Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
footprints. Pumpkin Bluff beach is especially beautiful and the snorkeling is good, with a
foundered cargo ship adding to the allure.
Cottage Pond , a 150ft-deep blue hole on the northwest coast, attracts waterfowl such as
West Indian whistling ducks, grebes and waders. Bellfield Landing Pond, Pumpkin Bluff
Pond and Dick Hill Creek also attract flamingos, as does a large brine lake, Flamingo Pond
, which floods the center of the island. Here the gangly birds strut around in hot pink. The
ponds are protected as individual nature reserves.
A series of small cays off the northeast shore are protected within East Bay Islands Na-
tional Park , and a trio of cays to the northwest form Three Mary Cays National Park
, another flamingo sanctuary and an osprey nesting site. The snorkeling is good at Three
Mary Cays and further west at Sandy Point Beach.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
For as long as everyone can remember North Caicos has always been the ultra-
quiet neighbor to Provo. But times are a changing - there is an unprecedented
amount of development underway on the island. Granted, it's not going to look
like Miami Beach any time soon, but there are quite a few new projects under
way. The new ferry has increased numbers and there's a deep-water harbor un-
der construction that will make bringing building materials to the island much
easier. This translates into more people, and soon more options for places to
stay, eat and drink. Sadly it does signal the end of a very quiet era on North Cai-
cos; the days when you got the beaches all to yourself are numbered. So if you
want to see NC the way it's supposed to be - quiet as a mouse - you better get
here ASAP.
SLEEPING
Generally accommodations on North Caicos are set up with self-catering in mind. All the
options listed here come standard with kitchenettes, except for the Pelican Beach Hotel,
which cooks for you.
Ocean Beach Hotel BEACH HOTEL $$$
( 946-7113; www.turksandcaicos.tc/ocean beach; r $225-275; ) Popular with
families and often full of returning guests, Ocean Beach is a treat. Beautifully maintained
with simple homely touches, it feels like you're staying at a friend's cottage - with the best
view money can buy. There are rooms here accommodate every type of group; big or small
it will sort you into the right spot, while the complimentary local cell phone will make or-
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