No cars… no dress code, this is BLISS
Caribbean’s Pine Cay is all about laid-back luxury (and cute dolphins!)
Look, dolphins,’ I whisper to my husband Chris, pointing excitedly at a wave 50 metres from our spot on the shore. We’d been wondering why dozens of colourful fish had suddenly darted beneath the rocks we’re standing on.
Two turtles floating lazily nearby moments earlier had also disappeared.
It’s barely 6.30am but nature has already put on quite a show here at The Aquarium – a lagoon-like bay on Pine Cay in the heart of Turks and Caicos. The rising sun has turned the horizon a glorious shade of orange, and aside from the wind and waves the world is silent.
Pine Cay is a secluded private island, one of about 40 that make up Turks and Caicos. Around 1km wide and 3km long even regular travellers to the Caribbean would struggle to point it out on a map.
There are fewer than 40 private homes on Pine Cay and just one recently revamped resort with 12 rooms – fondly referred to by residents as The Club.
The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, and all meals are served outdoors. There is no dress code, with bare feet encouraged. And at 6pm every day, homeowners and visitors alike gather together at the beachfront tiki bar to toast the sunset with a cocktail or three.
We arrive on our first evening to a lively discussion about the island’s green flash – a blink-and-you-miss-it phenomenon seen occasionally at sunset – with photos passed around as proof that it exists.
Cars are not permitted. Instead, visitors trundle around the rocky tracks in electric golf buggies.
The rooms are bright and airy and a private porch with an alfresco shower overlooks the ocean.
Closer to the sea, there are beach tiki huts with sunloungers assigned to each room. From there, you have 3km of pristine white sand to enjoy.
Soon we’re off kayaking around The Aquarium and surrounding mangroves, where a stingray sweeps past our boats and we spy cranes. Next up is paddleboarding and a sailing outing – all the while on the lookout for the family of dolphins that patrol the island: JoJo, his girlfriend and a playful baby who likes to roll over so swimmers can pet him.
Given the island’s location on the edge of the world’s third-largest barrier reef, snorkelling is also a must. And we spend hours scavenging the shores for the starstamped shells called sand dollars, which we are assured bring good luck.
Perhaps the best moment is the glow worm cruise at dusk. This 15-minute underwater light display – actually a vicious mating ritual – can be seen only in a handful of places on the planet. With the stars above and a rum punch in hand, the experience is other-worldly. But it occurs only once a month, five nights after the full moon, so you need to time your visit carefully.
Cazenove+Loyd offers an eight-night trip to Pine Cay from €10,900pp with all meals and flights (from UK) included. Also includes access to the fitness centre, tennis courts, bicycles, nonmotorised watersports, afternoon tea and snorkelling (cazloyd.com).