Parrot Cay
A thousand acres between Providenciales and North Caicos, beach along almost the whole north shore, mangroves on the south, one resort, and no way in but by boat.
- Arrival
- Providenciales International · PLS
- To the island
- About 30 minutes by boat from Providenciales
- Private jets
- Into PLS, then the resort boat from Leeward
- Best time
- December to October
The city
Once called Pirate Cay.
Parrot Cay is the largest of the small cays strung between Providenciales and North Caicos, about a thousand acres of sand, low dry forest and red mangrove, with a narrow channel to North Caicos on one side and Dellis Cay on the other. Pirates used these waters from the 1600s, for their fresh-water ponds and sheltered anchorages, and the island went by the name of Pirate Cay before it softened to Parrot. Cotton and citrus were tried here later; today COMO runs the only hotel, on the ridge at the north-eastern end.
The sea stays between 25 and 29 °C all year and the air between 27 and 32 °C. Rain is light in most months; November is the wettest, and late summer and autumn carry the risk of tropical storms.
Arriving
By jet to Provo, by boat to the cay.
There is no airstrip and no causeway. Guests land at Providenciales, the country's main port of entry, are driven to the dock at Leeward and cross on the resort's own boat in about half an hour.
- San Juan 1 h 20
- Antigua 1 h 55
- Barbados 2 h 30
- Dallas 3 h 55
- Vienna 10 h 45 long-range jet
When to go
December to October.
Readings from nearby Providenciales: warm and mostly dry, with a sea of 25 to 29 °C. July is the driest month and November the wettest; tropical storms are possible from late summer into autumn.
- 27° J 56 26°
- 27° F 44 25°
- 28° M 38 25°
- 29° A 47 26°
- 30° M 58 27°
- 31° J 52 28°
- 32° J 34 28°
- 32° A 50 29°
- 32° S 83 29°
- 31° O 100 29°
- 29° N 124 28°
- 27° D 89 26°
What to see and do
Days in and around Parrot Cay.
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Landmark
The north shore
White sand running almost the full length of the island, facing the open Atlantic side of the cays.
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Landmark
The mangroves
The southern side, all red mangrove and ironshore, where green herons and yellow-crowned night herons feed.
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Landmark
Fort George Cay
A neighbouring cay where the British kept a cannon battery until the early 1800s.
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Culture
Wade's Green Plantation
Granted to the Loyalist Wade Stubbs, this cotton plantation of 1789 keeps the ruins of its great house, kitchen and slave quarters, seen on guided tours.
Official site -
Wildlife
Flamingo Pond
Caribbean flamingos can gather here in the thousands, watched from an overlook a short drive from the North Caicos ferry landing.
Official site -
Nature
Cottage Pond
An inland sinkhole kept by the National Trust, it draws ducks, warblers and gnatcatchers, with guided tours from Monday to Saturday.
Official site -
Nature
Conch Bar Caves
Bats roost in the caverns of the largest dry cave system in the Turks and Caicos and Bahamas chain, shown on guided tours.
Official site -
Nature
Mudjin Harbour
High limestone cliffs back the white beaches of this stretch of Middle Caicos coast, which looks out to Dragon Cay and carries the Crossing Place Trail.
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Wildlife
Little Water Cay
Boats from the cays stop at this National Trust reserve to see the Turks and Caicos rock iguana, often together with Half Moon Bay.
Official site
Where to stay
One island, one hotel.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
Where to dine
Across the water on Providenciales.
No MICHELIN Guide covers the Turks and Caicos. These Fodor’s picks, all in its top price band, are on Providenciales, a boat ride and a short drive away.
- Coco Bistro Fodor’s Choice Continental, Caribbean $$$$ Grace Bay, Providenciales, about 20 km
- Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar Fodor’s Choice Seafood $$$$ Grace Bay Club, Providenciales, about 20 km
- Sui-Ren Fodor’s Choice Peruvian-Japanese $$$$ Long Bay, Providenciales, about 20 km
- Parallel 23 Fodor’s Caribbean fusion $$$$ Grace Bay, Providenciales, about 20 km
Elsewhere in Turks and Caicos Islands
More reasons to come.
Flying to Parrot Cay?
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