Stand Up Paddleboard Eco Tour

We had a great time exploring the mangroves, seeing the turtles and learning about the islands and marine life. Mikey was an awesome guide - fun and full of knowledge! Big Blue Collective is truly one of the only tour groups out there trying to preserve the sea grass and protect the future of the marine animals that you see on the tour. I wish we had planned further in advance and could have booked a snorkel tour with them too - book before it gets full!

This has been a highlight of our visit to Turks and Caicos. We had a fantastic time. On our 2 hour paddle boarding experience, our guide Mikey showed us sea turtles, barracuda, upside down jellyfish, and explained how mangroves breathe. I loved having a guide so knowledgeable about the local ecology, he went above and beyond showing us wildlife and explaining more about it than we would’ve ever guessed. A must do excursion if you are interested in marine life and paddle boarding.

So happy our hotel recommended this tour! It was the best eco-tour I’ve been on. Mainly because our guide Kevins was fantastic!! He started the tour with giving a brief explanation of TCI geography. We paddled over to the mangroves and got to see so many sea turtles! He was great at explaining how to paddle board and was very patient, kind and easy going. He pointed out all the sea creatures he could see so we didn’t miss them. We had a morning tour. We had a rental car and drove to the location. They provided chilled water for us in insulated water bottles. I would highly, highly recommend insect repellent if you are prone to insect bites. I sprayed my skin but somehow got mosquito bites through my bathing suit. I love paddle boarding and had great time. But it was a bit of work getting out of the marina. It was, however, much easier coming back in.

My friend and I chose the 2-hour tour … it was just the two of us - one on a SUP and one in a kayak - Allie was our guide and it was wonderful! She was so knowledgeable about the ecology and environment and such a wonderful guide! The other staff members were also very friendly and helpful. Highly recommended!

Wonderful experience! Mike our guide was knowledgeable and passionate about the mangroves and sea life we explored. This was our second Big Blue Collective excursion. We chose the paddleboards and were part of a small group, just 6 guests and the guide. Worth every penny!

This was a unique and unforgettable experience in TCI! Guides were super knowledgeable, tour was educational and enjoyable, and Big Blue Collective knows their stuff! We saw several other tours while we were in the mangroves and ours seemed the best! It was windy the day of our tour, so our tour guides seamlessly facilitated our request to change to kayaking at the last minute. Thank you for a fantastic time, team!!

Amazing experience! Dozens of green sea turtles, fish, and juvenile lemon and black tip reef sharks! Thank you, Kevins!

We had a wonderful excursion. Very rewarding. Ketlyn was a great guide, keeping the perfect pace, and giving us opportunities sit and pay attention to the ecosystem. We saw lots of turtles, barracuda, lemon sharks, etc. if you want time in nature exploring the mangroves while getting some exercise, I highly recommend it.

The six of us had an awesome trip and saw turtles, conch, puffer fish, and a baby shark along with many birds. Our guide was amazing, both patient and knowledgeable about the area.

We booked a couple excursions for the same day knowing there was a good possibility of cancelations due to the predicted storm. The other company cancelled on us two days prior. The weather ended up being perfect and it was only the 2 of us registered. Private tour? I'll take it! So pretty. We saw a couple sharks and tons of turtles. Thanks Kenlyn!

Did the two hour paddleboard tour. The mangroves were lovely and we saw dozens of sea turtles, a barracuda, and a baby shark, live conch, as well as a lot of birds. A few portions the paddling was against currents and wind and a little tough. Bring sunscreen to reapply- it’s kind of brutal sun. Our guide was very nice and knowledgeable. Fun tour!

Interesting jaunt through one of the most important local ecosystems. Very low key, not very physically challenging (until the end when we paddled against the current!) lots of pauses, lots of critters! Turtles, sharks, needlefish, conch..Make sure you’re covered in sunscreen!

