Grand Cayman: Hell/Turtle Farm

[MamaCrush]

We'll be traveling with our 3 & 4 year old children on the Magic Western itinerary 1/2005. Has anyone done the Capt. Marvin's Hell/Turtle Farm Excursion? If so, what was it like-- especially from the perspective of two scaredy-cat kids??? (and by the way, what IS "hell"??). I'd love to do the stingray trip with them, but know they would NOT enjoy that. Your thoughts please!

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

We went on this tour with DS's (10 & 13 at the time). Hell is a rock formation that you can view on an observation platform. There is a gift shop where you can buy t-shirts ("I've been to Hell) and send "postcards from Hell". The turtle farm does not take too long to visit. The guide took us to view several of the large holding tanks and them to an area when you can hold or pet some of the smaller turtles. There is a gift shop there too.

 

[ThreeCircles]

Hell is your basic, generic, any-where-in-the-world, tourist attraction. It's an area of exposed and weathered volcanic rock formations. They have a couple of shops, a post office, and some of those wood cut-outs that you stand behind and place your head through so someone in your party can snap a picture of you.

Here are a couple of links:

Info on Hell (scroll down a bit): <a href="http://www.caymanvacations.com/indexmenu.htm?general/sightseeing.htm&2">Cayman Vacations</a>

Pics of Hell: <a href="http://externe.net/photos/ll2-grand-cayman-hell">Guylhem's World Photo Gallery: Hell in Grand Cayman</a>

More pics of Hell: <a href="http://home.hiwaay.net/~brogers/Hell-Grand-Cayman/hell-grand-cayman.htm">Hell, Grand Cayman Island</a>

We visited Hell on our first trip to Grand Cayman. We caught an island tour bus not too far from the port and the driver drove us around the island, pointed out various landmarks, and provided a lot of info on the history and current state of the island. It was about $3.50 per person and was actually quite enjoyable. The bus driver stopped at Hell for about 15-20 minutes and we took pictures, bought the obligatory "I've been to Hell" souvenir at the shop, and checked out the rock formations. It was cool but I'm not sure one could spend more than 20 minutes in Hell.

 

[Magic_Fan_Bruce]

On our first visit to Grand Cayman we did the ship wreck snorkel excursion in the morning and the island tour in the afternoon. I’ll ditto the statements on “Hell”, an okay place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to spend more than 20 minutes there.

Our kids loved the Turtle Farm. Not the tour so much, but the picking up and holding them. The pick-up tank has dinner plate size turtles in it (1 year old’s I think) and is the last stop on the tour and you get to hold a sea turtle if you wish.

Here’s the web site to the Turtle farm with live Web Cams;

http://www.turtle.ky/

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

My family did the Singrays hell and Turtles, my boy was 4 and picked up a turtle and held it for a long time, he really loved it.

We sent post cards from HELL saying 'wish you were here?'

 

[UMTerp]

We took a taxi to 7-mile beach for the morning (Holiday Inn) and then took public buses to the Turtle Farm and back to the ship. The buses are much less than the taxis but are crowded with local folks (if you care about that kind of thing - we didn't). Just ask any local about the buses and they can point out the stops. It was very easy. My kids 8 and 4 at the time really loved the turtle farm. They both had a blast picking up the little ones and looking at the big ones in the tanks. We went at a different time than the DCL excursion and it wasn't crowded at all. The rum cake factory is next door and gives free samples - yummy! Had no interest in going to hell... would rather spend my time in paradise at the beach!

 

[padisneyfan]

We just did the Captain Marvin Hell/Turtle Farm excursion on our May cruise. It was 2 hour excursion and we stopped at Governor's mansion, 7 mile beach, Hell and Turtle farm and the Rum factory right next to the Turtle farm. It was like our own personal tour as it was just the four of us on the tour. The guide gave us alot of information during the tour. The excursion cost included the admission to the Turtle Farm.

Nancy

 

[diznycrzy622]

Just wanted to let you know DCL is VERY STRICt when it comes to the age restrictions for the shore excursions especially the ones for the dolphin & stingray excursions. We're sailing 7/3/04 and my daughter who will be 4years & 5 months was told that we could not book her with us on the the Grand Cayman Stingray/Hell excursion because she wasn't 5 years old. They will not make any exceptions!! I was told its due to insurance liability of the private tour guides. You may want to plan another excursion like us.

