Cayman Islands Turtle Farm



3 mins readOct 21, 2017

If you’re interested in marine biology and wildlife conservation, there’s nothing quite like a trip to the world-renowned Cayman Islands Turtle Farm. Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits in Grand Cayman has some tips to help you get the most enjoyment from your visit.

About Us

Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits is well-known in Grand Cayman for our vast selection of popular international name brand and hard-to-find beers, wines and spirits.

We have convenient locations in George Town, Seven Mile Beach, West Bay, Savannah and East End to serve you, but the most convenient way to get your favorite beverages quickly is to order online. (Purchases online or in our stores cannot be made by anyone under 18 years of age.)

Order online before 3:00pm, and we’ll deliver it on the same day (Monday through Saturday) FOR FREE to your home, business, vacation villa, hotel or yacht. Or, you may choose to pick up your order in our flagship store in George Town. If we receive your order before 6:00pm, it will be available for pick-up until the store closes at 7:00pm.

Why Turtles?

On his fourth and final voyage to the New World in 1503, Christopher Columbus came across the Cayman Islands, calling them “Las Tortugas” because of the abundance of Green Sea Turtles he and his crew observed in the surrounding waters.

During the 1600s and 1700s, the Islands were a regular stopping point for pirates, privateers, and other ships in search of food and water for their crews as they passed through the Western Caribbean. They caught the turtles and kept them alive aboard their vessels as a source of fresh meat.

“Turtling” became a means of income for the Island’s settlers and is still a traditional dish in the Caymans. By the 1800s, however, the turtle population was nearly depleted. In 1968, the Cayman Turtle Farm was established to breed the Green Sea Turtle and supply the market with a sustainable source of meat that did not further deplete the wild turtle populations.

Visiting the Cayman Turtle Farm

Today, the Cayman Turtle Farm is the only facility of its kind in the world, with 23 acres, a nature trail, a free-flight bird aviary, a 1.3-million-gallon saltwater lagoon where visitors can snorkel with native fish and other local sea life, a Predator Reef which features sharks, eels and other predatory fish, and a world-class research and educational facility.

The Cayman Turtle Farm is home to over 7,000 Green Sea Turtles, ranging in size from six ounces to 600 pounds each. Over time, the center has released about 31,000 of its captive-bred sea turtles and has observed a significant growth of green sea turtle nests on Grand Cayman in the wild.

Everything at the Centre is fully enclosed, so you can enjoy the facilities in all types of weather, even on days when the sea is rough. Lifeguards surround all swimming areas to ensure your safety.
Learn more about the turtles in the Education Centre, swim with them in the lagoon, see plants and flowers endemic to the Cayman Islands, stroll through a free-flight bird aviary, view the turtle hatchery in season (May to October), and stop in at Schooner’s Bar & Grill for food and refreshments, such as the legendary Cayman Mudslide.

Enjoy a visit to the Cayman Islands Turtle Farm, and follow it up with your favorite beverages from Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits. Place an online order and we’ll deliver everything straight to your door!