Grand Cayman 2023
Day 3: Stingrays, blow holes, beaches and exploring the parks
Another beautiful day in the Cayman Islands and I'm up a raring to go at 5:45am! My internal clock just won't let me sleep in...even on vacation. It knows no better at this point but I'm ok with it because I won't have to readjust my schedule once I return home.
Last night was uneventful because we decided to leave the bathroom light on and shut the door. I'm happy to report I didn't get lost last night and neither did the hubby.
Sunrise was coming quickly so I got dressed, grabbed a warm nasty all carbon tasting pop and headed out to the dock to watch it show it's glorious scorching hot face. It was already warm out so I knew it was going to be hot out today. But, I'm ok with that since I live in the water most vacations anyhow.
Looking over to the left of me toward Rum Point there was some beautiful puffy orange clouds. It was so pretty and so mind boggling to see them all lit up when the sun hadn't even come over the horizon yet.
As I sat on the dock, 6:04am arrived and so did this beautiful sunrise. I watched until it finished its show and disappeared behind some clouds.
I headed back down the dock and noticed along the beach was our pool bird checking out what the shore had washed up from the previous night.
I also decided he might be onto something and decided to walk the beach area in front of our condo too. I ended up finding a nice sea urchin shell and proudly walked back to our place to present my findings to the hubby who was now up sitting on the patio with his coffee cup loaded with caffeine.
I brought out all of my "research" papers to put together a plan for the day that would excite anyone and if it didn't, then you better at least put on that smiley face and act like it did. It was time to pack our beach bags and stuff it with all the goodies needed for the day: 2 camera's, GoPro, 15+ batteries, GoPro stick and enclosure case, beach towels, snorkeling mask and fins, snacks and also a cooler with pop. But wait, where's the ice? There was no ice in the freezer ice maker now. Also, the bottle of water I put in there wasn't frozen either. Wait-a-minute-now! What's going on? Maybe this is why my pop was warm this morning as well. The refrigerator didn't seem to have things as cold as it should either. I guess we would have to forgo the cooler this time around and contact the rental company about it.
Sakari was up at 8am and I was a little shocked to see her arrive downstairs, dressed and ready to go. I guess it was time to make some breakfast. I whipped up some cheesy $9 scrambled eggs and some bacon. Now the bacon was something new for us. It was mentioned on the GC boards that people bring the packaged "pre-cooked" bacon that doesn't have to go in the fridge in their luggage. I decided to give it a shot and I'm really glad I did. It was yummy!
After breakfast we decided to watch a movie on Netflix until it was time to leave. Wait, why are we sitting around watching a movie while on vacation instead of out there in the ocean you may ask? I know, it's not like me at all because I have to have something planned every minute of the day.
Well, it was because we had an actual EXCURSION planned. Woo hoo!
It was now 9:30 and time for us to head out to our meeting place by 10:15am so off I went. Time to "wash" the windshield. Oopsy.
It was a short drive over past Rum Point to the Kaibo Kai area and boat dock. When we pulled up another car with the lettering "White Sand Watersports" pulled up next to us. This was our tour guide. He told us to come out on the dock around 10:15am and he would start signing people in...key word "people". Now just a little back history... when we booked our condo, on the listing it said that we would get a $100 discount with any tours booked with White Sand. So...today we are going on the STINGRAY CITY excursion!!! We hadn't done this for over 10 years (at this time I thought it was around 12 years). But Sakari was very young and I still remember that day so well. It was her first experience with a stingray and I caught the last bit of it on video and her little excited laugh after touching a stingray melted my heart.
She was 4 and 5 years old that trip and I knew she probably really didn't remember it, so I thought since we were staying here, we might as well experience it again.
When I contacted White Sand, they had said that they needed at least 5 people to go out on the trip. They said if they didn't get anyone else, if I was willing to pay for 5 people they would take us. Well, the cost of the excursion was $69/pp...yes Sakari is a whole person now and no longer considered a munchkin. So our total price for the 3 of us would be $207 - $100 discount = $107! Not bad right? If we had to pay for 5 people in order to do the tour then that would only cost us $245 total (with the discount) and that's only an extra $38 for what would now be a private tour. How great would that be???
