photo credit: Big Blue Collective
Dani here with TC Villas! I’m very excited to write our first blog all about Mangrove Cay, one of my favorite places to experience in Turks and Caicos.
Location:
First let’s go over the location of Mangrove Cay. This small uninhabited island is located in the Turks and Caicos Islands, just off the Northeastern point of the island of Providenciales (Provo). Most visitors to Mangrove Cay drive to the neighborhood of Leeward, which includes the Eastern edge of Grace Bay Beach and the Blue Haven Marina. Leeward is a residential gated community with vacation rental villas, private homes, and one hotel. Mangrove Cay can be seen from Leeward beach. Visitors can drive East on Leeward Highway all the way until it ends with the Leeward gated community access.
Mangrove Cay:
Why is it worth visiting? Mangrove Cay is a unique 286 acre wildlife reserve teeming with beauty. Red mangroves anchor the sand dunes and provide shelter for many varieties of fish, birds, sea turtles, manta rays, and other stunning marine life. Rock Iguanas also make this island their home. Mangrove Cay, along with Little Water Cay and Donna Cay, make up the Princess Alexandra Nature Reserve inside the Princess Alexandra National Park. As a protected nature reserve, it is prohibited to fish or collect wildlife in this wide area, making it a safe haven for wildlife to flourish.
Kayaking and Paddle Boarding:
Veined with picturesque turquoise channels, this cay is the perfect destination for kayaking and paddle boarding. The channels typically have a very lazy current, making it easy to traverse. Families can take children aboard their kayaks, and excursion operators provide plenty of life jackets and sunscreen.
Tips and Recommendations
*Hat and Sunglasses: Very Important to shield your face and eyes since the sun can be quite bright and strongly reflect off the crystal waters.
*Sunscreen: Lather up your face, nose, arms, legs, and any exposed skin.
*Swim shirt: I always wear a long sleeve swim shirt on excursions to help protect my shoulders and arms.
*Hydrate: Drink tons of water before and after your paddle boarding trip. A water bottle pack or arm attachment is also a great idea to bring along with you. Make sure to bring extra water for children and encourage them to drink plenty of water too.
Waterproof Camera: Make sure you have a strap to fix so the camera is not lost during a swim!
*Excursion Companies: Big Blue Collective is the company I have used each time I visit the island. I highly recommend them! I paddleboard each time, but I will warn you that it is quite a workout! Kayaking is a bit easier and more stable. The excursion generally sets off from Big Blue’s marina and is led by an experienced guide on a paddle board. They will tell you about the islands and make sure the group stays safely together. There are certainly other reputable tour operators though (SUP Provo, Turks & Caicos Kiteboarding, Waterplay Provo), so check around and if this sounds like something you may enjoy, give it a shot!
Veined with picturesque turquoise channels, this cay is the perfect destination for kayaking and paddle boarding. The channels typically have a very lazy current, making it easy to traverse. Families can take children aboard their kayaks, and excursion operators provide plenty of life jackets and sunscreen.