Pine Cay

Pine Cay is a privately held island of about eight hundred acres in the chain between Providenciales and North Caicos, with a freshwater pond at its centre, a stand of Caicos pine, and a beach on the north side running for around three kilometres that appears regularly on lists of the world's best. There are no cars: golf carts and bicycles only, on sand tracks. A small resort and a scatter of private houses are the only development, with a strict limit on numbers. Day access is possible by arrangement, and boats from Providenciales pass on the way to the other cays.

What you actually see

• The north beach - three kilometres regularly rated among the world's best.
• The freshwater pond - unusual on a cay this size.
• Caicos pine - the endemic pine, in decline elsewhere.
• No cars - sand tracks with golf carts and bicycles only.

When to go

November to May is the calmest and driest. Day access must be arranged in advance and numbers are limited. Boats from Providenciales take about half an hour in settled weather.

Honest expectations

It is a private island and access is controlled, expensive and not open to casual visitors; turning up is not possible. The resort is among the most expensive in the territory. There are no shops or facilities beyond it. Caicos pine across the territory has been devastated by an introduced scale insect.

Nearby

Little Water Cay is south; North Caicos is across the channel.