North Side · Across the North Sound
Cross the North Sound to Grand Cayman's quieter North Side, where the calm, shallow water at Rum Point and the sea stars of Starfish Point make a natural extension to a day on the water.
Location
Short answer: both are on Grand Cayman's North Side, across the North Sound from the island's western shore. Rum Point faces the Sound from the North Side, and Starfish Point lies nearby at the end of Water Cay Road, close to Cayman Kai.
From the canals and marinas behind the Seven Mile Beach corridor, the North Side is the far shore of the lagoon. By road it is a drive of about 45 minutes from most hotels, according to Visit Cayman. By boat it is simply the other side of the Sound, and the crossing becomes part of the day rather than time spent getting somewhere.
Cayman Kai is the secluded stretch near the island's northern tip, and Kaibo, with its marina and beach bar, sits on the Sound side of it. Starfish Point is in the same corner of the island, which is why the three names so often appear together in a North Side plan.
The North Side stops
Two very different stops a short distance apart: one for lingering, one for looking.
Visit Cayman describes calm, shallow water, hammocks, picnic tables, changing rooms and showers, with food and drink served daily. The beach club is said to be the birthplace of the Mudslide.
Red cushion sea stars, also known as West Indian sea stars, rest on the sandy bottom in shallow water. The beach is small and can disappear at high tide.
Visit Cayman describes Cayman Kai as a secluded beach area at the island's northern tip, with a lagoon, palms and water sports. On its North Sound side, Kaibo has a marina on Water Cay Road and a beachside bar and restaurant that is popular with boaters.
Like Rum Point, Kaibo can be a place to step ashore if your operator's plan includes it and the venue's hours suit your timing. It is also a reminder that the North Side has its own docks and marinas, so a charter's departure point is not always on the western shore. Our marinas and departure points guide explains the main areas.
Starfish Point rules
Sea stars are protected in Cayman waters, and the handling guidance issued by the National Conservation Council is specific about what is and is not allowed.
The guidance, published by the Department of Environment, recommends no-touch observation at all times. If a sea star is handled, it may only be held flat and fully submerged, supported in your hands, and it may be turned over under the water to see its feet. That allowance applies only to the West Indian sea star, and only at Starfish Point.
Anywhere in Cayman waters, the following count as prohibited take: lifting any part of a sea star out of or above the water, including for a photo; bending it or manipulating its arms; holding it by its feet; breaking or piercing its skin; and taking it away. DoE notes that repeated mishandling can kill sea stars or drive them from the area.
Read the details on DoE's starfish page before you go.
Getting there
Short answer: the road is the simplest way to visit Rum Point or Starfish Point on their own. A private boat makes more sense when you want to combine them with Stingray City and the rest of the North Sound in a single outing.
Both approaches work, and some visitors drive over one day and come by boat on another. The real difference is what else you want to fit in, and how much the crossing itself appeals to your group.
| Consideration | By private charter | By road |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there | Crossing time depends on the departure point, the vessel and the conditions. | About 45 minutes by car to Rum Point from most hotels and the cruise terminal, per Visit Cayman. |
| Combining stops | Stingray City, a snorkel and the North Side can fit into one outing when time and conditions allow. | Stingray City needs a separate boat trip. |
| The journey | Crossing the Sound is part of the experience. | Time on the road, driving on the left or by taxi. |
| Weather | Wind and sea state can change the order of stops or rule some out. | Less affected by sea conditions, though the tide still shapes Starfish Point. |
| Time ashore | Depends on whether going ashore is part of the plan and where the boat can tie up or anchor. | As long as you like, within the venues' hours. |
A longer day
Many visitors want all three: the stingrays, the sea stars and some time at Rum Point. Whether that is realistic depends on your charter length, the conditions and where you depart, so we confirm it with your quote. The outline below is one illustrative way such a day might run, not a fixed itinerary.
Often a canal or marina on the western side of the Sound, though some operators work from the North Side.
Meet the rays in about waist-deep water, following the rules in our Stingray City guide.
Boats stay in water deep enough for their draft, so reaching the shallows may mean wading or swimming in. The operator decides what suits the vessel and the tide.
Time ashore if it is part of the plan: calm water, the hammocks or a meal you have arranged with the venue.
The return depends on wind and sea state, so leave some flexibility in your evening plans.
