Stingray City is the Cayman Islands' most iconic experience. In a shallow sandbar in the North Sound of Grand Cayman, southern stingrays congregate in numbers and have become remarkably tame over decades of interaction with snorkelers and divers. You can wade in waist-deep water and have the rays glide over your feet. Every tour operator on the island runs trips here. It's touristy but genuinely extraordinary.
Bloody Bay Wall off Little Cayman is considered one of the finest dive sites in the world. The wall drops from about 20 feet to beyond 6,000 feet, with near-perfect visibility, abundant coral, and a huge diversity of marine life. Jacques Cousteau highlighted it, and it has lost none of its reputation. Getting there requires a short flight, which keeps the crowds manageable.
Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman is consistently ranked among the best beaches in the Caribbean. The water is calm, turquoise, and warm; the sand is powdery. The stretch north of George Town is lined with resorts and watersports operators. It's busy but well-maintained, and the beach itself is public.
The Cayman Turtle Centre in West Bay on Grand Cayman breeds endangered green sea turtles, with the dual purpose of conservation and tourism. You can see turtles at various stages of life, including a lagoon where you can swim alongside them. Views on captive wildlife encounters vary, but the conservation program is legitimate.
George Town is a small, walkable capital that works well for a few hours of duty-free shopping and a look at the National Museum (housed in the restored Old Courts Building). On cruise ship days it can feel overwhelmed; arrive early or come on a non-ship day.
Cayman Brac's caves and bluff offer something different. The Bluff — a ridge running the length of the island rising to about 140 feet — has hiking trails and dramatic views. The island's sea caves are accessible and atmospheric.