CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsWildlife· Exuma Cays
Leaf Cay Iguana Beach
24° 44.8′ N · 76° 50.2′ W · approximate
Beach your dinghy on the west-facing sand and a committee of Allen Cays rock iguanas (Cyclura cychlura inornata) marches down to meet you - three to four feet of prehistoric grey-brown lizard found nowhere else on Earth. Southwest Allen's Cay has a second, usually quieter, population.
Practical
Endangered and legally protected. Do not feed them - grapes and lettuce cause fatal impaction and habituation, and rangers actively discourage it. Land bow-in at mid to high tide; the beach dries to a long wade at low water. Watch your toes and your painter - they will investigate both. Free; no permit needed (this is north of the park boundary).
Best for
Guaranteed close-up wildlife encounter, brilliant photos
Nearby
- Allan's Cay Anchorage (inside the lagoon)0.2 NM away
- Allen's Cay Rock Iguana Population (Southwest Allen's Cay)0.4 NM away
- Southwest Allen's Cay Anchorage (outside)0.4 NM away
- Highbourne Cay North Anchorage1.4 NM away
- Octopus Garden Reef, Highbourne Cay1.8 NM away
- Highbourne Cay West Anchorage2 NM away
- East Beach, Highbourne Cay2.2 NM away
- The Washing Machine (Highbourne Cay dive site)2.2 NM away