Bambarra Beach

Middle Caicos, Turks and Caicos ยท 2 min read

A long, calm bay on the north coast of Middle Caicos with shallow, clear water and views out to Pelican Cay.

At a glance

  • Size: Long, sheltered bay
  • Water: Very shallow, calm and warm
  • Access: Unpaved road to Bambarra Landing
  • Best time: Year-round; February for the Valentine's Day Cup
  • Best for: Families, Quiet, Swimming

Overview

Bambarra Beach fronts the historic settlement of Bambarra on the north coast of Middle Caicos. It sits in a wide, shallow bay, so the water is calm, clear and a little warmer than the coasts around it.

The beach is long and lined with casuarina trees, and on most days you'll share it with very few people. Pelican Cay, a small uninhabited island, sits on the horizon about half a mile out.

When the swell makes nearby Mudjin Harbour and Conch Bar too rough for swimming, Bambarra is usually the calm alternative.

When to go

Bambarra is good year-round and rarely busy.

Every February the beach hosts the Valentine's Day Cup, a model sailboat race with traditional Caicos sloop races, a beach barbecue and live music.

Things to do

Swimming

  • Level: Easy
  • What you need: None
  • Where: Off Bambarra Landing. The water stays shallow a long way out; stay close to the beach.

Picnicking

  • Level: Easy
  • What you need: Bring your own supplies
  • Where: Wooden picnic tables in the sand near the tiki huts.

Photography

  • Level: Easy
  • What you need: Camera or phone
  • Where: From the beach, looking out to Pelican Cay.

Cave exploring

  • Level: Easy to moderate
  • What you need: Closed shoes; a local guide is recommended
  • Where: The Conch Bar Caves, a short drive away.

Getting there

Middle Caicos is reached from Providenciales by passenger ferry to North Caicos, a crossing of about 30 minutes from Walkin Marina (Heaving Down Rock) to Bellefield Landing.

From the ferry landing, drive across North Caicos and over the causeway to Middle Caicos. You'll need a car, so arrange a rental on North Caicos before you travel.

From the main road, a 0.75-mile unpaved road leads to parking at Bambarra Landing.

Beach access & parking

1. Bambarra Landing

From Conch Bar, follow the paved road toward Bambarra and Lorimers for about 5.5 miles. The turn is on the left: an unpaved road with a few small coconut palms. If the road bends sharply right through a cut in a limestone hill, you've gone past it. The dirt road runs about 0.75 miles to the beach.

  • Parking: Parking area by the tiki huts

  • At this access: Food huts, Picnic tables, Small fishing pier

Facilities

  • Parking: Yes. There's a parking area at Bambarra Landing, next to the huts and the pier.
  • Food & drink: Limited. A few small tiki huts sell local lunches and cold drinks, but they often close without notice. Food can take 30 minutes or more, so bring your own snacks and water too.
  • Shade: Yes. Casuarina trees along the shore give plenty of dense shade.
  • A few small tiki huts serving local food and drinks; hours vary
  • Wooden picnic tables and a small fishing pier
  • Shade from casuarina trees
  • No lifeguards

Safety

  • Don't try to wade or swim out to Pelican Cay. It's further than it looks, the water gets deeper, and people have drowned trying.
  • There are no lifeguards and Middle Caicos has limited services. Bring water and a charged phone.
  • Strong winds can make it hard to get back to shore, so stay close to the beach.

Local tip

Make a day of it: catch an early ferry, visit the Conch Bar Caves and Mudjin Harbour, then finish with a calm afternoon swim at Bambarra.

Open Bambarra Beach in Google Maps

Photo credits

  • Shallow turquoise water at Bambarra Beach with Pelican Cay on the horizon: Navin75, CC BY-SA 2.0