Please help - Yes another question about Cemetery Beach

[Katetx]

Ok my questions:

 

1) Can we easily walk from Cemetery Beach over to Royal Palms? On Google maps it appears to be close.

 

2) Does the Bus (I think it is the lime green line) run pretty often up and down the routes or should we expect a long time span between buses?

 

 

Last of all......the reason why we are leaning toward Cemetery Beach is that the snorkeling is supposed to be pretty good. We want to be more away from everything...yet close enough that if we get hungry we can just walk or take the bus to go eat. Do any of you have any recommendations? Do you have a better idea? I am all ears. This is my first time to Grand Cayman and we are only there from 7:30 -4:00 so we want to not feel hurried. Thanks for your help. Sorry to be so longwinded!

[Luvsnorkeling]

Sounds like you are going to Cayman on a cruise. Cemetery Reef is a good distance from the port area. In our opinion, the snorkeling is not that much better there than it is at Eden Rock. Of course, Eden is a 5 min. walk from the place where your tender will drop you off. Yes, Eden can get crowded depending on how many cruise ships are in port. But so can Cemetery with locals and tourists who are staying on island. They regularly feed the fish at Eden so fish life will be good, and there is usually a school of really large tarpon that hang out at Eden.

 

It's your choice, but having snorkeled Cemetery, we were not that impressed with it as compared with Eden.

[Luvsnorkeling]

One more thing...wouldn't want to depend on buses to get back to the port area in time to catch the last tender. If the bus is not on time and you miss sailaway.... not good. As said before, Cemetery Reef is a good distance from the port. As far as Royal Palms, not sure of the walking distance between it and Cemetery. We don't recall a lot being right in the area of Cemetery Reef (other than some private residences), but we were only there once.

[camofwilliamsburg]

Done both. Eden Rock is really good and very close to the ship. There is not beach to the water but they do have lounges at the bar/restaurant before Eden Rock where you can use the lounge chairs and have sand under your feet. If you buy something from them they do not care that you used the chairs, and the easy walk into the ocean, and many times a life guard is there. Also, there is fresh water to clean your feet!. It is really nice there.

 

The other is easy to get to only if you have time. You should not count on the bus for either direction. So plan on a cab which you will need to prearrange or stand on the street and hail.

 

The later is a real beach which you can stroll along. There was nice snorkeling there at the time too, but given Eden Rock is so close we always go there.

 

We are trying something different this time being in Grand Cayman in Jan. We are doing the sting rays, reef snorkel and rum point for a new beach!

[TurtleTagger]

Walking from Royal Palms to Cemetery Beach is doable, but will take much of your port time up (at least 3 miles apart). The Green and Yellow bus lines (#1 & #2) are two of the busiest routes and frequently pass by Cemetery Beach on their West Bay/George Town Route (every 10-15 minutes or so). Many cruise visitors use them to get to Cemetery Beach. You just need to plan your time accordingly. While there are no facilities at Cemetery Beach, there are two restaurants (Tim-Buc-Tuu and Al Frescos) and a large grocery store (with hot buffet meals) within a 15 minute walk (also on the bus route).

 

My advice would be to take the bus up to the "Fosters grocery in West Bay", ask the driver to point out where Cemetery Beach is when you pass it, pick up some snacks/lunch and drinks at the supermarket, either take the bus back to Cemetery or walk along the beach or Get off at the beach, enjoy snorkeling the beach, walk up to a restaurant, eat and then catch the bus back to George Town.

 

Eden Rock and Cemetery present two distinctly different snorkeling conditions. Eden Rock is about MASSIVE coral outcroppings and fish while Cemetery's good coral is a bit farther from shore (+125 yds) and usually has fewer fish. Both areas are pretty well worn by all the visitors and have seen better days. Be advised, since you are looking to be "more away from everything", Eden Rock will be swarmed with fellow cruisers as it is literally in the downtown area and same bay as the ships are anchored. The beach at Cemetery is really quite nice.