Water Cay
Iconic low-lying cliffs and perfect white sand make Water Cay one of the most beautiful locations in the country.
Other Islands
Providenciales
Find Your Island Sanctuary
Discover the Cays
Beyond the larger tourism islands of Providenciales (Provo), North and Middle Caicos, South Caicos, and Grand Turk, several quiet cays beckon travelers looking for boutique luxury stays and raw Caribbean charm. These little islands offer seclusion, wonderful beaches, and low-density development.
Old-School Caribbean
Salt Cay
Salt Cay is the smallest of the main islands in the Turks and Caicos. Inhabited since the late 1600s, this cay was the birthplace of the sea salt industry that drove the country's economy for centuries. Today, it supports a small population and is exceptionally quiet.
Salt Cay is a great destination for scuba divers, with flourishing reefs to discover offshore. From December to April, migrating humpback whales and their calves call its surrounding waters home.
Pine Cay
Pine Cay is a private island located in the string of small cays between Providenciales and North Caicos. It offers one of the finest beaches in Turks and Caicos and is home to the exclusive Pine Cay Resort and a community of high-end vacation homes.
Pine Cay is one of three private resort islands in the country, and is the closest to Providenciales. While the cay is only open to homeowners and resort guests, its spectacular beach is public and is a popular stop for boat charters.
Celebrity Retreat
Parrot Cay
Parrot Cay is the northernmost of the cays between Provo and North Caicos, and has long been the resort choice of the rich and famous. There’s an extensive list of celebrities who have spent time on the private island as homeowners or guests of the luxurious COMO Parrot Cay Resort.
Like Pine Cay, Parrot Cay itself is only open to resort guests and homeowners. The beach is technically public, but is difficult to access by boat.
Ambergris Cay
Ambergris Cay is the most remote of the inhabited private islands in the Turks and Caicos. It's a great destination for travelers seeking privacy, seclusion, and access to the unspoiled natural environment surrounding the cay.
The cay is open to guests of the luxurious Ambergris Cay Resort and accessible via domestic charter flights. Neighboring Little Ambergris Cay, a large and uninhabited nature reserve, boasts some of the most breathtaking ocean water in Turks and Caicos.
What Is a Cay?
A cay (sometimes spelled key or caye) is a small island. The term generally refers to a small sandy reef or barrier island, yet in the Turks and Caicos, cay includes small marine limestone islands as well. Locally, the common pronunciation of cay is ki or keɪ, not kai.
Collectively, there are about 100 named islands, rocks, and cays in Turks and Caicos. Many are uninhabited and can go years without seeing a single visitor. Several cays offer unique attractions, from the endemic Turks and Caicos rock iguana to shimmering lagoons and historical sites.
Large Uninhabited Islands
West Caicos and East Caicos
Remarkably few visitors set foot on West Caicos and East Caicos, the country’s largest uninhabited islands. Once home to Victorian plantations since reclaimed by nature, these remote islands promise visitors raw natural beauty and sights that few others witness.
Diving and History
West Caicos
West Caicos is the last of the archipelago's islands to the west. Cobalt water, some of the country's top scuba diving sites, and turquoise Lake Catherine await nature lovers, while remnants of an 1800s-era farming town lie abandoned inland.
A few boat charter companies and scuba diving operators organize excursions to West Caicos, which is just a one-hour boat ride from Providenciales.
The Last Frontier
East Caicos
East Caicos is the country's largest uninhabited island, and is located between Middle Caicos and South Caicos. Inaccessible to most tourists and residents, it is a time capsule of fascinating archaeological sites, awe-inspiring caves, and deserted plantations.
An incredible abundance of endemic and rare species—from endangered plants to migratory birds—is found here. Only a few companies offer private wilderness trips to East Caicos from Providenciales.
The Caicos Cays
Some of the best boating in the Turks and Caicos can be found in the Caicos Cays. This chain of small limestone islands is enveloped in striking turquoise water perfect for swimming, and is just minutes from Providenciales.
The Caicos Cays are visited by many shared and private boat cruises, which typically combine beach-hopping, snorkeling, and time cruising at sea.
Providenciales Boat Cruises
Little Water Cay (Iguana Island)
This island is a sanctuary for the endemic and endangered Turks and Caicos rock iguana and a popular boat charter stop.
Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay has an immaculate beach with a peaceful lagoon, sugar-soft white sand, and inquisitive iguanas.
Fort George Cay
This cay has great beaches on either side, as well as submerged cannons where an 1800s-era Loyalist gun battery once stood.
Dellis Cay
Uninhabited Dellis Cay—the site of the abandoned Dellis Cay Project—has a beautiful beach that's great for finding seashells.
Mangrove Cay
Mangrove Cay is the top destination for kayaking and paddleboarding eco-tours on Providenciales. Nearly the entirety of the cay is made up of red mangroves, which act as nurseries for an abundance of life. Tours of Mangrove Cay allow you to easily see the young turtles, stingrays, and lemon sharks that shelter in its shallow waters.
It's less than a 5-minute paddle from the east coast of Providenciales to the start of Mangrove Cay's channels.
Explore Mangrove Cay
Eco-Tours and Adventures
Visiting the Quieter Cays
There are frequent scheduled tours to Little Water Cay, Half Moon Bay, Mangrove Cay, and Water Cay from Providenciales. Boats also commonly visit Pine Cay, Fort George Cay, and Dellis Cay.
The remaining cays are only really accessible via custom charters or tours. If you’d like to visit a particular island, contact a boat cruise or outdoor adventure business.
