Unihabited Caicos Islands and Cays
The uninhabited Cays - pronounced Keys - can be reached only by boat. Cay trips can be arranged for picnics, swimming, snorkelling and deserted isle adventures. Please do not litter.
East Caicos
Evidence of Taino Indian occupation has been found in cave petroglyphs and artifacts. More recently the island hosted a large sisal plantation and a cattle ranch, the remnants of which are railroad tracks and some free roaming bovines. Development of a cruise ship port is currently being planned.
Dellis Cay
A combination of current and tide patterns create our best beachcombing and shell collecting opportunity here.
Little Water Cay Nature Reserve
Be Iguana-Friendly!
Little Water Cay is a 116-acre Nature Reserve north east of Providenciales. Little Water Cay is uninhabited by people and is the home to a population of over 2,000 Rock Iguanas, Cyclura carinata. These iguanas are endemic to the Turks and Caicos Islands, which means that not only are they native, but the entire species occurs only in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Iguanas have become extinct on most of the inhabited islands in the Turks and Caicos due to their relatively long maturation rates, low reproductivity and gentle nature which make them extremely vulnerable, mostly because dogs and cats kill them.
Chosen as finalist in the 1998 "ISLANDS" Magazine Ecotourism Awards Contest, be sure to include this Little Water Cay trip on your list of "things to do" while visiting Providenciales. Their inquisitive nature brings them out to ham it up for photo opportunities. Don't forget your camera. Two boardwalks and observation decks are in-place for visitors to observe these gentle lizards without the threat of trampeling their underground nesting chambers and to become familiar with the surrounding flora. Your boat captain will be knowledgeable about these iguanas, their habits and surroundings.
Little Water Cay Nature Reserve is managed by the Turks and Caicos National Trust, a non-profit, non-governmental organization, which works "to safeguard the natural, historical and cultural heritage of the Turks & Caicos Islands for present and future generations and for the enjoyment of all." As a Nature Reserve, Little Water Cay protects the iguanas and other organisms from human disturbance.
We ask that you assist us in the protection of these Internationally Protected animals by following a few simple guidelines:
Be sure to have purchased a Little Water Cay Access Pass (button badge) from the National Trust, Big Blue, or your tour operator. Upon your boat's landing, please follow the beach below the high tide mark and proceed directly to the wooden boardwalks. Please do not enter the dune areas or any area with vegetation near the beach. These areas are the iguanas' nesting areas and walking through can crush and destroy eggs beneath the sand. We ask that you do not feed the iguanas. Human food has high sugar and oil content, both of which harm the digestive systems of iguanas and can lead to their death. Food wrappers and uneaten food attracts rats, which prey on iguana eggs. Hand feeding puts you at risk of getting bitten. Please do not touch or harass the iguanas. What is seen, as "friendliness" in iguanas is actually aggression. Iguanas do not appreciate friendly pats and chasing them interrupts their normal territories.
Things To See: Look for the males, which have a large body, spiny crest, and big jaws; and the females, which have a small dainty head and more flattened appearance. Observe the iguana head and body language, which consists of head-bobbing and body movements. Watch for territorial battles as males fight for the largest territory with the most females, and females fight for the best nesting sites. Look for nesting burrows in the sand dunes. After the female lays her eggs, she will cover the hole so it is completely hidden. Watch for bananaquits, gulls, reddish egrets, and other birds. Look for other reptiles on the land and stingrays in the shallow water. Watch for the Little Water Cay warden employed by the Turks and Caicos National Trust and ask him any questions you may have about our iguanas.
The National Trust of the Turks and Caicos Islands appreciates your cooperation in supporting island pride and individual stewardship for Little Water Cay. Have fun and learn while visiting our small, green Belongers, the Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana!
Turks & Caicos National Trust
PO Box 540, Providenciales Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI
Tel 649-941-5710/649-941-3536 Fax 649-941-4258
Email: nattrust@tciway.tc
Web site: http://www.tcimall.tc/nationaltrust/
French Cay
Once a hideout for buccaneer Francoise L'Olonnois as he preyed on passing Spanish galleons, now a bird sanctuary visited only by permit. The bird population more than doubles each spring as hatchlings are taught to fly. Nurse sharks mate in the shallow waters just off shore each summer.
