Everything You Need To Know About Carnival in the Cayman Islands:
The Ultimate Guide To CayMas 2023
CayMas is a newer Caribbean carnival now taking place the Saturday before Constitution Day (July 3) that started back in 2017, and has evolved into Grand Cayman’s most anticipated Carnival. Known for its pristine white sand beaches, Grand Cayman is a piece of paradise. Being one of the safest islands in the Caribbean and only a 45 minute flight from Miami, CayMas makes for the perfect Summer weekend trip.
CayMas 2023 Dates
The official dates for CayMas 2023 are June 28-July 3
Road March takes place on Saturday, July 1st, 2023. It usually starts at noon and ends around 6pm. This carnival is doable over a weekend (Friday to Sunday). However, to enjoy the beaches, boat rides, food, & fetes, I suggest traveling at least Wednesday-Monday
How to get to Grand Cayman
The Cayman Islands is comprised of three sister islands. You’ll be flying into Grand Cayman. The airport code is GCM. Cayman Airways, Jetblue, American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, WestJet, Air Canada, and British Airways all offer direct flights to Grand Cayman from multiple cities. Roundtrip flights from Miami are currently $338.
Where To Stay During CayMas
Most of the events take place in Georgetown or Seven Mile Beach. I recommend staying anywhere on Seven Mile Beach, or South Sound. Though Cayman is small (only 22 miles long and 8 miles wide) traffic can get very congested, and lengthy to navigate. Areas like Rum Point & East End will be a 45-minute – an hour ride to the events and parade.
List of hotels on Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands:
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- The Locale
- Kimpton Seafire Resort
- The Westin
- Mariott
- Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton
- Caribbean Club
- The Holiday Inn
- Palm Heights
If you prefer AirBnBs, a few locations that are a reasonable distance to town and close to the beach are:
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- South Sound
- West Bay
- Seven Mile Beach
- Snug Harbor
CayMas 2023 Mas Bands
There are several mas bands to choose from this year. All of the bands offer a t-shirt section. Costumes start at around $330 USD for a backline or male costume. T-shirt sections are as low as $75 USD.
If you’re looking for makeup services, check out this list of MUA’s in Grand Cayman
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Important Things To Note
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- The currency used is the Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD/CI)- the exchange rate is 1 USD is equal to $.83 KYD. Yup you read that right. The Cayman Islands dollar is stronger than USD, so keep that in mind when planning.
- The Cayman Islands is a British overseas territory.
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- As of August 24, 2022, Covid restrictions have been fully lifted for incoming travelers.
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- For transportation I suggest renting a car, or utilizing a Carnival travel concierge. Taxis can be expensive, and the bus only runs from 7am-7pm. View official transport options HERE. Cayman currently doesn’t have any ride share apps like Uber/Lyft.
Road Experience
CayMas starts in town along the Waterfront and ends at Seven Mile Public Beach. The parade kicks off at 12PM and typically concludes by 6PM. All bands include unlimited drinks on the road. This year’s bands are enhancing the road experience for their masqueraders. From including lunch to offering touch-up stations, this year’s CayMas bands are offering great amenities that I didn’t see offered last year. Please note there is no official rest stop for CayMas.
Cayman has a few local artists, so you’ll hear their songs. Mostly Soca is played on the road. After the parade, Swanky hosts Soca Monarch followed by AfterMas on the lawn at Seven Mile Public Beach. Entry to AfterMas is free for select Mas Bands. This year’s tickets are $25CI ($30 USD). Destra Garcia & Erphaan Alves will be performing this year.
If you’re planning to attend AfterMas I recommend you eat beforehand. Last year’s After Mas only had 2-3 food vendors outside of the entrance. The only open food options after AfterMas will be Alekebob, Burger Shack, and On The Run.
Where To Fete
Soca on The Beach by EventPro is a popular and highly anticipated event held on Coral Beach. It’s the first event of the season and is attended by a broad range of age groups (18-45). Despite the name this is not a 100% Soca event (which bothers me), but alas I attend every year.
