Mangrove Cay Turks and Caicos
Mangrove Cay is a small 286-acre (116-hectare) uninhabited island located just off the northeastern end of Providenciales. This cay, along with Donna Cay and Little Water Cay, makes up the Princess Alexandra Nature Reserve inside the Princess Alexandra National Park.
As the island’s name may suggest, almost the entirety of the center of Mangrove Cay consists of red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle). Small and narrow dune environments line much of the cay's coast.
Protected Status
As a nature reserve, it’s prohibited to fish, collect conch or lobster, or take any natural or historical object from Mangrove Cay. Likewise, it’s illegal to disturb wildlife.
Kayaking and Paddleboarding
Mangrove Cay, largely due to its close proximity to Providenciales, is one of the most popular kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding locations in the Turks and Caicos.
Shallow and scenic tidal channels enter the cay in several places and wind their way for thousands of feet. There’s even a shipwreck hidden down one of the channels!
Many shallow channels wind their way through the cay, and these waterways are the most popular spots for eco-kayaking and paddleboarding in the country.
The Mangrove Cay area is an excellent location for all experience levels of paddlers. There are sites within easy access of Providenciales, as well as worthwhile longer routes out to Half Moon Bay, Little Water Cay, and Donna Cay as well.
The luxury Blue Haven Marina, often hosting impressive yachts from around the world, is located in Leeward Going Through Channel nearby, and offers additional interesting sights.
Tours and Equipment Rental
Premier eco-tour company Big Blue Collective is located directly adjacent to Mangrove Cay and offers guided tours, as well as rentals of single and tandem kayaks and paddleboards.
Wildlife
Mangrove Cay is a haven for marine and bird wildlife. In the channels and shallows surrounding the cay, it’s common to sight juvenile lemon sharks and nurse sharks, small turtles, conch, southern stingrays, starfish, and many types of juvenile fish. The sheltering and complex root systems of the larger mangrove trees often hide schools of tiny fish.
Birdwatching is also great, and sightings include brown pelicans, green herons, tricolored herons, reddish egrets, and American oystercatchers.
Green Turtles
Green turtles are common in and around Mangrove Cay, and their sightings are one of the main drivers of the popular kayak and paddleboard tours that visit the intertidal creeks in the cay. Numbers can fluctuate, yet there are typically 20-50 in the main creek. These tend to be adults and larger juveniles that have transitioned from their pelagic stage, and not hatchlings.
The large numbers and calm behavior of the turtles are a bit of a change from past years. In the past, turtles were fewer in number, and they were far more skittish. This is largely due to their constant exposure to kayaks and paddleboards, and if paddlers minimize splashing and noise, the turtles will often approach within three feet (1 meter) of vessels. Another factor is likely the decrease in shark populations in the area. Tiger sharks, one of the primary predators of green turtles, are now uncommon near the cay, probably due to the near-constant boat traffic in adjacent Leeward Going Through Channel. Elsewhere in the country, turtles in seagrass beds or intertidal creek systems tend to be very flight-prone.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Rock Iguana
One of the better-known endemic animals in the Turks and Caicos is our unique Turks and Caicos rock iguana (Cyclura carinata), a large and docile lizard. A small amount of sandy ground can be found on the north and eastern edges of this cay, and these dunes support limited populations of the indigenous iguanas.
Turks and Caicos rock iguanas can be found on several of the uninhabited cays in the Turks and Caicos, and a visit to Mangrove Cay or Donna Cay offers an all-too-rare chance to see an endangered animal in its natural habitat.
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Tour Companies
