkel on this private boat tour?

Snorkelling equipment is included and available on the boat. You can use it at either stop or skip it and stick to wading and handling the animals instead.

How long is the boat tour and what's included in the price?

The tour runs three hours total, including travel between Stingray City and Starfish Point. Water, snorkelling gear, a cooler with ice, sodas and snacks are all included.

Can your captain change the order of the stops?

Yes. Because the boat is private, your captain can adjust which stop comes first or shift the timing to suit the conditions and what you want to do during the three-hour window.

What languages does the guide speak?

Your guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese, depending on which you need.