Thatch Cay

Thatch Cay near East Caicos.

Thatch Cay is a very small and remote limestone cay, located close off of East Caicos between Breezy Point and Drum Point. The cay is separated from East Caicos by about a 600-foot (183-meter) band of very shallow water, and it’s possible to wade out to the cay easily.

Thatch Cay serves as a brown pelican rookery, and many nests and pelicans can be seen on the cay, as well as an osprey or two.

As is the case with many of the remote north shore coastlines and cays, there’s varied shell and flotsam beachcombing in the area.

It’s unknown what the origin of the Thatch Cay name is, yet it almost certainly is derived from the dense thatch palm forests that can be found inland on East Caicos near Thatch Cay and Breezy Point.

The Wall

Thatch Cay in Drum Point Bay near East Caicos.

An interesting dry stone wall divides the cay, yet it’s not clear what purpose this would have served as it wouldn’t have been a viable location for raising livestock, and there are no other major signs of previous habitation. The wall doesn’t appear to continue on the mainland of East Caicos.

Wild East Caicos

The northern coast of East Caicos is quite beautiful and wild, and bird and marine wildlife are abundant. It’s common to see large flocks of flamingos flying by or foraging on the shoals, frigatebirds gliding along slowly, and ospreys fishing in the shallows. Another spectacular sight is humpback whales, which can be seen off the cay during the winter months as they navigate around Drum Point.

The waters off the north shore of East Caicos, and especially those around Thatch Cay, are quite hazardous. The area is rarely visited, and typically only by fishermen operating from South Caicos.