Tom guided us into and around the mangroves, which provide an amazing habitat here in Turks and Caicos. We saw iguanas, a shark, baracudas, many turtles, bone fish, cow fish and several conch. He brought along cold water for us to sip on a break and we were even able to go for a swim in the shallow turquoise waters part way back from the mangroves. Absolutely a must see when you are visiting Turks and Caicos. Tom was very knowlegable about the area and helpful to a variety of skill levels on the paddleboards. While waiting for our tour, since we biked there & arrived early, we had the pleasure of speaking with several of the guides, who all were friendly, interesting and fun to chat with. Fabulous tour, would do it again!

We loved this paddle boarding trip and Tom was a great guide. It was quite a windy day and we were not even sure we would be able to go, but Tom really took care of us. He gave us some great information on the mangroves in Turks. We were excited to learn we would be seeing sharks and sea turtles. The water is so clear we were able to see so many fish and other sea life. Even though it was quite windy and it did end up being quite a workout, we were loved our paddle boarding trip. Definitely worth it.

A true ECO TOUR of the mangroves led by a charming marine biologist,Caylam, who served up interesting facts about native wildlife & served us water NOT out of plastic bottles but out of sanitized reusable Yeti water bottles. Caylam took us to the less popular spots & encouraged us to just chill & wait for the creatures to come out. We were richly rewarded with visits from lemon sharks, loads of sea turtles & little green herons. 100% recommend. Big Blue Collective store sells reef-safe sunscreen & nicely designed sun shirts. Good activity for teens & up.

This was the perfect way to experience the mangroves! Small group with Ketlyn as an awesome guide. We saw turtles, conchs, fish up close and personal while learning about the ecosystem from Ketlyn. Top notch equipment and friendly service. My teens also really enjoyed it! Highly recommend this adventure.

Took the paddle boarding ECO tour into the mangroves. It was amazing. Kaylem spent the first 20 minutes teaching us about the history of the islands and the types of marine life around the mangroves. He was very patient with two new paddle boarders. We saw so many turtles who swam within inches of our boards...also saw sharks, barracuda, bonefish, etc. Can't say enough about this tour.

We had a fantastic stand-up paddle board mangrove tour with Ketlyon. We saw so many lemon sharks and sea turtles- they just swam right alongside us! And, Ketlyon found a conch for us to see and hold. We learned so much and had a great workout. Would definitely recommend it.

We booked a paddle board tour, but as it was quite windy our guide suggested that we switch to kayaks. Ali was amazing and it ended up that we were the only 3 people on the tour (our son woke up not feeling well). The tour was fascinating from beginning to end. Ali was so well informed about everything we were seeing and we learned so much about the mangrove system and all the wildlife we saw. I highly recommend this tour and look forward to booking the longer kayak tour when we return and my son can go as well! We saw lots of sea turtles, birds, and a couple of baby sharks.

We had an outstanding experience with this tour. The guides were super informed and friendly. They were courteous and kind and patient. We saw tons of wildlife including tons of sea turtles and sharks. It was a great experience and would definitely recommend!

My wife, two boys (ages 17 & 21) and I did the stand-up 2-hour paddleboard tour through the Princess Alexandra Nature Preserve. Our guide, Eve, was fantastic and we thoroughly enjoyed the trip and her commentary. We learned about the unique marine ecosystem and saw birds, juvenile lemon and nurse sharks, rays, turtles, fish, conch, and more. I definitely recommend this excursion to individuals and families who want to learn more about the ecosystem around Turks & Caicos.

Worth every penny! Our guide, Nicole was fantastic and knowledgeable. We learned so much about this important ecosystem and saw plenty of sea creatures! I would highly recommend this tour, Nicole and Big Blue Collective!

We learned about the importance of the mangroves in supporting marine life and protecting the island from storm surges during hurricanes. Our guide, Allie, was diligent about safety, knowledgeable, passionate about her subject, and encouraging to all the participants in our group that included a grandmother, mother and daughter, and a mother and two teens. One can choose to kayak instead of paddleboard. Do not miss this amazing experience!