 

[din]

We stopped at Hell for about 20 mins. Enough time there for a restroom stop and a couple of quick pictures.

The Turtle farm however, was too long a stop for us. We finish the tour and still had 40 mins to spare. We got rum cakes, from next door and still had time to spare.

Our guide while pleasant was quite a "interesting" person. He talks about how the "rich" americans are driving up cost by buying up property prices. He stopped at houses and new developments and telling us the prices... coming from the SF Bay area... no comparision!!!!. He also talked about how the enviromentlist (sp??) is making the locals not being able to harvest the turtle for food or gather the eggs for food etc.. etc.. etc..

At stingray city, I would suggest that an adult go down first and carry the kids to the shallow portion.

No sure if others had the same driver. Even with all that if you have never been there, it would be a good introduction and a easy way to see the island and visit stingray city. We will most likely be doing it ourselves the next time.

 

[jlawall]

HEY 3 Circles.....do you think we should see "Hell" and the turtle farm or just go to the Rum Point Beach (and SR city experience)?

 

[fcrouch]

captain marvin's will take small kids on the stingray tour - our daughter went at age 2 and is going again this summer at age 4

 

[webray]

You gotta see hell and the turtle farm. Hell doesn't take much time at all, the turtle farm..is great. I would go back again if we are ever in Grand Cayman. Also..turtle farm..great place to buy stamps and get those postcards out to people. You can get the stamps and postcards in the giftshop and the mailbox is right outside..big and blue if I remember correctly.

Enjoy!

 

[drarill]

Hi:
We just came back from the Magic and we did the Hell/Turtle Farm
and Stingray City with DCL and I will not recomend anyone to do it with them. Our meeting time was 7:20 AM and we didnt come back until 1:15 pm and it was suppose to be just 4 hours long. On the boat they didnt give us water or any beverages. We got some water on the turtle farm, and that was our first stop. Try to do it with Captain Marvins. Some people complained about how long it was and the fact that no water was served. My advice just do it with someone else, not DCL is a great experience and my kids loved the turtles and the stingrays.
We did the swimming with the Sea Lions in Cozumel and it was great, much better than the Dolphin Encounter. We were on the swimmingpool with three different Sea Lions and my kids loved it, if anyone can do it, dont miss the opportunity.
Hope this helps, and have a great time.
Lydia

 

[MrsPete]

I teach high school; therefore, I have no need to visit Hell.

 

[ragdoll]

LOL at Mrs. Pete!

I would recommend taking a taxi to the Turtle Farm and hell. Don't remember the prices but it was definitely cheaper than a tour and much more convenient. Definitely worth it. Mrs. Pete should have gone just to get something for her desk that says "I've been to hell and back".

 

[Mjasp]

Originally posted by MrsPete
I teach high school; therefore, I have no need to visit Hell.

ROTFLMAO

How True, I'm sure the MS teachers will be chiming in soon.

 

[MrsPete]

Mjasp -- The middle school teachers have every right to chime in. Their job is 100% harder than mine!

Ragdoll -- Here's a Winston Churchill quote that I like: "I didn't give them hell. I told them the truth and they thought it was hell."

 

[ThreeCircles]

Originally posted by jlawall
HEY 3 Circles.....do you think we should see "Hell" and the turtle farm or just go to the Rum Point Beach (and SR city experience)?

Hello Jlawall--

Hmmm... I can only speak from my personal experience and preference but I enjoyed Stingray City much more than our brief visit to Hell. I've never been to the Turtle Farm (I'm a vegetarian) or to Rum Point Beach so I can't really comment on those locations. Whatever you decide, I'm sure you will have a great time.

Have a great cruise!

Jason

 

[jlawall]

Thx to all for your suggestions....decisions, decisions......

 

[Libby]

We took our dd's - then almost 3 and 5 months on Marvin's stingray tour. The baby slept inside the u shaped life ring so she wouldn't roll away. dd3 went in the water - they had a tube she could lie on and we towed her over to the stingrays but she a little scared of them. Despite the fact only dh really swam with the dolphins we had a glorious day on the water and I have great memories of that day.

Libby (who thinks next time she will park on a beach for the day)