Getting to Boatswain's Beach
Where is Boatswain's Beach?
Boatswain's Beach is located on the Northwest tip of Grand Cayman in the district of West Bay, just 8 miles from George Town. On the way, visitors are treated to the scenic vista of the world-famous Seven Mile Beach as well as authentic Caymanian architecture.
I'm a cruise ship passenger. How do I avail of a tour?
Grand Cayman allows a maximum of 6,000 cruise ship visitors daily, which means there can be as many as three to five ships at one time. Being one of the most popular ports of call in the Caribbean, there is at least one cruise ship in port on most days.
The cruise lines most frequently seen calling in the Cayman Islands include: Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Cruise Line, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises and Royal Caribbean International.
All ships call at the capital of George Town in Grand Cayman. As there is no cruise ship dock, all ships anchor off shore and visitors are brought ashore by tenders. Whilst on board the ship, passengers are given a variety of choices pertaining to available activities to do during their day in Grand Cayman. This includes a trip to the Turtle Farm. Buses will be waiting at the North or South terminal for those on pre-booked excursions. Pricing and information on the shore excursions can be found here.
I have no pre-booked tour. How do I get to and from Boatswain's Beach?
Taxis: Taxis are readily available from the taxi stand at the cruise ship dock, all resorts and Owen Roberts International Airport. They offer a fixed rate per vehicle or per person. The cost of a taxi from George Town to the Cayman Turtle Farm is CI$16.00/ US$20.00 for up to three people (subject to change).
Buses: Visitors may also opt to take the official public bus transportation system first launched in October 1998. The new bus terminal is located adjacent to the Public Library on Edward St. in downtown George Town and serves as the dispatch point for buses to all districts.
There are 38 mini-buses operated by 24 licensed operators, serving eight routes. Daily service starts at 6:00 am from the depot to West Bay every 15 minutes and the schedule is as follows:
| Route | Colour Code | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route 1 (Directly to Boatswain's Beach) |
Yellow | 6:00am - 11:00pm Sunday - Thursday |
CI $2.00 |
| Route 2 | Lime Green | 6:00am - Midnight Friday & Saturday |
CI $2.00 Plus Extra CI $1.00 to Stop at the Turtle Farm |
To maintain consistency in fares, each bus must display a fare table outlining standard government-authorized fares. The hotline number for public comment and feedback is 945-5100.
Limousine Services: There are several private limousine services on Grand Cayman for special events and airport transfers.
Rental Cars: Rental cars can be pre-booked before arriving in Grand Cayman. This is advisable during our busy winter season. Most cars can be picked up at the airport or driven to your hotel. Cayman has one of the Caribbean's most extensive modern fleets of rental cars at competitive rates, and many feature right hand drive.
In addition, most rental jeeps and vans are right hand drive, left hand stick shift. Driving is on the left side of the road throughout the Cayman Islands and it is the law to wear seat belts. Visitors must obtain temporary drivers' licenses from the car rental agency, easily granted upon presenting a valid drivers' license from their home state, county or parish.
You must be 21 to rent a car in the Cayman Islands, and some rental agencies' insurance will not cover renters under 25. Check with your rental company in advance to determine.
Turtle Questions
How do you tell male from female turtles?
Males have much longer tails than females.
Can you tell the sex of a juvenile turtle?
No. There is no way to tell sex of juvenile turtles by just looking at them.
How long do turtles eggs take to incubate?
50 - 60 days at 82* Fahrenheit.
At what age are Farm turtles harvested?
Between 4 - 6 years old (60 - 90 lbs).
How does the Farm help conserve the Green turtle?
The Farm releases yearling turtles into the wild annually. It also supplies turtle meat to meet local demand. This reduces hunting pressure on wild turtle populations.
At what age is a turtle considered mature?
In the wild, turtles can take about 15-20 years to reach sexual maturity. On the Farm, turtles lay fertile eggs at 15 years old.
How old are the turtles in the Breeding Pond?
They are various ages. Some of the large original breeders were captured as adults back in the 1960's, so we are not sure of their current ages. Oldest Farmed turtles were hatched 1966 in Florida. Oldest Farm-bred turtles were hatched in Cayman in 1973.
When is the sea turtle breeding season?
May to early October every year.
How many eggs can a female Farm turtle lay?
Farmed turtles can lay 50 - 100+ eggs at a time, up to 10 times in a season. About 8,000 eggs were laid for 2008 season out of 106 nests. (132 was the most laid in a single nest).
What species of sea turtles are at the Cayman Turtle Farm?
There are 4 species: Green turtles, Kemp's Ridley, Loggerheads & Hawksbills.
Which is considered the rarest sea turtle?
The Kemp's Ridley turtle. They are known to breed only in the Gulf of Mexico. Currently 41Kemp's Ridley turtles are kept at the Farm.
How long can a turtle hold its breath?
About 20 minutes while actively swimming, and up to 12 hours when sleeping!
How long has the Cayman Turtle Farm been in operation?
The Farm has been in operation since 1968 (Moved to current site in September 2005).
When is the last next Turtle Release?
November 2009.
How many turtles are released each year?
With the farm stock now greatly reduced due to Hurricane Michelle in 2001, we now do "token" releases of about 20 turtles each year. Over 31,000 turtles have been released to date.
How many Green turtles in the Herd at the Farm?
Over 7,000.
What are the white marks on the turtles' necks?
They are scars from scrapes and bites that are normal turtle behaviour. They do not actually hurt the turtles.
How much do the mature breeders weigh?
Over 350 lbs - over 500 lbs.
Why are they called "Green" turtles when they have brownish shells?
The fat is a dark green colour, possibly due to their sea grass diet.
How many mature breeders in the Breeding Pond Herd?
About 500 out of the population are considered breeders.
How many turtles (in total) are currently held in the Breeding Pond?
About 500 - more females than males.
How heavy/ old is the biggest/ oldest Farm turtle?
Our heaviest turtle "Sparky" weighed in at 575 lbs, but we are not sure of her age.
Do any of the turtles have names?
Through our Sponsor-a-Turtle programme, a number of breeder turtles have been named: including "Sparky"- our largest female. See the list in the Education Center.
What is the story on the Caiman?
"Cassidy" the Caiman is sponsored by Cayman Autohaus car dealers. She is an 11-year old female acquired from captivity in Trinidad. She will be 6 - 8 ft at full size.
Are we going to get another Caiman or Crocodile?
The Caiman was originally acquired to represent the Cuban & American crocodiles originally found in Cayman. We also now have a large Cayman crocodile "in the back" that will be on display in 2009 once we complete her enclosure.