Mudjin Harbour

Middle Caicos, Turks and Caicos · 3 min read

Three miles of limestone cliffs, caves and small beaches on the north coast of Middle Caicos, with the rocky outline of Dragon Cay just offshore.

At a glance

  • Size: About 3 miles (4.8 km) of cliffs and beaches
  • Water: Often rough; calm only on low-swell days
  • Access: Free parking at Dragon Cay Resort, then a short path
  • Best time: Calm days to swim; big-swell days to watch
  • Best for: Scenery, Quiet, Snorkeling

Overview

Mudjin Harbour is a stretch of coast on the north side of Middle Caicos, about 3 miles of high limestone cliffs with small beaches tucked between them. It runs west from Conch Bar, and many people consider it the finest landscape in the Turks and Caicos.

The centerpiece is Dragon Cay, a small rocky island about 200 feet off the main beach. From the sand its outline looks like a dragon with its head pointing east. A large open-faced cave sits above the beach, and a stone path along the clifftop leads to a smaller hidden cave, where the path turns into stairs that drop into the ground.

The edge of the Caicos Bank lies right off this coast, so ocean swells break close to the beach. That makes it spectacular to watch, but it also means the water is often too rough for swimming or snorkeling.

When to go

Check the conditions rather than the calendar. Calm, low-swell days are the only good time to swim or snorkel. On big-swell days, come for the view and stay out of the water.

Most visitors spend a few hours here, so plan it as the main stop of a day on Middle Caicos.

From January to April, humpback whales are sometimes seen offshore as they migrate. Sightings aren't guaranteed.

Things to do

Clifftop walks

  • Level: Easy to moderate
  • What you need: Closed shoes, water and sun protection
  • Where: The stone path west from the overlook to the hidden cave, or further along the Crossing Place Trail.

Cave exploring

  • Level: Easy
  • What you need: Closed shoes
  • Where: The large open-faced cave above the main beach, and the smaller cave reached by stairs off the clifftop path.

Swimming

  • Level: Moderate
  • What you need: Water shoes
  • Where: Only on calm days, in the small cove between Dragon Cay and the big cave.

Snorkeling

  • Level: Advanced
  • What you need: Mask, snorkel and fins
  • Where: Near Dragon Cay, and only on rare flat-calm days. The reef is close to shore and visibility can be excellent.

Tours & activity guides

  • Snorkeling: The barrier reef comes close to shore here, but ocean conditions are often too rough to snorkel. Go only on a truly calm day.
  • Kiteboarding: Turquoise shallows on the Caicos Banks along the south coasts, plus northern spots such as Half Moon Bay, Mudjin Harbour and Cedar Point. There is usually somewhere rideable whatever the wind direction.
  • Caves & Nature Trails: Guided cave tours and wild coastal trails on Middle Caicos, plantation paths on North Caicos and Providenciales, and a flamingo overlook near Whitby.

Getting there

Middle Caicos is reached from Providenciales by passenger ferry to North Caicos, a crossing of about 30 minutes from Walkin Marina (Heaving Down Rock) to Bellefield Landing.

From the ferry landing, drive across North Caicos and over the causeway to Middle Caicos. You'll need a car, so arrange a rental on North Caicos before you travel.

The main access is inside Dragon Cay Resort, just off the main road. There's a small free car park, and a 500-foot (150 m) concrete path leads down to the beach, the big cave and the overlook.

Beach access & parking

1. Main Access (Dragon Cay Resort)

Inside Dragon Cay Resort, just off the main road. A concrete path of about 500 feet leads from the car park down to the beach, the big open cave, the clifftop overlook and the stone path to the smaller cave. Poisonwood grows along the first 200 feet of the path, so don't touch the trees.

  • Parking: Small free car park

  • At this access: Restaurant

  • Eat nearby: Mudjin Bar & Grill (1 min walk)

2. Crossing Place Trail

A historic coastal hiking trail across the cliffs and beaches of Mudjin Harbour. The main trailhead is on the coast near Conch Bar village, and another starts near the Dragon Cay overlook. The trail is packed dirt near Conch Bar and turns rocky and sandy further on. There are no restrooms, little shade, and parts may be overgrown.

Facilities

  • Parking: Yes. There's a small free car park at the main access in Dragon Cay Resort.
  • Rentals: Limited. Dragon Cay Resort has kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel gear for its guests. Day visitors should bring their own gear.
  • Food & drink: Yes. Mudjin Bar & Grill sits on the cliffs above the beach at the main access. It serves mainly at lunchtime, so check before you go.
  • Shade: Limited. The large open cave above the beach gives good shade. The clifftop trail has very little.
  • Accessibility: Limited. A concrete path runs from the car park to the beach and overlook. The stairs down to the smaller cave are often slippery, and the cliffs have no guard rails.
  • Free parking at the main access
  • Mudjin Bar & Grill at Dragon Cay Resort, on the cliffs above the beach. It's mainly open for lunch, so check hours before you go
  • Shade inside the large open-faced cave
  • No lifeguards

Where to eat near Mudjin Harbour

Safety

  • There can be a very strong current between Dragon Cay and the beach, especially when there's a swell. Don't swim or snorkel when the sea is rough.
  • A sandbar usually leads out to Dragon Cay, but waves can wash over it and drag you onto razor-sharp rocks. Don't cross in a swell, and don't climb the cay.
  • Stay on the marked paths along the cliffs. There are no guard rails, and loose rocks and sinkholes are hidden in the vegetation. The stairs down to the small cave are usually very slippery.
  • Coral sumac, also called poisonwood, grows along the first 200 feet of the path from the car park. Don't touch it; it causes a painful rash.
  • Sea urchins and sharp rocks are common, so wear water shoes. There are no lifeguards, and help is far away.

Local tip

Don't skip the small cave down the stone path west of the overlook. When the path turns into stairs that disappear into the ground, you're in the right place.

Open Mudjin Harbour in Google Maps

Photo credits

  • Surf breaking against dark limestone cliffs at the end of the beach at Mudjin Harbour, Middle Caicos: Navin75, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • View from the clifftop over a small sandy cove and turquoise water along the Mudjin Harbour coast: Navin75, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Looking out from inside a limestone sea cave onto the beach and surf at Mudjin Harbour: Navin75, CC BY-SA 2.0