This Kaibo Kai area/beach was absolutely beautiful. I had thought about staying on this end and now I see why so many like this place.
When we walked up to check in, we noticed there were already 4 people on the boat. I guess we weren't getting our private tour, but that was ok and we were looking forward to it.
It was a short ride out to Stingray City and me and the lady from the other group sat around chatting. Her and her husband come to GC often and they have been bringing their granddaughter with them since she was younger. Well, her granddaughter just graduated college and she thought it would be nice to bring her one last time (because she stated that she's getting to that age where she probably wouldn't want to be traveling with grampy and grammy much longer) and she brought her friend along too. I wish I had a grammy and grampy that did this for me growing up. How nice! She said her granddaughter had did her open water certification here in Grand Cayman when she was a teen and they were going diving while here.
It wasn't long before we could see other boats out in the distance. I knew that had to be the Stingray sandbar. Sandbar's are so cool. Just a place in the middle of the ocean that has gathered sand that is not deep and you can stand there in the water. So neat.
There were already boats and a few jet skis there but it was not crowded at all. I will also mention that today was a cruise ship day as well. So, I believe we probably got there before they did and this kept the amount of people down during this visit.
After finding our spot away from everyone, you could see all the friendly hungry stingrays headed our way.
We geared up and jumped right in. Our tour guide handed us squid to feed them and they came right up to you looking for a handout. They had a lot of friends with them too (fish) that would try to snatch the food from your hands before the rays could. The stingrays would just circle you waiting for the opportunity to grab a tasty treat when offered.
That smile said it all. Sakari was loving it. I even got some squeals and a lot of giggling out of her again (caught in the video I made).
Our guide let us hold them and kiss them for 7 years of good luck. I knew I had to do it since it had been over 7 years since I had kissed a stingray and my luck had ran out. Hmmm, a little over 3 years ago is when I had my foot accident. That's about the time my stingray luck would have ran out. Ok, I'm kissing this salty rubbery creature again for sure.
We had a great time just hanging out and sticking our heads in the water to watch the rays and fish.
There were schools of Crevalle Jack's hanging out and swimming with the rays. They were everywhere.
Our guide allowed us to hang out there as long as we wanted. I swam back to the boat, because walking was just taking too long, to change out my battery to the GoPro so that I could attempt to get some over/under pictures.
Sorry in advance but I had it on the wrong setting and it focused on the below water picture and they ended up blurry. I would not discover this for the rest of the day.
As we hung out in the water with the guide, the other family went back to the boat and sat. We stood around talking to the guide about life on the island, how long he had been there, what brought him there (his son moved there first), how business/jobs were there, how covid affected them and the business. We had looked up a lot of information about GC while we were waiting to leave for this tour: housing/rental prices, jobs and what they paid and estimates on how much it cost to live there. It was VERY expensive and they don't pay much for jobs and the estimates we seen online gave a breakdown of how many people in the family versus cost WITHOUT rent and it was something like $4800 for a family of 3 to live there MONTHLY and have to pay rent on top of that. It was just mind blowing and we have now crossed off ever wanting to move there. (Not that we would probably ever move to an exotic island in the Caribbean in my lifetime, but every vacation we always look up the possibility and dream while we're there...don't everyone?)
He told us how he moved into a very cheap 2 bedroom place for $950 when he first came and he still lives there and the landlord has never increased his rent in all these years. His wife does not buy anything from the grocery store unless it's on sale. He said they were very thrifty in all of their purchases to make ends meet.
Here's a short 3 1/2 minute video of our stingray excursion.
After awhile, we decided to head back to the boat and it was time to go over to the reef and snorkel. The reef was right past stingray city and only took about 2 minutes to get to it.
We were now about to snorkel the North Sound Barrier Reef. Now I normally don't care for boat snorkeling because I can't get close to the fish for pictures, but the reef was so pretty and a lot of it was really close to the water surface once we swam over to it.
