by Anne Evans
It wasn’t until we had resided for over 2 years on Grand Cayman that I learned of Cayman’s Crystal Caves (CCC). For what it’s worth, the caves on Cayman Brac, one of Grand Cayman’s 2 little sister Islands, are perhaps better known to most.
And how did I learn of Cayman’s Crystal Caves? By stumbling onto an article that appeared in our Island paper, The Cayman Compass: https://www.caymancompass.com/2024/06/28/caymans-crystal-caves-among-tripadvisors-top-5-world-attractions/
So, Rick and I started to plan our visit to the rather remote area of Grand Cayman’s North Side where the CCC can be found in the vicinity of Old Man Bay
Cave History & Insights
Want to learn the history of these caves? Google them, and you won’t find much, other than the few paragraphs provided at the CCC tour’s web site [About Cayman Crystal Caves – Newest Nature Attraction in Cayman].
However, among the few brief and superficial tourist posts recounting their recent visits, I did find one that provided further insight and is worth a read, particularly prior to visiting (or if you are regrettably unable to visit in person): Exploring the Interior at Cayman’s Crystal Caves — Maia Muttoo. The latter was posted in 2017 stating that the caves 1st opened to the public in 2016 – so the post predates the closure and subsequent re-opening of the CCC under “new management” in 2022. It is extremely well written and offers a stunning photograph of the Lake Cave.
My Tour
The caves are indeed worth visiting. Their natural beauty is astounding.
Rick and I drove ourselves to the entrance, checked-in/paid and then parked. Only group tours are offered, so we took a bus with others on our tour to a trail. Even though it was now mid-July and well into the Off Season, our tour group was surprisingly full (20 people) and appeared to be predominantly Americans. Plus, there appeared to be 2 additional full group tours underway while we were there.
We walked a short natural trail from the buses to the first of the 3 caves we would tour. Our guide was a young man would provided interesting facts about the flora and fauna. I asked him how many caves total comprised the CCC and he said 105 [!] with a 4th due to be opened for tour in the near future. Interestingly, he said that he was a native Caymanian yet had been unaware of the caves growing up. He only learned about them when he went looking for a summer job.
The Open Ceiling Cave was the 1st we descended into followed by a short trail walk to the 2nd, Roots Cave.
Each was an interesting display of stalactites and stalagmites that invited the imagination to ponder the different animals and figures that the limestone configurations resembled. The final cave on our tour was the “piece de resistance” – the Lake Cave. Its underwater lake is an absolutely gorgeous display of aquamarine interspersed with vibrant shades of blue. It must have been a remarkable discovery for those that first encountered it. It does make you wonder what beauty can be found in the remaining 102 CCC.
Bats can be found in the CCC. They are the only mammals endemic to the Cayman Islands – 9 species total. Although it was not clear which species we saw hanging from the roofs of the CCC, they were present and plentiful. Be aware, rabies is not present in the Cayman Islands, and the Islands go to great lengths to ensure that they remain rabies free.
Comments to Ponder
The Zip Line: At the end of our tour and prior to boarding the bus to return to the parking area, our group was deposited at the Souvenir and Refreshment Shop. We took the opportunity to chat a bit more with our guide about the caves – their past, present & future. The young man proudly mentioned that there were plans to add a Zip Line. Silently, I was aghast. Why a Zip Line at a place of natural beauty with historical significance? And why on an Island where the highest altitude is only 24 meters? Why draw people to an area offering an amusement park attraction that exhibited absolutely no relevance to the caves?
A Booking Experience: I thought odd, if not inappropriate, not just that one must prebook all tours (as posted throughout the web site), but that all bookings are done through a US-based company (Peek) that tacks on an additional 6% fee that includes US Sales Tax. Personally, I found it a bit annoying to be provided a Caymanian Residents’ Rate and to still be charged US Sales Tax (there is no Sales Tax in the Cayman Islands, be you Caymanian or otherwise). Did Peek orchestrate the CCC becoming “Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice 2024 Award as the 5th Top Attraction in the World”? Is this a good thing? Is it just another excuse to commercialize it with a Zip Line?
The Cheetos Bag: Our cave tour took place back in July 2024. In early September 2024, I stumbled onto the following article entitled: Dropped Cheetos bag has ‘world-changing’ impact on Carlsbad Caverns, rangers say. Apparently, a dropped Cheetos bag in Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, far from trivial, disrupts delicate cave ecosystem, rangers say. Read in Miami Herald: https://apple.news/AuWlBET-KS3WAb_jeSmNeug
Since then, I have been wondering . . . is this the fate of our CCC? First the Souvenir and Refreshment Shop, then Trip Advisor and Peek the US Booking Promotor, then the Zip Line . . . and next time I visit, will I be picking up litter there as well?
