Visitors4 in Grand Cayman - Sea and Sun on West Bay Public Beach

[Visitors4]

Hoping to have day of sea and sun in Grand Cayman, and reading about hurricanes’ impact on 7 Mile Beach and erosion, we decided to head to West Bay Public Beach. This beach is further north from the port and appear to have been spared much of the erosion that the southern part of 7 Mile Beach has suffered. 

 

We took the public bus (USD$2.50 pp and very short easy walk from the port) and in less than half hour we were at West Bay Public Beach. It has food, drinks, restrooms and lounge chairs and umbrellas for rental. We paid USD$20 for two loungers and one umbrella. We settled in a spot around the middle of the beach which is convenient to amenities. We arrived around 11:00 AM on a Friday and the beach was still empty. Within an hour or so, more and more cruisers arrived. The water was absolutely amazing and warm! The beach and sand was beautiful. We visited in mid-February 2023. 

 

If you prefer to stay closer to the port and go to the beaches toward the southern end of 7 Mile Beach, suggest checking the beach conditions.

 

 

 

[Luke gs Daddy]

16 hours ago, Visitors4 said:

Hoping to have day of sea and sun in Grand Cayman, and reading about hurricanes’ impact on 7 Mile Beach and erosion, we decided to head to West Bay Public Beach. This beach is further north from the port and appear to have been spared much of the erosion that the southern part of 7 Mile Beach has suffered. 

 

We took the public bus (USD$2.50 pp and very short easy walk from the port) and in less than half hour we were at West Bay Public Beach. It has food, drinks, restrooms and lounge chairs and umbrellas for rental. We paid USD$20 for two loungers and one umbrella. We settled in a spot around the middle of the beach which is convenient to amenities. We arrived around 11:00 AM on a Friday and the beach was still empty. Within an hour or so, more and more cruisers arrived. The water was absolutely amazing and warm! The beach and sand was beautiful. We visited in mid-February 2023. 

 

If you prefer to stay closer to the port and go to the beaches toward the southern end of 7 Mile Beach, suggest checking the beach conditions.

 

 

 

Thanks for the update. This is what we plan to do in March.

 

[bookbabe]

@Visitors4 To clarify, the beach you were at, was it a small beach with a boat ramp nearby and a small parking lot or was it a bigger beach with a large parking lot and a playground?

 

Because I’ve never seen food or chair vendors at West Bay public beach, so that must be something new in the last few months.  West Bay beach is usually pretty deserted, so I have mixed emotions about it being “discovered” by more people.  

 

West Bay public beach is at the very far end of the strip, technically just past Seven Mile Beach, and it’s fairly small but it does have change rooms and restrooms.  Public Beach is a larger beach on West Bay Road, officially part of SMB and a bit closer to the port, with many more facilities.

 

https://www.explorecayman.com/things-to-do/beaches

 

Edited February 25, 2023 by bookbabe

[Visitors4]

The West Bay Public Beach we enjoyed is at the northern end of of the strip (near the Kimpton hotel). The bus driver knew where we wanted go when we mentioned the beach name. I think it may be popular now due to the state of beaches at the southern end of the strip. 

[bookbabe]

15 hours ago, Visitors4 said:

The West Bay Public Beach we enjoyed is at the northern end of of the strip (near the Kimpton hotel). The bus driver knew where we wanted go when we mentioned the beach name. I think it may be popular now due to the state of beaches at the southern end of the strip. 

If it was beside the Kimpton, you were at Public Beach, which happens to be on West Bay Rd, but it is NOT West Bay Public Beach.  West Bay beach is almost all the way to the turtle farm, and it’s much smaller, with a dock and boat launch ramp.

 

 

[KatherinePaynter]

What type of food was being cooked at this beach?

[bookbabe]

16 hours ago, KatherinePaynter said:

What type of food was being cooked at this beach?

Street (beach) vendors may vary from day to day, but it’s likely jerk something.

[Visitors4]

Hi Katherine, we didn't check out the offerings of the food vendors. The Kimpton hotel which is right next to the beach has restaurants. 

[dazey]

Can one go to Kimpton Hotel near 7 Mile Beach for lunch if not a registered guess?  Does anyone have recommendations for visits to other nice hotels for lunch?  Not really beach people so just sitting y the water would be nice and enjoyed a different view of the water.  We do this in Bermuda although many hotels have closed there also.

[dazey]

Has anyone done Resort-For-A-Day at Holiday Inn Resort? 

[bookbabe]

2 hours ago, dazey said:

Has anyone done Resort-For-A-Day at Holiday Inn Resort? 

 

Holiday Inn is not on Seven Mile Beach and I haven’t done a day pass there, but I’ve used Resort 4 a Day on other islands with good results. So far, what I’ve booked and what I’ve gotten has matched fairly well.
 

2 hours ago, dazey said:

Can one go to Kimpton Hotel near 7 Mile Beach for lunch if not a registered guess?  Does anyone have recommendations for visits to other nice hotels for lunch?  Not really beach people so just sitting y the water would be nice and enjoyed a different view of the water.  We do this in Bermuda although many hotels have closed there also.

Anyone can eat at hotel restaurants, even the Kimpton’s, although you cannot use even the beach chairs right beside their beach restaurant unless you’re a hotel guest, and dining at the restaurant doesn’t count.  
 

There are dozens of restaurants all along SMB, many with great water views.  Check out Cayman Good Taste for some suggestions.  Use the filters at the right of the page to narrow down area and experience.

https://www.caymangoodtaste.com/restaurants

 

[dazey]

Good info. Thanks.