I decided that I would use a life jacket. I didn't want to take any chances of getting tired with my foot and honestly I have been getting a lot of toe and foot spasms/cramps lately and today did not fail me on that because I did end up with some cramps.
Sakari and I immediately jumped in but the hubby decided to stay back on the boat this time.
We swam over to the reef and it was beautiful! Sakari took over the GoPro and I had the camera. I can always count on her to get close up's of everything down there because she LOVES to dive down and can hold her breath forever.
There was so much to see under there and we noticed there were A LOT, and I mean A LOT, of Niger Trigger Fish. I absolutely love these fish and the way their upper and lower fins flutter when they swim. They are so unique and pretty. I've always been excited whenever I run across one (usually when diving) but to see so many of them at the same time was just exhilarating.
We found our first Trumpet Fish
This shows how close the water surface is over a lot of the coral once we made it to the reef.
Blue headed wrasse
Parrot fish
Four eyed Butterfly Fish
A baby Spotted Trunkfish. Notice Sakari was down there getting the close ups with the GoPro.
We seen a bunch of WallyHoo Fish at the top of the water (sometimes I forget to look up when snorkeling). You will see those in the video.
We snorkeled as long as we wanted and then headed back to the boat satisfied with our snorkeling experience.
Then it was time to take our short journey back to the boat dock at Kaibo.
Here's short 3 minute video of our snorkeling, mostly filmed by Sakari in the water.
I honestly thought our excursion included a trip to Starfish Point but they headed back to the dock instead. Later I would look up the tour and seen that it didn't include the Starfish portion but that was ok because we had already been there. (It was another company that I had considered going with that offered it).
After our trip, since we were on this side of the island, we decided why not head over to Rum Point and check it out. I was aware that it had been closed for awhile because they were remodeling (and a lot of people at GC and frequent visitors are upset about getting rid of the "laid back" feel of Rum Point) but had heard that they were open now (but still working on it).
Once we arrived, we noticed all the construction both in the parking lot and at the buildings.
After parking and walking around the building, we noticed there were porta potty's on the side, buildings were closed and there was a food stand that wasn't open.
I honestly didn't see anything that was open as people had said. We were really hoping to be able to get lunch here and some drinks but that didn't happen.
So, we picked out our spot right by the water and Sakari and daddy planted themselves there and didn't move the whole time we were there.
I'll show you around the area and what it looks like now. It still has the old buildings but there is a new larger building that was more fancy and updated.
The above blue building was always there however I noticed there wasn't much lush greenery and palms in front of it like there used to be. I found that kinda sad to know they have cleared all this out now. Here is an old picture from 2013 to show just how much of it is gone now you can see the blue building in it.
Of course me being me, I wanted to head out and see what there was to see. Out I went and there was a lot of sea grass of course. It made the water have a brownish green tint and honestly I didn't think it was very pretty out in the water. There wasn't much to see honestly. I'm not sure where people snorkel here, because I seen it mention before, unless they are talking about the dock...but even at the dock there wasn't anything to see except the coral on the pier.
Over by the pier/dock
Since there really wasn't anything to see, I decided to walk down the dock and get some pictures. On the way down the dock I passed a lady and she said there were turtles out there and pointed. Well of course I went running. Well not really because I can't run on this leg but I did pick up the pace quite a bit. I did spot 2 turtles that would pop up here and there and I desperately tried to get a picture of their heads above the water. I think I managed to only get one picture and it was after he went back under but I could still see his body at the top.
As I was standing there something made me look behind me and a very large boobie bird was coming right at me. It seriously came within inches of me and I felt the large wingspan swoosh air past me like a small tropical storm just hit. WOW! It was crazy!
Some pictures of the dock area...of course it is a long dock and the further you get out the clearer the water is and the bluer it is as well. It would have been nice to have a ladder out there. I would have totally went snorkeling if there was one. I suspect that there's a lot more to see in that area.
They have added this little cover and some benches since we were here last.
Now below, the first picture is what it looks like now and the second picture was back in 2013 (notice the color of the water back then).
Looking down into the water. You could see some blue tangs down there.
You could see they were trying to keep the sargassum sea weed off the beach area.
