Closest beach to Port?

What is the closest beach to the port? Can you walk there from the port? If not, are there taxis readily available? and how much? Is 7 mile beach close to port?...also whichever beach anyone recommeneds, please let me know if there are umbrellas and beach chairs available.

Thank you

7 Mile Beach is to the left of the tender port....not really easily walkable, but the bus is $2.50 pp, and reliable and so easy! If you go to the Seagrape beach area, they have ALL the amenities! Lounger/umbrellas, waterspouts, food/drink and restrooms. It's about 2-3 miles....when you're done, walk up to the road (short walk) and hop on the next bus headed to port!

My recommendation would be to take a taxi to the Calico Jacks/Public Beach area of Seven Mile Beach. (The Seagrape Beach section is now a hotel that does not allow day visitors to use any of the facilities, even for a fee.)

Seven Mile Beach is the main tourist section of the island. It's pretty well-developed. The quietest sections you're going to find there will be places like Cemetary Beach (farthest section from the port area) where there are no facilities. (Facilities = people) All of the sections of SMB are easily accessible by taxi or public bus from the port area.

Outside of George Town there are numerous nice beaches that may (or may not) have fewer people. The quietest ones will again be those that have no facilities such as restrooms, food, drink, etc. Those beaches will all require either a rental car, or in the case of some of the closer ones, a taxi with a prearranged return time.

Cayman doesn't have the type of private and/or all-inclusive beach resorts that some other islands do.

In general, along Seven Mile Beach, there's three types of beach access spots.

Hotels:

- very, very rarely sell day passes or allow cruise ship visitors to use their facilities, as they are often fully booked with stayover visitors and it's just not worth the hassle for them

Beach Clubs (for lack of a better term):

- these are really just bars/restaurants along the beach, with nice facilities they allow people (cruise ship visitors, locals, stayover visitors, whoever) to use in hopes that those people will spend money on food and drinks...and they don't allow outside food/drinks to be brought in, so they've got a pretty good chance

- popular spots include Royal Palms, Calico Jacks and Tiki Beach

Public Beaches:

- these are sections of beach that may or may not have any facilities, and are generally reached by a path from the road marked "beach access"

- popular spots include Public Beach (next to Calico Jacks), Governor's Beach and Cemetery Beach (both named after the landmark beside it)

Technically, all beaches are public (and therefore free) up to the high water mark. Nothing is fenced in, and you can walk the length of the beach along the water without being charged any admission fees.

In order to put your towel down on the sand above that high water mark, you either need to be at one of the public beach sections or at one of the beach clubs that has specifically encouraged people to visit.

You can't (legally, anyway) put your towel down in front of a condo building or hotel complex, or use their facilities, without permission of the owners/management.

There's really not that much difference between the various 7MB locations when it comes down to it. It's really personal preference. Most spots are free/cheap. All have restrooms and outdoor showers, and will have lounge chairs and umbrellas for rent. Most have a watersports operator there or nearby for rentals. None are the type of huge AI beach clubs you'll find in other ports like Cozumel. The biggest differences I've noticed are distance from the port area and the restaurant menu, plus the couple of notes below.

In order of distance (closest first) from the port area:

Royal Palms - http://royalpalmscayman.com/

- has an adults-only pool and rental beach cabanas

- doesn't do cruise ship excursions, has a $2pp entry fee

Public Beach/Calico Jacks - https://www.facebook.com/CalicoJacksGrandCayman

- not really a commercial beach club like the others, it's the actual public beach area with a restaurant next door

- has a playground nearby, and has public picnic shelters (free, first come first served)

- sometimes has excursions, no entry fee

Tiki Beach - http://www.tikibeachcayman.net/

- beach is a little narrow compared to the other spots (at least the last time I was there)

- most popular location for cruise excursions

- some have reported a high entry fee (incl chair & drink) but that isn't consistent

We want a beach that we can bring our own food and drink with chair rental. Do they have them or would I have to go to a "beach club"? Looks like we will be the only ship in port that day. We are a party of 25.

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We want a beach that we can bring our own food and drink with chair rental. Do they have them or would I have to go to a "beach club"? Looks like we will be the only ship in port that day. We are a party of 25.

Then you want to go to Public Beach. That's likely the only place with chair rentals and facilities that should allow outside food/drink.

Then you want to go to Public Beach. That's likely the only place with chair rentals and facilities that should allow outside food/drink.

Agree, the Public Beach beside Calico Jack's would be your best choice.

Just wondering .... Where are you planning to get your food since you won't be allowed to take it off the ship with you? :confused:

Someone posted that they have street vendors selling food.

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Agree, the Public Beach beside Calico Jack's would be your best choice.

 

Just wondering .... Where are you planning to get your food since you won't be allowed to take it off the ship with you? :confused:

On my previous cruise in the eastern Caribbean I took sandwiches off the ship without any problem. I won't be able to do the same in Grand Cayman?

Agree, the Public Beach beside Calico Jack's would be your best choice.

 

Just wondering .... Where are you planning to get your food since you won't be allowed to take it off the ship with you? :confused:

We always take boxes of cereal and packaged muffins with us. Never had a problem.

Someone posted that they have street vendors selling food.

There's one vendor that is sometimes at Public Beach selling jerk. I've never seen street vendors anywhere near the port area. What/where did people say there were street vendors located?

The only food it's OK to take off the ship has to be packaged and sealed by the manufacturer. ;)