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Below you should find information on trails throughtout the Cayman Islands:
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Guided Tours
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| (attached "Mastic Trail photo for CWC" - photo credit is www.courtneyplatt.com) |
To hike the Mastic Trail, visit nationaltrust.org.ky and email them through their site. Or, phone the National Trust to make arrangements.
For an Island Overview Nature Tour that is unique, authentic and personalized contact visit caymannature.ky and make arrangements through their site.
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New Nature Tour Company Offers Unique and Authentic Experience
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CAYMAN ISLANDS NATURE TOURS are offered, by car with Ann Stafford, fully licensed, knowledgeable Nature Tour Guide, Cayman Native Plant expert and co-author with Dr. R. R. Askew of Butterflies of the Cayman Islands 2008 Apollo Books.
Half day Private ISLAND OVERVIEW NATURE TOUR Eastern Districts
Full day Private UP-CLOSE NATURE TOUR (6 hours) by arrangement with more time to explore on foot time, including either Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, allow 2 hours (US$10.00 entrance fee per person not included in price) or walks, off the usual tourist tracks, to explore different vegetation zones * Water provided Lunch (not included in price), stop at restaurant, or bring packed lunch
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Check www.caymannature.ky TOURS page for information about more options to suit your group's needs.
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To see a brochure for CaymANNature, please click < here >
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Grand Cayman Nature Trails
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Our starter list of trails and good nature walks: Again, a work in progress.
These “trails” are completely unofficial! Some are open to the public and some are on private land and you must have the owner’s approval to use them. Their listing here in no way authorizes anyone to use them without permission. This list is very preliminary. We are actively seeking permission from the owners to use these trails and this site will be updated as we develop this idea.
Please look at the TRAIL KEY below to better understand the information about each trail listed.
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walking condition |
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trail type |
additional information |
| Walking condition: |
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Easy walking |
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2 |
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medium or rocky |
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3 |
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very rocky or not suitable for children under 6 years old |
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Watch out for Maiden Plum, contact with this plant causes a very itchy rash |
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| West Bay: |
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1 |
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seashore vegetation |
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brackish area vegetation |
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2* |
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secondary growth dry woodland |
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- Tarquynn Manor/Jackson’s Pond Dyke Roads
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brackish area vegetation |
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| George Town vicinity: |
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1 |
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Mangroves |
(Harquail By-pass) Dyke Roads |
- George Town Barcadere/Airport Dyke Roads
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Mangroves |
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original growth dry woodland |
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original growth dry woodland |
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For more discussion on the efforts to save the Ironwood Forest visit www.ironwood-forest.com and www.caymannewsservice.com
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| Spotts: |
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original growth dry woodland |
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| North Sound Estates: |
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- North Sound Estates Dyke Roads
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brackish area vegetation |
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| Lower Valley: |
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- Agricultural Pavilion area
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original growth dry woodland |
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- Sea Spray Drive Woodland road
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original growth dry woodland |
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original growth dry woodland |
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- Pedro St. James to Sea Spray Drive
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cliff walk |
Beach Bay |
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| Frank Sound – North Side: |
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3* |
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varied vegetation |
Trail Guide brochure available $5
See "Walk The Mastic" in our Press Section
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- Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
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mixed woodland |
Small Admission Fee Charged |
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| North Side: |
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original growth dry woodland |
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- Forest Glen Woodland Trail
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2* |
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original & secondary growth dry woodland |
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| East End: |
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original growth dry woodland |
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woodland & open area – butterflies |
seasonal |
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dry woodland & farmland |
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3* |
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open pasture & original growth dry woodland |
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Trail Plants to Avoid
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Maiden Plum
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Beware of Maiden Plum! Do not hike in Cayman's woodlands until you learn to recognize this dangerous plant!
Maiden Plum Comocladia dentata is a Very Nasty native plant that grows aggressively in cleared areas. Forest trails should be cut as narrow as possible to prevent too much sunlight from entering the forest floor and stimulating the growth of these pests.
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| Lady Hair Malpigihia cubensis |
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Covered in very fine hairs that react with the skin like fiberglass. Dr. George Proctor's book Flora of the Cayman Islands says “leaves…clothed on both sides with numerous yellowish, stiff, stinging, malpighiaceous hairs. Sometimes has a lovely red berry. Learn it and avoid it!
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| Manchineel Hippomane mancinella |
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Manchineel - Hippomane mancinella - Columbus called this the "Death Apple" This tree is not common in the Cayman Islands but it can be found here and is one of the most poisonous trees in the world! The fruit, the sap and even the smoke when it's burned are caustic. There is an example, with a sign on the trail in the Botanic Park and it can be found on the Mastic Trail as well. Do not take shelter under one of these trees if it rains. The rain will bring down the highly caustic and dangerous sap. Do not eat the tempting and sweet yellow "apples" you may find on the ground underneath it. Even a taste can cause throat swelling and blistering. Do not handle the fruit, broken branches or leaves with bare hands. Do NOT rub your eyes after touching. The sap can cause permanent blindness if it gets into eyes.
It is a large spreading tree and the leaves are set out on long stems, some say they look like tiny old-fashioned tennis rackets, but this reference is increasingly archaic. It is often heavily colonized by air plants. The leaves are simple, alternate and glossy with pointed or slightly rounded tips and a rounded base. The fruits are green on the tree but turn yellow before they fall. They have a single woody seed. Iguanas eat them but they are HIGHLY POISONOUS to people.
These trees are more common on some of the other Caribbean Islands. They are valued as windbreaks on beaches in St. John, Martinique and other islands, so if you plan a visit, check their websites for local information. We will post photos soon on this website, but you can do a Google image search to find many photos of the leaves, fruits and the overall shape of the tree.
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