Just so you know, if you are expecting that crystal clear blue Caribbean water, this is not the place for you. It's pretty but it also has most of the area with the sea grass, which means when you step anywhere near it, it's like stepping in gooey sinking mud. Some like it, some don't.
I headed back toward the chairs where I would find my family still plopped in their spot.
I took this same picture the last time we were there in 2013...
Now and next picture in 2013
I could tell that everyone was hungry and I sure knew my belly was rumbling, so we decided to pack up and head home for lunch.
I could tell this place was going to be nice when they finished it and it opened, but people have been eating here somehow (maybe they just wasn't open the day we were there) but everyone is complaining that the prices have jumped up a lot and that it's not worth it. I can't speak for that first hand of course and if you go there (which a lot of excursions do), you will hopefully be able to experience it better.
I remember this large iguana....I should have had Sakari get on it and pose like last time. Fail
The painting on it has never changed. How is this possible? Do they just keep painting it every so often?
Now their sign has definitely changed...now and before.
Just a short video of me standing on the dock at Rum Point overlooking the area.
Once again, out in the parking lot and the workers were real busy.
Once home, we had a couple of fried bologna sandwiches and then we were off to explore some more. Now remember the cruise ships are in port today so I wanted to stay out of that area and just explore the East End today and circle back around.
As we were going down the main road on the East End my MapsMe showed that we were near the blow holes. Then I seen a sign and immediately put my windshield wiper on, I mean my turn signal, that I was pulling over and parking. We absolutely loved the blow holes we discovered in Aruba and I knew that Sakari would be excited to see them here. Only there was only one here. I'm not sure if it's the only one, but it's all we seen while there. Someone needs to take the "S" off the sign.
They had steps leading down to the rocky area where the blow hole was and down we went. We immediately spotted it and headed over. It was just as neat this time as it was the last time we seen one.
Sakari stood by one for quite some time because it was a very hot day out and she liked the mist coming off of it onto her.
The opposite way, it looked like people were doing some rock stacking in the area.
This place was only a quick stop spot and then it was time to move on to the next place.
The next spot was right down the road and it took us a minute to find it. We had passed it at one point and turned around and found the small little sign by the wall...that would be Lovers wall. Yep, we had to get a picture at the wall so another quick stop it was for us.
Sakari had to have her picture taken as well...I didn't want to leave her out. Today she was a lover of travel...on the wall. Travel Lovers Wall. (She didn't like the idea because sitting on the wall was extremely hot and she didn't last long there).
Somewhere along the ride I snapped a picture of this cool house that I liked.
On down the road we went, but first let me clean my windshield, I mean signal that I'm coming back onto the road.
Next up was the East End Lighthouse. I knew from my research that there wasn't much to it, but it made for a quick stop and a little history around it. Remember our trip to Aruba where Sakari and the hubby climbed Hooiberg Mountain? It was 563 steps to the top. I couldn't do it because of my leg injury. Well, it was my turn to make up for that now. It wasn't 563 steps, but about 35 steps I think I read. Hey, that's a mountain for me since steps are NOT my friend these days. Flat ground...fine. Steps....not so fine. But I was about to do this.
So up we went....I made it to the top without having to stop and was proud of that accomplishment. There are stumps, trees and stones in the walkway, so you have to be careful when walking.
Once you get up to the top you will see the lighthouse and there will be signs explaining the history behind the lighthouse and area.
The information boards, located in several different area's up there, showed that the older lighthouse was a kerosene light and worked between 1919-1937 and then was replaced by the modern lighthouse and solar powered. It is still in use today. This area of the island was where early settlements were and Gun Bay was the entry between the east end and the other Cayman Islands.
We ventured off in other areas, which had a lot of gravel. I feel like not most people go in this area because most reviews don't even mention it. There really wasn't anything back there but a few more information boards about the area.
The hubby stayed back and read all the info boards and Sakari and I headed back to the steps. We were over it by now and knew that the hubby would come back and summarize what he read so why bother right? It was also very hot (today was in the 90's) and we wanted some shade.
We gradually took a step down. Then another. Then another. We made it half way down and looked over the wall into the place next door. There was a memorial there with flowers.
