Cliffs near Mudjin Harbour, Middle Caicos.
North and Middle Caicos are the two largest islands in the Turks and
Caicos Islands. Traditionally, these two have been the heart of the
farming and planting in the country. Old cotton, sisal and sugarcane
plantation ruins can still be seen today. A
causeway connects both islands, so they function as one large island.
Most of the main roads on North and Middle Caicos are paved. Due to the
remote locations of many of the attractions on these islands, it is
advisable to bring plenty of drinking water with you.
Because North and Middle Caicos get more rain than the other islands,
mosquitoes are sometimes a problem. Mosquitoes in the Turks and Caicos
are not known to carry any disease, but they can be a big nuisance, so
be sure to bring
Off or a similar bug repellent with you when you visit. IGA
Supermarket on Providenciales carries a complete line of bug repellent.
Whether you decide to spend your entire vacation at one of North or
Middle Caicos' accommodations, or simply make a day trip from
Providenciales, the experience is well worth having.
Because of the unique situation of the causeway connecting both islands,
they are treated more like a single island on our site.
Below is some basic information on each island.
North Caicos
Ruins of Wade's Green Plantation, North Caicos.
Located in the center of the Caicos islands archipelago, lush North
Caicos is considered to be the Turks and Caicos Islands' garden. Less
than three thousand people live on North Caicos, so things can be a bit
slow at times. Three small villages are on North Caicos: Kew, Whitby and
Bottle Creek. There are several small hotels and rental villas on the
north coast of the island.
Found near Kew on North Caicos, Wades Green is the best preserved and
most famous historical plantation in the Turks and Caicos. Built by Wade
Stubbs in 1789 as a cotton and sisal plantation, the buildings here are
in better condition and more clearly identified than any other
plantation site in the country. Sisal was used in the production of
rope, and during the 1700s and 1800s there was strong global demand for
rope.
Cottage Pond is another fascinating site. Explored by divers in 2001,
this 150 foot diameter fresh-water pond was found to have cave systems
going down as deep as 250 feet. This is also an excellent site for bird
watching.
From the Flamingo Pond overlook, it's common to see several hundred
flamingos.
The overlook is a distance from the pond, so it helps to bring
binoculars.
North Caicos has many great beaches and scenic coastlines. The Sandy
Point and Whitby areas probably have the best beaches for swimming, but
the other stretches of shores are not without their charms.
There are a few gas stations and small grocery stores on North Caicos,
so it's best to stock up if moving on to Middle Caicos.
Middle Caicos
The large cavern at Conch Bar Caves, Middle Caicos.
Middle Caicos is the largest island in the Turks and Caicos. Populated
by only 450 people, everything tends to be quiet and laid-back. The main
settlement is Conch Bar village, which has a few small places with cold
drinks and food.
The main highlight of this island is the Mudjin Harbour coastline.
Starting at the northwest point of Middle Caicos, Mudjin Harbour
consists of two miles of spectacular limestone cliffs and white sandy
beaches, ending at the frequently photographed Dragon Island. Mudjin
Harbour is considered by many to have the finest vistas in the country.
The mildly-strenuous historical Crossing Place Trail leads along the
cliffs and is an excellent way to experience the sights.
Middle Caicos is also home to Conch Bar cave, the largest cave system in
the entire Bahamas - Turks and Caicos archipelago.
On the eastern side of Middle Caicos is the small settlement of Lorimers
and the interesting old Haulover Plantation ruins.
Read our history of the Turks and Caicos Islands, from prehistoric
peoples, Columbus' landfall, to the dawn of the modern age. This article
is about all the islands in the country, not just North and Middle
Caicos.
North Caicos and Middle Caicos are located in the centre of the
Caicos island chain,
which is located about 575 miles southeast of Miami, Flordia, United
States. We're just southeast of the Bahamas and north of Haiti and
the Dominican Republic. Find out more, including an easy map and flight
times from major international cities.
We don't have a custom Practical Information page for North and
Middle Caicos, but
you're find all the common stuff here, such as the currency, power
sockets, phone standards, and more.
Related Information