The 8 Best Turks and Caicos Private Island and Boutique Hotels
The Turks and Caicos offers a small yet select collection of luxury hotels that combine seclusion, privacy, and an incredible coastal setting. The properties shown offer a level of tranquility and luxury not found at many of the well-known Grace Bay resorts.
Due to the worldwide popularity of Grace Bay Beach, it shouldn’t be a surprise that not many hotels on the famous beach have made this list. We do however list the properties on Grace Bay that offer higher levels of privacy and tranquility. None of the hotels on this page offer much nightlife, and the private cays and remote destinations are especially so.
As many of the hotels shown here are remote, assistance with transportation may be provided. For those properties located on a private island, complimentary transit via ferry or small aircraft may be included. For an overview of vessel types and travel times, see Getting Around the Turks and Caicos.
The Turks and Caicos is home to many quiet and secluded villas, which are likewise worth considering as accommodations that provide increased privacy. The larger properties may include the services of housekeepers, butlers, or private chefs.
East Bay Resort
East Bay Resort is located on South Caicos, which offers a secluded and quiet atmosphere that's far different from the bustle of Provo. Although within easy cycling distance of the settlement of Cockburn Harbour, the property offers privacy. In the town, there are fishing boats around and people going about their daily lives, yet there’s no real atmosphere of tourism, noise, or obnoxious people. East Bay, the beach fronting the resort, is very quiet and typically empty.
The resort features a great range of amenities and services. Rooms are spacious with full kitchens and very well fitted, there are great complimentary non-powered water sports equipment available for guest use. Choose from one and two-bedroom suites.
Resort Qualities
Good: As also applies to Sailrock, South Caicos is excellent for many water sports. Cockburn Harbour and the scenic Highlands coastline to the east are fun to explore on foot or by bike. Due to the amenities and room size, the resort is great for extended stays.
Shortcomings: East Bay Beach can experience sargassum at times, and the beach fronting the property can get windy.
The Meridian Club
The Meridian Club on the private island of Pine Cay is high on our list of top secluded hotels in the Turks and Caicos largely due to the exceptional beach on the north shore of the cay. To the eastern side of this beach are the picturesque sandbars between Pine Cay and Fort George Cay, and to the west is a spectacular stretch of white sand coast that leads from Pine Cay, to Water Cay, to Half Moon Bay, and finally Little Water Cay. This continuous beach is truly breathtaking on a calm day.
The hotel itself, having originated in the early 1970s with Count Ferdinand Czernin of Austria-Hungary, is small, with some elements being a bit dated, yet overall the retreat offers an ‘Old Caribbean’ ambiance, which is something that is increasingly rare.
Accommodations include one or two bedrooms, standalone cottages, and villas on the cay that are managed by the hotel. Amenities include a pool at the resort, complimentary guest use of kayaks, paddleboards, Hobie Cat sailboats, a spa, and a fitness center. Transit to the island from the Providenciales, the island where all scheduled international flights land, is typically via a small ferry. The cay has an airstrip suitable for light aircraft.
Resort Qualities
Good: The Meridian Club is located on an exceptional beach and extensive beach. The cay offers a laid-back yet sophisticated atmosphere, and is very quiet and peaceful. Of the private cay destinations, Pine Cay offers the best accessibility to Providenciales. The Meridian Club offer all-inclusive packages for those that desire such.
Shortcomings: Possible negatives are the limited dining options. Rooms are a little smaller and more dated than some of the other private island hotels. On-island services are limited, and are largely confined to what the resort offers, however, charters are however easy to arrange from Providenciales. The Fort George Cay and Water Cay areas can see some boat and jet ski traffic during the day. After times of heavy rains, there can be mosquitoes and biting midges.
Sailrock
Sailrock is an upscale resort and development on the highly-scenic northern peninsula of South Caicos. The resort accommodations are contemporary and standalone villas, with both beachfront and ocean-view options. The resort main house and adjacent grounds offer the Great House Restaurant and a spa.
Sailrock and East Bay Resort, both on South Caicos, offer a unique combination of secluded luxury, yet accessibility to a small fishing settlement largely untouched by tourism, so a vacation to South Caicos won’t feel quite as isolated as a trip to one of the private cays.
The resort offers two contrasting beaches. The eastern coast on the peninsula is a long, wide, and windswept beach. To the west is the sheltered and calm Cove Beach.
Resort Qualities
Good: South Caicos is an exceptional destination for many water sports, and Sailrock is located in the general region of one of the most scenic spots in the Turks and Caicos. For enthusiasts willing to go further afield, it’s difficult to find a more spectacular location for exploring, bonefishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and kiteboarding.