Weather and route
Reaching the North Side by boat means crossing the whole width of the Sound, so you experience whatever the wind is doing along the way. The reef breaks much of the open-sea swell, but a fresh breeze can still raise a chop across the lagoon, and smaller boats feel it most.
Normal prevailing winds are from the east to northeast. In winter, roughly late October to early April, cold fronts known locally as Nor'westers can bring strong north to northwest winds and rough seas to the northern and western coasts, which puts the North Side and the Sound in their path. On those days, Rum Point and Starfish Point may be the first stops to come off the plan.
The tide matters too. At Starfish Point it changes how much beach there is and how far the shallows extend, and it affects how close a boat can come. For all these reasons, the operator decides the route, the order of stops and whether a stop is suitable, and may suggest a closer alternative or another date. If the North Side is the priority for your trip, say so when you book so the plan can be built around it.
Our North Sound guide explains how wind, route and departure point shape a day inside the reef, and the charter planning guide covers seasons in more detail.
Before you book
A North Side charter has more moving parts than a single stop. These are the details worth settling before your date.
Questions and answers
Straight answers about visiting the North Side by private boat.
Often, yes. Some operators use a dock at Rum Point, while others anchor off. Whether your boat can tie up, how long it can stay and whether going ashore is part of the plan depend on the operator, the vessel and the conditions on the day, so we confirm the details in your quote.
Visit Cayman says food and drink are served at Rum Point seven days a week, but opening hours, menus and any reservations are set by the venue itself. Dining ashore is your own arrangement with the restaurant or beach club, and it is not part of a charter unless your quote specifically says so. Check the venue's hours against your planned arrival time.
No-touch observation is always recommended. If a sea star is handled at all, Cayman's guidance allows it only at Starfish Point, only for the West Indian sea star and only while it is held flat, fully submerged and supported in your hands. Lifting any part of it out of the water, even briefly for a photo, is prohibited. See DoE's starfish guidance.
No one can guarantee it. The sea stars are wild animals, and numbers in the shallows vary. The Department of Environment warns that repeated mishandling can kill sea stars or drive them away from the area, which is one more reason to leave them in the water.
Visit Cayman puts Rum Point at about 45 minutes by car from most hotels and the cruise terminal. By boat, the crossing time depends on where you depart, the vessel and the sea conditions, so we do not quote a figure here; what is practical for your charter is confirmed in your quote.
Any time of year can work. Winter and spring are typically the busiest period, but winter cold fronts known as Nor'westers, roughly late October to early April, can bring rough water to the north coast and the Sound. The wet season runs from mid-May to October, and hurricane season from June 1 to November 30.
Yes, especially at Starfish Point, where the small beach can disappear at high tide and the depth of the shallows changes through the day. Tides also affect how close a boat can come in. The operator takes them into account when planning the order and timing of stops.
The shallow water can suit children well, with close adult supervision and life jackets where appropriate. Explain the rules before you arrive so the visit stays hands-off: sea stars must stay in the water, and children should never pick them up for a photo.
It is one of the most requested North Sound outings. Whether it fits comfortably depends on the length of your charter, where it departs and the conditions on the day. We confirm what is practical before you book. Read more in our Stingray City charter guide.
Visit Cayman describes Cayman Kai as a secluded beach area at the northern tip of Grand Cayman, with a lagoon, palms and water sports. Kaibo, on its North Sound side, has a marina and a beachside bar and restaurant that is popular with boaters.
A card or cash for anything you buy at the venues, sandals for hot sand, a cover-up, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen. A small dry bag keeps phones and wallets safe on the way between the boat and the beach.
It is said to have been. Visit Cayman calls the Rum Point beach club the home of the Mudslide, and the popular story is that a guest asked for a White Russian when there was no cream, so Irish cream liqueur was used instead. Accounts disagree on when it happened, so treat the details as local legend.
Keep planning
How the lagoon behind the reef works, with a conceptual sketch of the main stops.
Meeting the rays at the Sandbar, and the rules every visitor follows.
Reef stops, marine life and how to snorkel responsibly.
Planning a North Side day with children on board.
Request a personalized quote
Tell us your date, group size, how long you would like to be out and which stops interest you. We will check suitable vessels, confirm whether Rum Point and Starfish Point fit comfortably with your plans and send a personalized quote.
