Grand Cayman Turtle Farm Question...

[jillicole]

All these last minute things that are coming to mind are going to drive me crazy ...lol

I'm wondering if you can take a taxi to the turtle farm and visit at your leisure or if you have to book this as an excursion through Disney or a private company?

I'd love to hear your experience with the turtle farm as well. Thanks so much in advance!!

 

[WDWLVR]

We did it on the tour but I think you could take a taxi there easily. The tour seemed a little rushed to me and since most of the vans got there at the same time the gift shop was mobbed.

I think next time we would do it on our own.

i loved the turtle farm and would have loved to explore it a little further or just spend some more time watching them - they are so cute!

 

[Cricket538]

I'd love to hear your experience with the turtle farm as well.


Hi -

I've been to the Cayman turtle farm and just wanted to point out that it is not a petting zoo of turtles, but an actual "farm" for turtle meat. It broke my heart to see the turtles in extremely overcrowded conditions, climbing on top of one another.

I also came across the slaughter area. That scene hung with me that's for sure.

Oversensitive towards the (mis)treatment of animals? Perhaps. But other than the ability to touch a turtle, I wouldn't recommend it for kids or for anyone for that matter.

Just my humble opinion...

 

[BluOrchid2]

Ugh, Cricket. I'm glad you posted what the Turtle Farm really is....I would have been sending my 4 yodaughter with her Grandparents off to do that excursion while DH and I dive that day.

 

[webray]

The turtle farm is an excellent place to visit, regardless of the fact that it is an actual working farm. You are allowed to hold the turtles, love them, and get pictures with them. The souvenier shop connected is also a great place to purchase postcards/stamps and you can mail them right out front in the mail box.

We did not book the disney excursion, we grabbed a cab on our own. Something like $20 for the two hour tour, took you to the turtle farm, hell, around some of the other famous places. It was excellent, well worth the money. The taxi dispatch station is water side as you come up the dock, you can't miss it. The drivers are all their waiting for people getting off the ships. They are excellent. We never felt rushed or crowded in any of the stops. Go and enjoy!

 

[shannon1219]

You have to remember that the turtle farm is not just a slaughter house. It releases a certain amount of turtle back into the wild every year and they work to conserve the green sea turtle speices. With that in mind also remember that conch and sea turtle are an everyday meat there and are served in many restuarants. All of the turtle meat is raised there at the farm. It is kind of heartbreaking as you are looking at them knowing that a percentage of them are going to be eaten. The majority are set free.

 

[paulgaedke]

The turtle farm is great. When I was there my kids and I got to hold the turtles and they thought that was the coolest ever. About the meat thing, The islanders have been eating turtles forever. The island is very small and there is no room for cattle. If you want meat it has to be something small. If someone managed to see them slaughtering turtles I am surprised and they must have gone where they were not supposed to go. They aren't slaughtering them there in the open for all to see!

 

[Skallywag]

So glad to have read the board definitely will not be visiting this "attraction". I assumed this was where they were looked after before being allowed into the wild. As a conservationist would not do this trip and nor would any of my family. Thank goodness for the board.