Rum Point
The verdict on Rum Point
- Who it suitsFamilies and anyone who wants a slow, shallow water day under the trees with a hammock, a mudslide and lunch on the sand, away from the resort strip.
- Best spotA hammock in the casuarina shade near the Wreck Bar on a weekday, with the warm shallows a few steps away.
- One thing to knowThe water is very shallow far out, so it is a float and lounge beach rather than a swimmer's, and Sundays get packed with boats.
Published 25 February 2026. Last reviewed 11 May 2026
Rum Point is the north side antidote to Seven Mile Beach, and it trades the resort strip for something slower and far more characterful. Across the North Sound from the busy west coast, a low spit of soft sand sits shaded by casuarina trees, with hammocks slung between the trunks and the warm, glassy shallows lapping just beyond. This is the Caribbean as a long, lazy afternoon rather than a postcard you stride across.
The water is the whole story, and it pays to be honest about it. The bay is bath calm, clear and sandy bottomed, but it stays shallow a remarkably long way out, so you wade and float rather than swim. That makes Rum Point one of the best beaches on the island for young children and for anyone who just wants to stand waist deep with a drink, but a serious swimmer looking for depth and laps will be happier on Seven Mile Beach.
There is real history and flavour here too. The point took its name from barrels of rum that once washed ashore from shipwrecks, and the Wreck Bar on the sand is where the frozen mudslide cocktail was popularised, so a drink in hand is part of the ritual. With the Rum Point Club for food and Kaibo a short drive along the coast, it is an easy place to settle in for a full day.
Time it right and it is idyllic. Come on a weekday and the point is calm and uncrowded, but on weekends, and Sundays especially, locals and dozens of boats descend and it gets loud and busy. Pair it with neighbouring Starfish Point a couple of miles away for the sea stars, and use our Cayman Islands beach clubs directory to plan the day.
Clubs on and near Rum Point
Rum Point is public north side sand with a relaxed club and bar right on it, and we never invent venues, prices or status. For the verified spots, including the Rum Point Club and Wreck Bar and nearby Kaibo, and any current minimum spend, use the Cayman Islands beach clubs directory.
Public beach access at Rum Point
The point is public sand with parking and restrooms, so you can settle into a hammock and the shallows without a booking. The simplest free way onto the north side beach, busiest on weekends.
Beach club and bar on the sand
A relaxed beach club, restaurant and the famous Wreck Bar sit right on the point for food and tropical drinks, with another north side institution a short drive away. Named venues, hours and any minimum spend are kept on the directory.
Rum Point, North Side, Grand Cayman
Rum Point sits on the north side of Grand Cayman, reached by a drive of roughly 45 minutes to an hour around the coast from Seven Mile Beach, or by the scenic passenger ferry across the North Sound, which takes about 30 minutes. Parking and restrooms are on site, and the same trip puts Starfish Point and Kaibo within easy reach.
Bring sun cover and water shoes if you like, since the entry is sandy and shallow, and aim for a weekday to dodge the boat crowds. The water is calm but lifeguard cover is limited, so keep young children supervised in the shallows. Stingray City and the sandbar are a popular boat add on from this side of the island.
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Rum Point FAQ
Is Rum Point good for swimming?
It is wonderful for wading, floating and families, but the water is very shallow a long way out, so it is more a place to lounge in the warm shallows than to swim proper laps. The sandy bottomed bay is calm and clear with little to no surf, which is exactly why it suits young children and unhurried days.
How do you get to Rum Point from Seven Mile Beach?
You can drive around the coast in roughly 45 minutes to an hour, or take the passenger ferry across the North Sound, which is about a 30 minute trip and a scenic way to arrive. Both leave from the Seven Mile Beach side, and combining Rum Point with nearby Starfish Point makes an easy north side day.
What is Rum Point known for?
Rum Point is known for its shallow, calm water, hammocks slung between casuarina trees and the Wreck Bar, where the frozen mudslide cocktail was popularised. It got its name from barrels of rum that washed ashore from shipwrecks, and today it is the relaxed, characterful heart of the north side.
Is Rum Point busy?
It depends on the day. Weekdays are calm and pleasant, but weekends, and Sundays in particular, fill with locals and dozens of boats anchoring off the point, so it can get crowded and lively. For the quiet version, visit Monday to Friday and arrive between mid morning and mid afternoon.
Can you snorkel at Rum Point?
There is some easy snorkelling over the seagrass and patches of reef off the point, though the shallow sandy bay is more about floating than fish life. The richer reefs sit further out in the North Sound, and many visitors pair Rum Point with a boat trip to the sandbar to see the stingrays. Conditions vary and are typical rather than guaranteed.
Is there food and drink at Rum Point?
Yes. The Rum Point Club and its Wreck Bar serve food and tropical drinks right on the sand, and Kaibo is a short drive away on the same north side. Facilities are more developed than at neighbouring Starfish Point, so Rum Point is the easier base for a full day with lunch and a bar.