North Caicos & Middle Caicos Off-Road Driving Guide

As the largest islands in the Turks and Caicos, North Caicos and Middle Caicos offer the best adventure driving in the country. Miles of outback roads wind through wetlands, hills, and coastal regions, and lead to points of natural beauty.

On these islands, road conditions vary greatly. There are no “technical” or serious off-road courses, but plenty of unpaved roads through beautiful Caribbean wilderness.

In many cases, roads consist of rolled and graded limestone, and are generally decent. In other areas, vegetation has reclaimed much of the track, or erosion has formed deep ruts and loosened rocks.

What to Bring Adventure Driving

North Caicos and Middle Caicos are great places to explore and offer the all-too-rare combination of relatively low crime risk, easy navigation, and very few true dangers.

Drinking water is one of the greatest concerns. The sun and heat are typically intense, so it's highly recommended to carry at least one gallon (4 liters) of water per person per day.

If your vehicle does break down, the longest walk back to a settlement should be no greater than about seven miles (11 km), the distance from the remote beach of Cedar Point to the village of Lorimers. The roads and settlements of North and Middle Caicos are quite linear, so it’s actually rather difficult to get lost. Regardless, it's best to bring a map. Consider printing our North Caicos and Middle Caicos maps ahead of your trip.

It's also highly recommended to bring a working cell phone. Reception exists throughout both islands, but signal quality can be poor in some areas of Middle Caicos (you won’t get a 3G or higher data signal). For more information, see Telephones, Internet, and Mobile Phones.

Vehicles

Rental vehicles on North Caicos and Middle Caicos tend to be older and more rundown than their counterparts on Providenciales. Nearly all the interesting sites on both islands can be visited by the typical economy compact car, but having a jeep or SUV does make the experience a bit more fun, and brings extra peace of mind.

The best 4x4s available are the Jeep Wrangler and Land Rover Discovery.

Some of the vehicles consume more fuel than you’d expect, and there aren't any fuel stations on Middle Caicos. You can stop at either the B and B gas station on King’s Road or the Core Petroleum station in Bottle Creek to fill up before you continue your journey onto Middle Caicos.

Adventure Driving Routes

North Caicos and Middle Caicos are home to several great routes for adventure driving. Here are some of the longer and most interesting routes to take.

Haulover and Cedar Point

Found on the isolated east side of Middle Caicos, this long and scenic drive leads to many points of interest. You’ll pass Haulover Plantation, the expansive Haulover Salina, the cliffs and coves of Haulover Point, Wild Cow Run, and the spectacular Cedar Point.

Although unpaved, the road here is generally in good condition and suitable for any vehicle. There’s no actual “off-road” driving.

Conch Bar Coastal Trail

This really beautiful (and rather short) Middle Caicos trail leads along the top of the coastal bluff between Conch Bar and Nongatown Landing. You can expect great ocean views, sisal plants, and secluded beaches.

Due to tire ruts forming over time in the sandy soil, a vehicle (such as any common 4x4 or jeep) with higher clearance than the average small car is required. This road is one lane only (in the unlikely case of oncoming traffic, simply find an opening to pass) and the vegetation can be restrictive in places.

Mud Hole Pond Trail

On North Caicos, this road follows the banks of Mud Hole Pond (more scenic than the name suggests) between Sandy Point Road and the Three Marys Cays area.

We recommend avoiding this track after heavy rains. It’s best to have a proper 4x4 for this route.

Old King’s Road

This old road on Middle Caicos used to connect the tiny settlement of Lorimers to the rest of the island. Today, a portion of this track between the entrance to Conch Bar Caves and Bambarra has been abandoned in favor of a new paved road and is now overgrown and rough.

There actually isn’t much to see here other than the Caicos Pine Yard Trail, saline tundra vegetation, and the rather unimpressive Washing Pond blue hole. A capable 4x4 is highly recommended for this route, and vegetation growth can be high.