Bottle Creek Lagoon
North Caicos
Bottle Creek Lagoon is a shallow and sheltered marine body of water near North Caicos, and one of the most scenic locations in the Turks and Caicos. The lagoon fronts the settlement of Bottle Creek, which is the largest community on North Caicos. This tidal creek and flat is a five square mile (13 km²) lagoon, located between the northeastern coast of North Caicos and the East Bay Islands National Park. Bottle Creek connects to the expansive Caicos Banks to the south via the 5-mile long (8 km) Bottle Creek Mouth channel, and to the ocean to the north by several small channels between the cays.
The majority of Bottle Creek is quite shallow with a sandy and silty bottom, allowing only for kayaks, paddleboards, and small power vessels with shallow draft. Most visitors to North Caicos will experience the incredible view over the picturesque area from the Bottle Creek community. The road (Kings Road) that leads through the area offers some great vantage points.
Several vacation villas are found along the coast of Bottle Creek, and these accommodations often include complimentary kayak (and possibly stand-up paddleboard also) use for guests. If these water sports are important, consider staying at one of these locations instead of a Sandy Point or Whitby accommodation, which will however have better access to a beach.
Another scenic and accessible place to see Bottle Creek is simply off the road causeway that connects North Caicos and Middle Caicos.
Things to Do at Bottle Creek Lagoon
Bottle Creek is an exceptional destination for several water sports, including bonefishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and kiteboarding.
North Caicos doesn’t have quite the collection of water sports businesses that Providenciales, yet a few boutique tour companies cater to bonefishing and kayaking. Big Blue Collective, the largest and oldest eco-tour company in the Turks and Caicos, has a fleet of equipment on North Caicos and does organize excursions.
The East Bay Islands National Park
The exquisite East Bay Islands National Park, which includes Bay Cay, East Bay Cay, and Major Hill Cay, does also include a portion of the water in Bottle Creek. As is the case with all nature reserves and national parks, fishing (with the sole exception of lionfish) and the collection of conch and lobster is prohibited in the East Bay Islands National Park.
What Makes the Water So Brilliantly Turquoise?
Vying with the equally turquoise Chalk Sound National Park on Providenciales in terms of spectacular neon water shades, Bottle Creek gets its signature color from light reflecting off of fine suspended limestone particles in the otherwise clear water.
On the north-western end of Bottle Creek, the abruptly changing depths, sandbars and narrow channels of Greenwich Creek is an excellent place to see these hues. The point here, which is across from Bay Cay, is a very beautiful coastal area, and a spectacular secluded beach.
