Rum Point: A charming discovery on Grand Cayman
Jul 06 '02 (Updated Jul 09 '02)
The Bottom Line Located on Grand Cayman's north shore, Rum Point is an island retreat with a festive atmosphere, beautiful beaches, great snorkeling, water sports rentals, and plenty of shady hammocks!
I can't believe it took three trips to Grand Cayman for us to discover beautiful Rum Point! It's a tropical paradise, with shimmering turquoise waters, white sand, and enormous Casuarina trees with hammocks stretched between them.
Location
A 50-minute drive from Seven Mile Beach, Rum Point provides an escape to a relaxing, carefree atmosphere. Rum Point is located directly across from the North Sound.
Prefer not to drive? The Rum Pointer Ferry, a custom built 75 foot boat, can be boarded at the Hyatt Regency Canal.
The schedule, from a Cayman Islands website, is as follows:
Monday through Thursday
10:00 am, Noon, 4:00 pm
Friday through Sunday
10:00 am, Noon, 6:00 pm
Return from Rum Point
Monday through Thursday
11:00 am, 3:00 pm, and 6:30 pm
Friday through Sunday
11:00 am, 3:30 pm, 9:15 pm
Of course, you will want to verify these times upon arrival at Grand Cayman to plan your day. It is a 30-40 minute trip across the North Sound on the ferry. I definitely would like to try it next time.
If you prefer not to take the ferry, then a rental car is a must to get to Rum Point.
Our Discovery
We had been out driving that day and were looking for areas we hadn't explored on previous trips. According the to map, we were about to run out of road.
As we approached Rum Point we saw a brightly-colored cluster of buildings, and several large rum kegs stacked in front with a sign announcing Rum Point. There were quite a few cars, but we quickly found a parking spot along the tree-shaded road.
Picture Postcard Perfect
Looking out toward the ocean, I was taken aback. The shallow waters near the beach were shimmering and clear. The sand was white and glistening in the sun.
I thought I had walked right into a postcard. This was the most beautiful spot I had ever seen on Grand Cayman.
Laid-Back Atmosphere
There was an almost palpable air of relaxation as we walked among the trees and watched people lounging in hammocks or lying in the sun, half-dozing and glistening with oil. I could scarcely go two steps without wanting to stop and take another picture.
The tropical music enhanced the festive feeling as we wandered about. The brilliant colors on the hammocks and buildings were in sharp contrast to the white sand.
Great Vantage Point
A long dock stretched out over the water about 200 feet. A dive boat was docked at the end and a glass bottom boat was just pulling up.
A slow stroll out onto the dock allowed a panoramic view of the Point. The sound of laughter and music wafted out over the water. We sat on a bench protected from the sun and watched snorkelers playing in the water. The waves rolled in and crashed against rocks away from the shoreline so that the water near the shore was relatively calm. We could see the dark blue of the deep ocean water stretching out beyond the Point.
A Place to Dream Of on Cold Winter Nights
There was a tiny peninsula about 50 yards directly across from us. On it were only two palms trees and an elderly couple standing beneath them, holding hands. That is one of my favorite vacation pictures. I can visualize my husband and myself standing there many years from now, still marveling at the magnificence of the ocean.
On the other side of the dock young children were building sand castles and flirting with the waves. It was one of those sights that you want to permanently etch into your mind. Those are the memories that will take me away from the cares of real life and allow me to dream of a contented life as a castaway.
The Necessities
Dragging ourselves back into reality we left the dock in search of something cold to drink. Getting one last picture of the shoreline, I stopped to admire the colorful sign post with arrow-shaped signs indicating distances to various parts of the world.
You can enjoy a variety of liquid refreshments at the Wreck Bar and grab a sandwich or a burger. The Mudslides are very popular here and the legal drinking age is 18.
The Wreck Bar kindly provided a keg of cold water and cups for visitors. I was happy to see the cold water and even happier to see the restrooms by that time. The wildly decorated restroom building had the facility designated for "Clinton" and "Lewinski" among other male and female combinations. This was the most memorable.
Rum Point Club Restaurant looks like it would be a romantic location for a beach front dinner. Thurston and Lovie Howell we are not so I can't tell you about the restaurant.
Our idea of a romantic beach front dinner is eating cheesecake and sipping champagne while sitting in the sand waiting for the sun to drop into the ocean. And our vacation attire normally consists of T-shirts, shorts, bathing suits, and sandals.
There are several condo complexes in the area for those who can't bear to leave this lovely hideaway.
Activities
Red Sail Sports has a location here open on weekends that provides rentals for a variety of activities including jet skis, snorkeling, and diving.
Rum Point would be the ideal place to depart for a trip to nearby Stingray City. A glass-bottom boat also provides a unique perspective of the colorful reefs around the Point for those who water to stay dry.
You could easily spend a day here lounging at the picnic tables or in the hammocks. You could take periodic breaks from all that relaxation to snorkel, zip about on a jet ski, or take a boat tour. This is a great place to relax and unwind.
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diverpam
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Member: Pam
Location: Collierville, TN
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~~~~So many oceans...so little time!~~~~
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