Finally we seen the hubby heading down the steps and we were relieved that we were about to be back in the car in a/c. Whew it's hot!!!
Here is a short video of us walking around the place.
So we turned back around and wanted to head to a beach we had seen along the way (Colliers Beach) but along the way I see a sign that says Colliers Wilderness Park. I hadn't read anything about it when I was researching places to go. I wonder why.
So we turned back around and wanted to head to a beach we had seen along the way (Colliers Beach) but along the way I see a sign that says Colliers Wilderness Park. I hadn't read anything about it when I was researching places to go. I wonder why.
I turned down the road, which was a gravel road and led pretty far back. We kept seeing signs to watch out for iguana's along the way. We seen NOTHING. We didn't even see any birds or anything and the road kept going and going.
So let me just say this because I believe I forgot to mention this about our tour yesterday at the caves... our tour guide was telling us that they kill any iguana's on the island because they are a very invasive species and there are too many. She explained that the government will pay $10 for any adults killed and $5 for any young iguana's. However, we would see signs all over the island that told us to watch out for crossing iguana's. So, it really didn't make any sense. There's even an iguana conservation place. So why are they killing iguana's but have this?
So, now that I'm home, this is my understanding. I believe they are maybe talking about the green iguana's?
Per Google:
What is the bounty on iguanas in Grand Cayman?
The bounty on large adult green iguanas has been doubled to $10 from the original flat rate of $5 per iguana when the cull began. Under the latest payment arrangement, the cullers also can earn $7 for smaller adults, and hatchlings will fetch $5
Also per Google:
What happened to the iguanas on Grand Cayman?
This powder-blue species once numbered only 10–25 animals left in the wild. And was considered functionally extinct in 2002. Thanks to an ambitious and concerted conservation program the wild iguana population of Grand Cayman is now rebounding, with evidence that natural breeding is occurring.
Ok, back to this Colliers Wilderness place...as I'm driving down the road I see a spot that turns off. Well, I decided to keep going straight first and then we would hit that place up on the way back. The hubby yells and throws his hands up to the roof (what he always does thinking this will protect him in a wreck lol) and I slam on the breaks, skid across the gravel and come to a stop. "What is wrong with you???" Then I notice that the road ends. Oops! As you can tell from the picture, it just appears that the road is turning to the right. Right? At least that's what I thought.
So I back up and try the other path. We come to this...
They had chains up prohibiting you from going any further so I assume whatever it was is either closed or it hasn't become anything yet. We were in the middle of nowhere, way back off the road, and the only one's back there. Yea, I wasn't feeling too comfortable about that and sure didn't want to get out and start walking that path in this heat. I would stay in the car, in the a/c, and chalk this up to one of our adventures during this trip that led to nothing.
Now that I'm back home this is what I have read on it: Colliers Wilderness Reserve is a 190-acre protected area located in East End, Grand Cayman. In 2010, we entered into a 99-year lease agreement with the Crown to use the site was an additional area to release Grand Cayman’s endangered Blue Iguana. At the entrance to this reserve, parking bays were developed with the assistance from a European Union’s BEST grant-scheme, which focuses on biodiversity and ecosystems. A nature trail was also created, which loops through the reserve to allow visitors to get an up-close-and-personal look at many native plants, birds, butterflies and lizards.
Well since we had not seen ANY plants, birds, butterflies or lizards along the way...I would say it was a bust.
Once we got back out to the road we turned off of, I see this...the sign doesn't say anything and there's a for sale sign?
Down the road was Colliers Beach and I was hoping to get a little beach and possible snorkeling in.
There really wasn't anyone here, which I found weird but we stopped anyhow and got out to check it out. A couple on bicycles showed up (from where I had no clue and why someone would be out in this heat on bikes...yikes) but they quickly left.
The beach area was pretty large and fairly nice. There wasn't a lot of natural shade but they did have a few huts there with seats.
The water however...it left a lot to be desired. The water was murky and not really pretty. I'm not sure if this is normal or just due to all the sargassum issues. The water was shallow and did have a lot of sea grass as well.