The official event lineup for CayMas 2023 has been released. Fetes in Cayman can range from $25 USD-$125 USD. There are a lot of new fetes being held this year, the following events are NEW to CayMas
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- Renegade Mas’ Hard Fete (Bunji Garlin, Nailah Blackman, & Skinny Fabulous will be performing)
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- CayMas Food Fest
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- Chicken Run Breakfast
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- Kalabbra’s J’ouvert Fete
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- Brunch n Soca (not associated with the Brunch and Soca franchise)
Check out THE CayMas 2023 Events Guide HERE.
J'ouvert
CayMas does not have an official J’ouvert. This year there will be two J’ouvert fetes. Tribal’s J’ouvert on the Water boat ride on June 29th, and Kalabbra’s J’ouvert Fete Sunday, July 2nd. I plan on attending both.
How Much Does CayMas Cost?
I included the prices in USD & KYD.
Flights: $340 USD and up roundtrip
Hotel/Airbnb: Budget $220 USD and up per night of your trip
Car Rental: Budget $30-$60 USD per day. Gas in Grand Cayman is an average $7 USD/gallon ($6CI) and up *subject to change*
Fetes: The average fete cost ranges from $30 USD – $125 USD depending on the type of fete, and what’s included. Most fetes in Cayman are cash bar only. Wristband masqueraders receive free entry to Sundown Thursday Fete. Swanky, Kalabbra, and Dream Karnival masqueraders get free entry into AfterMas.
Costume: Female backline, midline, and other options start at $360 USD ($300CI). Frontline can start at $462 USD ($385 CI) depending on what band you choose. T-shirt & Male sections range from $160-$300 USD ($150-$275CI). Budget $185 USD ($155CI) for your deposit, and any online fees.
Food: The average cost of a meal + drink in Cayman is around $24-$36 USD ($20-$30 CI) There are many budget friendly options on the island as well with meals starting at $7.20 USD ($6CI)
Budget a minimum of $2500 USD per person. This cost will vary based on your personal preferences. For any additional questions, or individual itineraries, email info@destinationgreatness.net
To save on accommodation and transportation costs, I suggest booking through our Carnival Concierge Service. We offer packages inclusive of hotel, transportation, fete tickets, costume, costume delivery, excursions, and more starting at $1,800 USD. We also offer al carte services to build your ideal experience.
Things to do in Grand Cayman
There are lots to do and see in Grand Cayman. Since CayMas events are mainly in the evening – you can explore the island during the day. From rum tasting to beach hopping, you’re sure to find an activity that interests you.
Here are some things to do during CayMas (anything marked with an * is on the eastern side of the island)
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- Rum Tasting Tour at Cayman Distillery | $20 USD/ Per Person
- *Tour the Crystal Caves | $40 USD
- *Visit Queen Elizabeth Botanical Gardens | Self Guided Tour $12.50 USD
- Brunch at the Westin | $80 USD/ Per Person (All you can eat & drink on Sundays from 11am-3pm)
- Go Snorkeling at Smith Cove | Free
- Surf at Consuelo’s Beach | Free
- Wine tasting at West Indies Company
- *Mastic Nature Trail | Free
- Ride Jet Skis | Price Varies
- Visit Sting Ray City
- ATV Rides in West Bay
- Pre-Game at Outpost
- Legendz Happy Hour | Drinks are 50% off from 4:30pm-7pm
- Beach Hop | Free
Check out my favorite beaches in Grand Cayman HERE
Things To Eat In Grand Cayman
Known as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean, Grand Cayman has an array of restaurants and cuisines. From fine dining to budget eats, there is something for everyone.
Some must-try Cayman dishes are:
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- Cayman Style Beef (I get mine from a lady’s house, but the local restaurants serve it at least 1-2 times a week)
- Cayman Style Lobster (My mom raves about this dish from Cayman Cabana)
- Fry Fish (Eastern Star Bar & Fish Fry)
- Conch
- Fry Chicken from Cornas (Georgetown) or Pansy’s (West Bay)
You can view a list of my favorite places to eat in Grand Cayman HERE.
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