Camping in Cayman

Camping on Cayman beaches over Easter is a long time tradition in the Cayman Islands. Every year you will see hundreds, if not thousands of people camp on beaches all over the Cayman Islands. It’s a great opportunity for families and friends to get together and reminisce about simpler times, as well as enjoy the natural beauty of the Cayman coastline.

Popular camping spots in Grand Cayman are beaches along the Queen’s Highway in East End, in and around Rum Point and Cayman Kai and along Seven Mile Beach. However, on the latter it is always private, undeveloped land or one of the public beaches that you can camp on. A favourite spot in Little Cayman is Point of Sand.

The perception to date has been that the police quietly overlook people camping and that at any other time of the year it is illegal. However, it is in fact legal! There are a few very specific rules however, that must be observed to make it legal. These are as follows:

• If you camp on a privately owned piece of land then all garbage that you generate must be taken away with you when you leave. If you camp on a public beach then you must ensure that your garbage is put in the bins or if there is no bin (or it is full) then you take the garbage away with you and dispose of it properly somewhere else.

• There is a legal requirement for human waste to be disposed of properly. Therefore you must either rent a portaloo or camp near a public toilet.

• You are allowed to camp on the Government’s public beaches but you cannot camp on land which has a "Do Not Trespass" sign on it, or on land which has a private property sign and the owner has not given you permission to camp there.

• You can reserve a cabana on one of the public beaches by calling the Recreation, Parks & Cemeteries Unit (Tel: 345 946-8250. There is no charge.  

• Lighting a bonfire is illegal unless permission is gained from a) the Department of Environmental Health (345 949-6696) and the Fire Department (345 949-2276). You should allow two weeks notice and there may be a charge of CI$25. Keep bonfires away from trees and bushes. Make sure ashes are extinguished with water and that they are not smouldering when you leave the camp site. 

• If you light a fire or have a propane BBQ then the proper equipment must be used to prevent injuries.

• All bonfires/cooking fires must be covered properly (i.e. buried as deep as possible) after you have finished with it to prevent anyone stumbling into it by mistake and getting burned.

• Importing tents and camp beds is allowed.

Check out our article on Easter in the Cayman Islands for more Easter traditions.