They had a dock there and we walked down to the end. It was nice and of course the water was a little clearer out there but still not enticing enough to get in. There was a ladder at the end so I assume people snorkel from there.
We decided not to stay and headed back to the car. They did have restrooms there with changing rooms and showers.
The parking lot was full of chickens and we watched this mother and her chick trying to cross the road. She was definitely teaching her youngster how to avoid traffic as they would start to go out and come back when a car was coming. Eventually they did make it to the other side safely.
A short overview of the area.
We left there and decided to head back to the house. Along the way we noticed a resort area with a small strip mall type area across the street from there. As we passed, we noticed there was a Foster's IGA grocery store and decided to do a U turn and head back. There were a couple of stores there, gift shop, wine store and then the grocery store. I told the hubby I just had to go in and compare the price of pop there to the $12.06 CI 12 packs we had purchased at the other.
I would find that this place was a little bit cheaper than the last place we went to...$10.99 Ci.
We ended up purchasing more eggs, pop, butter, ICE, some regular bread for Sakari since she was eating up our keto bread, some garlic salt and ICE CREAM!!! We actually found some sugar free ice cream. It was the same brand that we buy back home but yet it looked a little different. None-the-less, we had found ice cream that we could eat. (Hubby and I have ice cream every night before bed and was missing this). Our groceries ended up costing us $65.14 US ($52.11 CI) for these few items.
Now remember how hot it is outside. I was really worried about the ice cream and the bag of ice making it home without melting. We put them in the floor of the front seat and turned the a/c on high and on the floor as well.
I guess we didn't realize just how close we were to our condo because we made it home quickly and there was no melting involved. This place was actually closer than the last place we went to toward Rum Point. SCORE!
We put our things away and headed out to our dock. I knew I wanted to get in the water and explore and Sakari was game for this too. The hubby grabbed the kayak and followed us out into the water. We both liked that he was right there with us and if things got deeper and we got tired, we could just hold onto the kayak.
There was an abundance amount of small fish under the dock and we kept swimming through them and watching them dart in sync around us.
Slippery Dick Wrasse and a Surgeon fish
A school of Schoolmaster Snappers were watching us.
Some type of Goby zoomed in and out as we explored the area.
There was a buoy out in the water not far from the dock and we wondered what it was attached to and when we got there it looked like some sort of engine. It was covered in coral. I will add that this area was fairly shallow and you could actually stand up at any time. At one point I was holding onto the kayak string and pulling the hubby along. He told me not to wear myself out and I stood straight up. He said "ohhh, ok".
A Blue headed Wrasse and some small Damsels.
Sturgeon Fish
Then we started seeing more coral. Actual coral. Big coral. I was pleasantly pleased. Wow, I had no clue this was out here right in front of us and accessible at any time we wanted without having to go anywhere.
We were seeing a bunch of these little reddish yellowish striped fish. I'm not sure if we have seen these before. They are called Dusky Squirrelfish and they were all over anywhere we went on this trip.
There was such beautiful purple coral down there. Wow! I was loving it.
The further we went out, the better things were getting. I was super shocked.
Sakari found a conch
As beautiful as it was, it was time to head back. We could no longer touch at the reef there and it was getting late (sunset was about to happen soon) so it was time to get out.
A squirrel fish on the way back.
I came out of the water and with excitement I pointed out in the water and told the hubby "There's an actual reef out there!!!" You missed it by being in the kayak. There's a reef! I was so excited.
Then we headed to the pool for the rest of our sunlight time.
Sakari ran and grabbed the floatie and the hubby just relaxed on the chair.
We had a visitor tonight
The sunlight beaming out from the clouds were beautiful and I tried really hard to capture it.
We headed inside and Sakari and I headed for the shower and the hubby made us spaghetti with our keto noodles and hamburger and some bread with the garlic powder we just purchased. Yummy and just what we needed to end our day with...except we still needed our ice cream before bed too!
We watched a little tv, ate some ice cream (which DID NOT taste like back home) and then off to bed we went to dream about what we would be doing on our next adventure tomorrow.
