Cayman’s canals: the alternative to beachfront living

Seven Mile Beach may be the most sought after real estate in Grand Cayman. But for those looking for a more permanent home on the island, canal-front properties are arguably more desirable. 

There is something about living close to a body of water that has universal appeal – hence the popularity of Seven Mile Beach – but Cayman’s canals provide a different way to enjoy waterfront living and make the most of the lifestyle Cayman offers.

From the eastern shores of West Bay all the way around the North Sound to Rum Point, Grand Cayman has a network of inland waterways – home to magnificent estates, family homes, townhouses and condos – that are fast becoming some of the most in-demand real estate on the island.

Advantages of canal-front property in Cayman

While the canals don’t offer immediate access to the world-famous beach or its sunset views, they offer a different set of benefits:

You can build or buy a detached waterfront home with garden on the canals

There is little, if any, undeveloped land left on Seven Mile Beach and the beach is lined with high rise condominiums and resorts, with obvious appeal for tourists and those wanting a vacation home on the beach. However, if you want the privacy of a detached house or villa, and the space to have your own garden and/or pool, you won’t find it on the beach. Along the canal subdivisions, however, you can find both raw land and plenty of high end detached homes with gardens, pools, and docks.

Boat-owners can’t beat the lifestyle

If you’re a boater, living on a canal cannot be matched. You can keep your boat literally at the end of your garden: no need to plan trips in advance as you can be out on the water within minutes of getting home. It doesn’t get more convenient than that.

As the canals connect to the North Sound – the ultimate aquatic playground – last-minute fishing, diving or snorkelling trips are easy. And should bad weather threaten, your boat is close at hand so you can keep an eye on it.

Keeping your boat at home also means that you can head out for dinner at a waterfront restaurant by boat, tie up to their dock while you eat, and cruise back by moonlight – no worries about parking or traffic. Where else in the world can you do that?

Canals are cooler than the beach

From the Shores at the northern end of the SMB corridor down to Grand Harbour and beyond, many of the canals face east. Not only do they benefit from those easterly trade winds, which helps to keep homes cool, but they also don’t face the hot afternoon sun,  in the way Seven Mile Beach does.

It’s quieter on the canal

Seven Mile Beach is, in many ways, the heart of the action on Grand Cayman. It’s a buzzy, lively area with plenty of restaurants, beach bars and shops. This convenience inevitably means it densely populated, and there is therefore more traffic and more noise. The canals on the eastern side of the Seven Mile Beach corridor still enjoy the easy access to all those services – and indeed many are within walking distance of the beach – they are at a remove from the general hubbub and much quieter.

Canal-front communities are among Cayman’s safest, family-friendly neighbourhoods

Cayman is a wonderful place to raise a family, and the canal communities where large, detached homes with gardens are available, are particularly well-suited to couples with young children. Most of the communities along the canals are gated with manned security, so the only people entering and leaving are the residents themselves, making them safe, low traffic zones, some of which offer shared amenities such as tennis courts, play areas, or pools.

Grand Cayman’s Top Canal-Front Communities

Grand Cayman has numerous canal-side communities, some of which are fully developed, others that have no development as yet, and several of which are in the process of being developed. Average prices per square foot have skyrocketed in recent years. The following communities are some of the most popular ones in Grand Cayman.

The Shores, West Bay

Located at the northern end of the SMB corridor, the Shores is a well-maintained gated community with 24-hour security and a communal boat ramp and tennis courts. This community is experiencing high demand and low supply. The average price per square foot has risen from $39 in 2020 to $61 in 2022.

The Yacht Club

One of the most prestigious communities in Grand Cayman, the Yacht Club is centrally located and a redevelopment several years ago has upgraded the community. It now offers two excellent restaurants and a full-service marina, making it particularly attractive to boaters. A planned footpath will connect it to the beach in the future. Homes in this community are highly sought after and prices have soared in the past two years:  the average price per square foot in 2022 is $80, compared to $42 in 2020.

Governors Harbour

An older waterfront community, right across – and within walking distance of – Seven Mile Beach and the Governors Square retail plaza, Governors Harbour is less prestigious than some of the gated communities, yet a popular place to live. A new hotel and shopping centre are being built in the vicinity which will add to the appeal. Few undeveloped lots remain and the average price per quare foot has increased from $46 in 2020 to $85 in 2022.

Crystal Harbour

One of Grand Cayman’s newest canal-front developments, this is a secure, upscale community with strong covenants in place and easy access to Caman Bay.  While exclusive, the prices are lower than some other communities, with average prices per quare foot currently at $61. There are still some raw lots remaining.

Interested in finding out more about canal-front properties in Grand Cayman? Contact us today for expert advice.