Gilligan’s island (the official name is Cayo Aurora) is a little stretch of land about a mile off the coast of Guánica on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It is only accessible by boat, kayak, or paddle board, so we were very appreciative to be able to be there in our very own “house boat.”
This remote island is home to troves of beautiful mangrove, crystal clear, calm waters, and undisturbed nature. We enjoyed trolling our dinghy through the lazy-river-like streams with mangrove tunnels lining the edges and shading our heads. There were a variety of birds chirping in the trees, and we spotted a turtle and some tropical fish swimming the streams. We didn’t get in the water on this outing, but we hear that the shallow waters around the island, and the healthy coral reef, make for excellent snorkeling.
This small cay was given the name Gilligan’s Island (after the 1960’s TV series) by the Keegan/Barnett family in the 1970’s, who had moved to Guánica from Pennsylvania. However, this is not where the TV series was filmed. It was shot in Hawaii and California, in case you were wondering.
The marine life has made this spot part of a biosphere reserve managed by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources. Several natural disasters, including the 2017 Hurricane Maria, destroyed the dock, hut, picnic areas, and some of the coral. Today, it looks like the island and canals are healthy and thriving again. Gracie sure enjoyed the ride and the scenery.
Gilligan’s Island has a few sandy beaches with warm, transparent green waters. Several people were standing on the sandy bottom enjoying a sunny afternoon in nature, while a few others were relaxing on floaties, or kayaking through the mangrove channels. This is definitely a place very few people will ever see. Unless you come here in your own boat, the only other way to get here is by renting water transportation from the harbor’s Copamarina Resort.
We were thankful for the privilege of experiencing this tiny wonder on earth!