We have done the SUP tour many times, returning with new guests and visitors to TCI each time. It never disappoints. We’ve also done a private boat tour with them as well. The staff is well educated and very accommodating. Big Blue is the company to use if you care about our oceans and ocean life. During today’s tour we watched another tour operator from another tour company poking, swatting and jabbing at a juvenille lemon shark with his oar so the folks in his group could get a good look. Saddens me terribly to see this. The idea of these types of tours is to gain further appreciation for what so may of us take for granted. That might means sometimes you may not see the baby sharks.

We had an amazing time touring the mangroves on our SUP boards! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the ecosystem and all of the species we came across. We were able to view sharks, many fish and too many sea turtles to count!

Breadlyn was an incredible guide who was knowledgeable and accommodating of our party of people ages 7 to 55. We had a wonderful time.

Beautiful waters through the mangroves with many turtles swimming beneath. Deandre explained the mangrove ecosystem and pointed out hidden wildlife. It’s a windingly cool area to SUP through. With winds from the south, getting back to the marina made for a serious workout (which we were looking for), but could be difficult for some (though Deandre assured us he’d get us back if the winds were too much). The biodegradable sunscreen thing was well meaning, but the sunscreen stick we bought there was expensive and basically dried out (ie didn’t work) so we’re a bit lobstery today.

Nick was amazing! Knowledgeable, very low key but engaging, focused on making our tour great for all of us -various levels of skill. Made sure we saw everything we could - turtles, conch, barracuda, sharks and jellyfish. Highly recommend Blue Collective and if you can get Nick - ask for him! Thank you for a great experience!

This was an amazing experience. Our tour guide, Breadlin was phenomenal! He shared so much local information, wildlife facts and ecological info, that I thought he must be a biologist. He truly loves where he lives and is invested in caring for the environment. It was a memorable experience!

You must do this! Beautiful clear waters and we saw tons of turtles, they swam up to us! Also saw sharks and fish :)

Beautiful way to see the mangroves and all the sea life there! A little treacherous crossing the channel against the wind as a first-time SUP'er!

We had an amazing time with BIg Blue. The instructors were so kind and they care for the environment! They have a sunscreen promise which is great for the surrounding reefs. The tour guide took us in the mangroves and onto iguana cay. He was very knowledgeable about the environment and the area around us. He was so polite and patient when we were slowly paddling! We saw many different animals (lemon shark, turtles, sting ray, conch, jelly fish, iguana, barracuda, puffer fish, many other fish, green heron, and more!)

This was an amazing tour! We loved seeing juvenile puffer fish, barracuda, jelly fish, many turtles, and even a few sharks. Tom was a wonderful guide and teacher! He taught us about the unique echo system of the mangrove and helped us see so much! These guys really know what they’re doing. Highly recommend not missing this opportunity if you’re in Provo.

We did the Backcountry Eco Paddleboard tour of the Mangroves and it was spectacular and Philip and Mike were amazing as guide and captain. The whole experience was expertly coordinated and every person and part of this adventure was amazing. .

Tour went well and guide made sure we felt comfortable. Saw lots of turtles and lemon sharks. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen!

We toured with Kim who is unbelievably knowledgeable and passionate about the Turks and Caicos Islands. She was wonderfully personable and we so enjoyed our tour. This is our third adventure with Big Blue and we've been delighted each time. We were amazed at the amount of turtles this trip and were lucky to see a baby nurse shark on the move. Highly recommend!!

Our group of 6 did the mangrove paddle board tour. Our tour guide Brendan was great and was very informative and friendly. The paddle boarding was easier then I thought it would be being a beginner. We saw many turtles, jelly fish, and various fish. The mangroves and surrounding water was beautiful!

Tom led our small group through a lovely tour that included seeing tons of turtles, a few small sharks and a bunch of beautiful fish. It was a great time on the water, we lucked out with the weather, and Tom was courteous, helpful and took a few photos for my wife and I.

Rented paddle boards and cruised local mangrove islands. More turtles than we could count, and other cool wildlife. It was the thing we did in TCI.

