The Cayman Islands Is the Caribbean’s Fastest-Growing Destination for Families Right Now

By: - June 2nd, 2026
Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman.
Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman.

The Cayman Islands has quietly become the Caribbean’s hottest destination for family travel.

That’s the headline from the latest Amadeus–CHTA Caribbean Travel Trends report, which tracked overseas arrivals across the region between April 2025 and March 2026. Among destinations seeing growth in family-sized travel parties, the Cayman Islands came out on top, posting a 9 percent year-over-year increase — the strongest gain in the Caribbean.

Curaçao followed with a 6 percent increase, while the US Virgin Islands rounded out the top three at 2 percent. But it’s the trio of islands that make up Cayman — Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman — that families are increasingly choosing for their Caribbean getaways.

The report breaks Caribbean visitors into traveling parties by size, and the picture is a revealing one for anyone in the hospitality business. Duos — two-person traveling parties — remain the region’s largest segment, accounting for 40.4 percent of all overseas arrivals. But family-sized groups of three to five travelers now represent the second-largest share at 27.6 percent, edging out solo travelers, who made up 26 percent of arrivals.

Large groups of six or more travelers accounted for a smaller slice at 6.1 percent — but the report flags them as one of the most valuable segments per booking, thanks to longer stays and higher overall spend. Taken together, family and large groups now make up roughly a third of all overseas arrivals to the Caribbean — a share significant enough to influence how destinations market themselves and what kind of properties they invest in.

The Cayman Islands has long traded on its calm, upscale appeal — think Seven Mile Beach, world-class diving and a dining scene that punches well above the region’s weight. That same blend of accessibility and sophistication is proving to be a powerful draw for families.

The report points to a clear profile for destinations hoping to capture this growing segment: multi-bedroom suites and dedicated kids’ clubs. Properties that can comfortably accommodate three to five travelers under one roof — with space, supervised activities and the kind of amenities that keep both parents and children happy — are best positioned to win the family booking. It’s a profile Cayman has leaned into, with resorts increasingly offering larger suite configurations and family-focused programming designed to turn a single visit into a repeat one.

Nowhere is that more visible than along Seven Mile Beach, where the island’s marquee resorts have built around the family traveler. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman pairs suites that sleep larger groups with Ambassadors of the Environment — the Jean-Michel Cousteau-designed eco-program for kids — and Starfish Cay, a sprawling water playground, while children five and under eat free at several of its restaurants.

Down the beach, the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa has become a family favorite thanks to Camp Seafire, its kids-only club for ages five to twelve, the SPLASH waterpark and bunk-bed suites built for parents traveling with children. And the newest arrival, Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman, leans in hard with Family Suites featuring king beds, bunk beds, two bathrooms and the option to connect an adjoining room — a configuration that can sleep up to ten, making it a natural fit for the multigenerational trip.

The takeaway is straightforward: the family traveler is no longer a niche. With family-sized groups now claiming more than a quarter of all arrivals, the properties — and the islands — that design for them stand to benefit most. And right now, no destination is doing it faster than the Cayman Islands.

About the author

Caitlin Sullivan began her career with Caribbean Journal as Arts and Culture editor before shifting to travel full time. She writes frequently on the Caribbean cruise industry, flight networks and broader travel news. Her most frequent Caribbean destination? Nassau.
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