A Day with the Stingrays and Starfish: Beyond the Usual Tourist Trails

Visiting Stingray City and Starfish Point is a rite of passage for many Cayman-bound U.S. travelers. What sets a private boat charter apart is the ability to immerse yourself in these iconic spots at your own pace, avoiding crowds and maximizing photo ops. Here’s what a laid-back yet adventurous day might look like.

You’ll depart George Town in the gentle morning light, steering toward Stingray City. On a private charter, you’re not joining a flotilla but enjoying the entire sandbank to yourselves. The guide carefully explains how to hand-feed the rays and respectfully interact. You linger as long as you like, capturing calm, crowd-free moments and learning about the biology of these graceful creatures.

Next, you glide to a nearby reef for a quick snorkel before heading over to Starfish Point. In contrast to bustling public boats, yours pulls up to a quiet corner of the shallow lagoon, where brilliant red starfish dot the pale sand. You wade waist-deep, spotting babies no bigger than your palm and larger adults with vivid patterns. The crew unfolds beach chairs and umbrellas, letting you rest under gentle shade while the sun moves across the sky.

For lunch, you might request a simple beach picnic—freshly made conch ceviche served with homemade tortilla chips, ripe mango slices, and cold coconut water. It’s not a rushed buffet but a leisurely meal where you can relish the sea breeze and listen to the soft lapping of waves.

If time allows, your captain can navigate to a forgotten cove or a shallow patch of reef frequented by turtles. Here, you swim shoulder-to-shoulder with these gentle giants, watching them graze on seagrass. Finally, as afternoon light softens, you return toward port, passing by Seven Mile Beach’s iconic shoreline and waving to swimmers below.

A private boat charter built around Stingray City and Starfish Point transforms what could be a hectic day of meeting schedules into a relaxed, memorable adventure. It’s about quality time with nature, personal pacing, and discovering little-known spots that feel uniquely yours.