Every country, and the places worth the trip 26,398 places across 240 countries Guess the country
Meridiela.

Cottage Pond

A deep inland blue hole on North Caicos, ringed by vegetation.

Updated 3 September 2026

Typeblue hole
WhereNorth Caicos
Nearest cityProvidenciales
Best seasonDecember to April
Time to allowAn hour
Getting thereOn North Caicos near Bottle Creek; road then a short track
EntryFree

Cottage Pond on North Caicos is an inland blue hole, a limestone sinkhole around twenty five metres across and well over fifty deep, filled with water that shades from green at the edges to very dark blue in the middle and ringed by dense vegetation. Grebes and ducks use it. Sinkholes like this formed when the limestone dissolved and collapsed during periods of lower sea level. Blue holes like this occur across the Caicos Bank and several are far larger than this one.

Highlights

  • The blue hole - the sinkhole around twenty five metres across.
  • The depth - water well over fifty metres deep at the centre.
  • The colour - green at the edges shading to dark blue at the middle.
  • The waterbirds - grebes and ducks using the pond.

When to go

December to April is the dry high season. The pond is there year round. Midday light shows the colour best.

What to expect

The edges are steep and unfenced. Swimming is not encouraged and the water is deep from close in. There are no facilities and the track in is rough.

Nearby

Bottle Creek is east, and Kew is southeast.

What to pack for Cottage Pond

Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.

  • Broken-in walking shoes or boots - Grip and ankle support matter more than looks; never hike in brand-new boots. Find on Amazon
  • Reef-safe sunscreen - High SPF that will not bleach the coral you are swimming over. Find on Amazon
  • Layers + a waterproof shell - Mountain weather turns fast; a packable rain jacket saves the day. Find on Amazon
  • Quick-dry towel - A microfibre towel packs small and dries in minutes. Find on Amazon

Some links on this page are Amazon affiliate links - if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

All packing kits

Plan your trip

Where to start if Cottage Pond is going on the list.

Booking links on this page are affiliate links - if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we write about a place.

Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

← More nature & outdoors in Turks and Caicos Islands

One place a week.

A short Friday email about one place worth knowing.