Shortcomings: The larger east coast Long Beach at the resort can be rough and choppy during windy days, and sargassum is often present in at least small quantities. The smaller Cove Beach however is nearly always clean.
Amanyara
Amanyara is a remote and exclusive resort, located at beautiful Malcolm’s Road Beach on the western coast of Providenciales. This region is adjacent to the Northwest Point Marine National Park, and the Pigeon Pond and Frenchman’s Creek Nature Reserve, the largest terrestrial protected area on Providenciales.
Amanyara features standalone villa-type accommodations, with the full services of a five-star resort. Villas range from one-bedroom pavilions to six-bedroom villas. Onsite is a spa, fine dining restaurant, bar, beach grill restaurant, tennis courts, and water sports amenities.
Resort Qualities
Good: Exceptional dining, generally very private onsite the resort, and great service. In most conditions, the beach near the resort is quite calm and sheltered.
Shortcomings: To get to Amanyara from the Providenciales International Airport, it’s necessary to drive through the squalor of central Providenciales (which progressively worsens). On some days, Malcolm’s Road Beach and the water offshore is busier than would be expected at the remote location. Being on the sheltered side of Providenciales, there can be mosquitos after heavy rains.
COMO Parrot Cay Resort
Parrot Cay Resort on the private island of Parrot Cay was once the leading Turks and Caicos retreat for the rich and famous, having attracted an impressive list of celebrities. Now, the far broader selection of luxury hotels in our archipelago has brought competition to Parrot Cay.
Transit to Parrot Cay is via small passenger ferries, which departs from the Leeward area of Providenciales, with a transit time of around 25 minutes.
Resort Qualities
Good: A beautiful beach and sandbar system fronts the resort. The island offers a high level of privacy, and typically the only people on the cay are guests, resort employees, and those few who own property.
Shortcomings: Parrot Cay can have more of a mosquito and biting midge problem than most other properties after rains.
Ambergris Cay Resort
Ambergris Cay Resort on the remote and private island of Ambergris Cay offers a level of privacy and seclusion that the other resorts simply can’t compete with. There are no scheduled ferries or public flights to the island, so the only way to get there is through the resort or via a charter vessel. At nearly 50 miles (80 km) from Providenciales and 13 miles (21 km) from South Caicos, few ever make it out to the cay. Guest transit to the island is via small aircraft.
Resort Qualities
Good: Unparalleled seclusion and privacy. Beautiful and rugged coasts and environment. The resort features a high level of service and quality.
Shortcomings: The eastern shore beaches typically experience some levels of sargassum, and may be comparatively rough during most conditions. The sheltered west coast beach is nearly always calm and clear of seaweed, yet the ocean is quite shallow, and the sand can be silty.
Le Vele
Le Vele is one of the few Grace Bay hotels that offers a good level of tranquility, both on the property and on the beach fronting it. Grace Bay Beach has become quite popular over time, yet does have some relatively undeveloped stretches that tend to be very quiet. One such area is the coast between Le Vele and Point Grace.
Le Vele is a contemporary architecture hotel that isn’t quite as expansive as many other properties on Grace Bay. The site was designed for luxury residences, so rooms and suites are spacious, with full kitchens and high-quality finishes and fittings.
Visitors could spend nearly the entirety of their stay in the Turks and Caicos at many of the other properties shown here, as other sites are larger and offer restaurants and other luxury services. In the case of Le Vele, guests will likely want to travel offsite to restaurants, or perhaps a visit to the Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club and spa.
Resort Qualities
Good: Beautiful beach, large spacious rooms, and many shops and restaurants within walking distance.
Shortcomings: No onsite restaurant or spa.
Point Grace
Point Grace, one of the better-known Grace Bay Beach hotels, is currently surrounded by more undeveloped beach (approximately 1400 feet, or 430 meters) than any other Grace Bay Resort, better seclusion. Point Grace is one of the Grace Bay Club group of properties.
Onsite is a pool, spa, Grace's Cottage restaurant, Hutchings Restaurant, and a fitness center. One, two, and three-bedroom suites are available.
Point Grace is within general walking distance of several plazas on the ‘Grace Bay Strip’, including Le Vele Plaza, the Saltmills, and Regent Village. A wide selection of restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and services are in the area.
Resort Qualities
Good: Great onsite restaurant, beautiful beach, and elegant ambiance.
Shortcomings: Point Grace is located on Forbes Point, which is a slightly defined point along the beach. As the area is a bit more exposed, the water can consequently be a little rougher than at other locations, especially on the eastern side of the point. There is also boat traffic off the point due to the natural constriction.