Such a lovely mix of hard paddling and casual floating. Excellent instruction, leadership and wildlife pointing by Tom. We saw turtles, sharks, fish and jelly fish. Easy pace with just a bit of hard work. Tom did a wonderful job making sure everyone was safe, comfortable and got to see the wildlife. I would do this trip again!

Amazing tour! Mike was our guide and it ended up being just my husband and I on the tour, as a group of 4 cancelled last minute. We both hadn’t paddle boarded before and were able to get the hang of it. Getting out of the marina to the mangroves is the hardest part and then once you’re in the mangroves it’s much easier/relaxing. Mike was very knowledgeable about the mangroves and we had a great time learning about them as well as all of the marine life we saw (including baby lemon sharks, baby turtles, blow fish, baby barracudas, conch). He had waters for us and we took small breaks. Highly recommend rash guards as were out for over 2 hours and weren’t able to reapply sunscreen. Overall amazing tour. We tried to book the snorkeling tour for another day as we were so happy with our experience but they were all filled up. Would highly recommend this one! Make sure to book in advance!

I was not very happy with my experience. The weather was not good for paddle boarding, which of course I totally understand, but instead of calling me and telling me ahead of time (and giving me another option), I got off the beach, changed, waited for them to arrive (they were late), got into their van, which was dirty and disgusting btw, and when I arrived, they told me no paddle boarding but I could kayak. I didn’t want to kayak! I would have stayed on the beach and rescheduled for another day. It was inconsiderate and just their way of keeping my money. They made me lose precious beach time because they were greedy. That is poor customer service. Not a fan.

We had an amazing time doing a SUP tour in the mangroves. We did not book private but only had one other couple in a kayak with us. They keep group sizes small which really made it more special. The water is super calm and the currents are not strong so even a beginner paddleboarder could do this tour. We saw sooo many turtles, bone fish, jellyfish, crabs and even baby lemon sharks. Totally recommend!

I booked a paddleboard excursion with my family with this company and was extremely disappointed with them. To start I booked this trip before going to Turks and Caicos. When I mentioned that my family and I were going to the front desk at the hotel, the manager had a negative reaction. However, since I payed and my kids wanted to go, we still went. The next day, they arrived late to the hotel (45 min), didn't call and even defended themselves by saying they were on time. The "bus" was also extremely small to fit the amount of people they wanted to pick up. We all felt crammed in. The paddle boarding experience in itself was subpar as well. I did not feel like it was worth the money. The guide was very uninformative and unhelpful. I would not waste my time on this.

My wife and I did the 2 hour (which turned into 2.5hr) Stand-up paddle tour through the Mangroves. Although we have a good bit of stand-up paddle board experience, there was another couple on our tour whom were doing it for the first time and the trip was great for all skill levels. Our tour guide, Duncan, was extremely knowledgable about the are and environment and included just the right amount of information and talking while also allowing us to just enjoy the beautiful location and serenity. Crystal clear waters, 4 baby shark sightings, 5+ turtles, birds galore and can't forget the upside down jellyfish demonstration. A fantastic outing that I would say is a don't miss in Turks-Caicos.

We went out on the SUP tour through the mangroves. This really was amazing we were complete beginners and after a few simple instructions before we set off we were away. We saw lots of turtles and some lemon sharks among other wildlife. This is a must do while you are on the island. Duncan was our guide and you can really tell he has a genuine interest in what he is doing! also you get a great view of the wildlife while standing on the board.

They where late to pick us up (in old mini van) dangerous. Then they cancelled our paddle board trip. Then tried to push kayak trip on us. Instead CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS Terrible. We would not recommend them to anyone They were very Rude

Loved our paddle board excursion with Big Blue Collective. Duncan was super knowledgeable and just so nice! He made the experience so fun and enjoyable! Highly recommend this fun and informative excursion through the beautiful mangroves in TCI. SO glad we did it, and we look forward to a repeat next year!

My two 20-something kids and I had an awesome SUP Eco Tour experience with our tour guide, Duncan! His knowledge of the Mangrove Cay ecosystem and his heartfelt concern and love for the creatures within it is sublime!