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Pine Cay will be your base from which you may embark on ecotourism activities to fill each day, be it on Pine Cay or day trips to one of the other remote islands. Be you young or old, there is a spectrum of fun and green travel activities available for your island pleasure.
Private or custom eco-tours or excursions are available from Amphibious Adventures or Big Blue Unlimited. Either operator is eager to plan professional custom eco-tours from your vacation cottage on Pine Cay.
Pine Cay guests are invited to join other island guests on scheduled activities – the choice is yours.
We list some suggestions for ecotourism activities, be it on Pine Cay or day trips to one of the other remote islands. Please let us know if we've missed your favorite activity:
- Snorkeling and diving on coral reefs, walls and ship wrecks
- Kayak inside the barrier reef or through the mangroves
- Birdwatching in the pine forests, grasslands and mangroves
- Sailing inside the barrier reef or in the Caicos flats
- Bicycling on Pine Cay's cart paths or on the paved roads of North Caicos
- Hiking on island paths and expansive white sand beaches
- Cave exploration in some of the larger cave systems in the Caribbean
- Camping on East Caicos
- Whale watching (during the winter months)
- Explore historic ruins of the Lorimer settlers and Taino Indians
- Visit with local basket weavers, farmers and fishermen
- Remote island exploration - look for rock carvings
- Photography with a variety of green travel themes
- Taste your way through the local villages
- Sunday worship at a local church
Eco-tourism is the attainment of ecologically sustaining activities for the tourism industry, they call it sustainable tourism or green tourism. While Turks and Caicos Islands may not fit all the technical definitions of green, the Turks and Caicos Islands have set aside over 33% of its entire land and sea regions for preservation purposes: National Parks, Natures Reserves, Sanctuaries and Protected Areas. The world’s largest biodiversity wetland reserve – Ramsar – accounts for 1/3 of East Caicos, ½ of Middle Caicos and ¼ of North Caicos.
While the Turks and Caicos Islands have taken the first step toward sustainable tourism, Pine Cay lives it. Plan to stay in a natural Caribbean island environment on Pine Cay, explore the surrounding islands and plan a spectacular green travel adventure!!
The Turks & Caicos Islands - “ Beautiful by Nature” await you……….
| Little Water Cay: A short boat trip to explore the Turks and Caicos rock iguana perserve. The rock iquanas, unique to the TCI, have been given an island to themselves in an effort to preserve them from ever encroaching development. Notice the remarkable difference in the look of male, female and youngsters. |
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| North Caicos: A day trip from Pine Cay - spend the day strolling through the pastures of former plantation Wade’s Green. These ruins depict island life long ago and from which the native generations have blossomed and grown. Visit Cottage Pond, a bottomless cenote in the limestone rock, see the protected pink flamingos in their natural habitat, taste local food in a variety of local establishments along the way. Kayak in Bottle Creek or ride a bicycle through Kew. |
Wade's Green Managed by the Turks and Caicos National Trust |
| Middle Caicos: A full day trip from Pine Cay. An historic trail used by natives of long ago, The Crossing Place coastal trail starts at the furthest east end of Middle Caicos, and the trail winds through from Lorimers to Bambarra and then along the shore to Conch Bar, over spectacular cliffs at Mudjin Harbour, following the shore to Blowing Hole and then to Crossing Place. From here, at low tide, residents would walk across the tidal flats to the lower end of Bottle Creek on North Caicos. |
View of Middle Caicos shoreline looking toward the west. Aerial photography by Mark Woodring. |
| Evidence of Lucayan sites on Middle Caicos date back to the early 1400’s. Several archeological expeditions have unearthed fossils and facts that lead to the belief that this island was once an epicenter for these ancient Indian tribes. The most renowned site, labeled M-6, can be accessed by a 2 hour hike to an interior lake region. |
Example of uncovered Taino Vessel
Middle Caicos, photo by Siri White
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| Numerous other green travel destinations await : Conch Bar caves, Cottage Pond, Indian Cave, Flamingo Pond, Haulover Plantation – all with special character and charm. The natural splendor of the settings are unsurpassed; the native flora and fauna revel in this yet unrivaled land. The key to truly experiencing this lies with the inhabitants. |
| The Middle Caicos people having thrived for several centuries in harmony with the land and sea, teeped in old world wisdom and idioms. The natives are filled with local legends and lore. Aside from opening their hearts and minds, the residents will open their homes to visitors for a sampling of the delectable local fare. Peas and rice, lobster, conch, chicken and the famous Middle Caicos grits are just a few of the appetizing selections. Several hand-made items are produced on island, such as woven baskets and hats, mosquito whips, whisk brooms and cloth dolls. |
| Salt Cay: A day trip via airplane or an overnight exploration. Walking tours throughout Balfour Town, echoing the days of the salt merchants and salt rakers who made this island thrive in the 1800's. Essentially a living outdoor musuem, with some buildings dating back to the 1600's. See more on Salt Cay history by following this link. |
Salt Cay, a world class historic site |
| Grand Turk: A day trip from Pine Cay via airplane or an overnight expedition to streets of colonial architecture in a pallet of pastels that make this historic island community a photographers dream. Take time to visit the reknowned Turks and Caicos National Museum which features an every growing collection of Taino treasures, messages found at sea in bottles, as well as some momentos recovered from old ship wrecks. |
Front Street Grand Turk |
| Providenciales: A day trip from Pine Cay via boat and taxi, bypass the luxury beach resorts and fancy shops and head for Blue Hills, the oldest settlement on the island of Providenciales.Visit the Middle Caicos Co-op in Blue Hills to see prime examples of island basketry. Sign up for a sailing lesson in a handmade native sloop with the TC Maritime Heritage Federation. Visit the rock carvings left by stranded shipmates off shipwrecks dating back to the 1600's. Visit the Handicraft market in Blue Hills. Enjoy nice island lunch of conch or lobster on the beach, also in the Blue Hills settlement. |
Sapodilla Hill Carvings
Providenciales
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Amphibious Adventures offers a green way to explore the Turks and Caicos Islands. Focused on sailing expeditions (open boat) and out-islands adventures throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. Venture off the beaten path with Renowned eco-tour guide Mark Parrish, and discover the wild side of the TCI.
Big Blue Unlimited offers day ecotours including scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, cultural tours, bicycling, cave tours and other exciting adventures. Join a group or customize a private excursion for your group.
Turks and Caicos Islands Handicraft Market -
Presented by the Middle Caicos Co-op located on the beach in Blue Hills on Providenciales. Using grasses and rushes hand picked from the wild marshes and fields on Middle Caicos, North Caicos and South Caicos, dried and prepared for the basket weavers, the basket weavers in Turks and Caicos Islands, who are typically the senior citizens living in the smaller remote island settlements, created a variety of colorful and artistic coiled basketry, which is soon becoming a lost craft in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Middle Caicos Coop venture was developed to aid in keeping the culture of Caribbean basket weaving alive. We appreciate your support.
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