Whitby Beach

North Caicos, Turks and Caicos · 2 min read

A quiet 1.2-mile beach on the north coast of North Caicos, with shallow turquoise water, casuarina shade and the barrier reef offshore.

At a glance

  • Size: About 1.2 miles (1.9 km) of beach
  • Water: Shallow, with small wind chop
  • Access: Central access and Whitby Cove; limited parking
  • Best time: Calm days with light wind and little seaweed
  • Best for: Quiet, Swimming, Snorkeling

Overview

Whitby Beach runs along the north coast of North Caicos in front of the small village of Whitby. You'll also see it called Pelican Beach or Whitby Cove. It's about 1.2 miles of white sand, with casuarina trees along much of the shore for shade.

The Caicos Barrier Reef sits about 1 km (just over half a mile) offshore and takes the edge off the open ocean swell. Waves here are usually just small wind chop, and the water is shallow and turquoise, with a mostly sandy bottom and only a few rocky patches.

Whitby is the center of tourism on North Caicos, with a small hotel, rental villas and a few restaurants. Even so, the beach is usually quiet, and on many days you'll have long stretches of it to yourself.

When to go

The beach is good year-round, but conditions change with the wind. On choppy days most of the north coast of North Caicos is affected.

Floating seaweed shows up here more often than on some other North Caicos beaches. If it's bad during your visit, try Pumpkin Bluff Beach or Greenwich Creek instead.

Calm, light-wind days are best for snorkeling off Pelican Point.

Things to do

Swimming

  • Level: Easy
  • What you need: None
  • Where: Off the central access and Whitby Cove, where the bottom is mostly sand.

Snorkeling

  • Level: Easy
  • What you need: Mask, snorkel and fins
  • Where: The shoal off Pelican Point at the east end. Expect soft corals, fish, and sometimes southern stingrays and turtles rather than big reef.

Beach walks

  • Level: Easy
  • What you need: Water and sun protection
  • Where: East along the continuous shore onto Horsestable Beach, as far as Greenwich Creek if you're keen.

Birdwatching

  • Level: Easy
  • What you need: Binoculars
  • Where: The wetland ponds near Pumpkin Bluff, on the drive out to Three Marys Cays, where herons, egrets and ducks are often seen.

Tours & activity guides

  • Caves & Nature Trails: Guided cave tours and wild coastal trails on Middle Caicos, plantation paths on North Caicos and Providenciales, and a flamingo overlook near Whitby.
  • History & Culture: Loyalist plantation ruins, the National Museum in Cockburn Town, an 1852 lighthouse and the old salt ponds of Salt Cay tell the story of the islands.

Getting there

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

From the ferry landing, Whitby is less than a 10-minute drive. You'll need a car, so arrange a rental on North Caicos before you travel.

There are two main access points, the central access and Whitby Cove. Both have limited parking, and some approaches are on dirt roads.

Beach access & parking

1. Central access

The main way onto the middle of the beach. The sand here has a mostly clean bottom with only a few rocky patches.

2. Whitby Cove

A quiet access at the west end of the beach, a short way from the central access.

Facilities

  • Parking: Limited. Both the central access and Whitby Cove have only a few parking spaces.
  • Food & drink: Limited. Barracuda Beach Bar at the Pelican Beach Hotel serves drinks and grill food right on the beach. It closes for part of the year, so check before you go.
  • Shade: Yes. Casuarina trees line much of the beach.
  • Barracuda Beach Bar at the Pelican Beach Hotel, the only beachfront restaurant on North Caicos. It closes for part of the year, so check before you go
  • Shade from casuarina trees along much of the beach
  • No other facilities on the beach; bring water, towels and snacks
  • No lifeguards

Where to eat near Whitby Beach

Safety

  • There are no lifeguards. Keep a close eye on children, even in shallow water.
  • Watch your footing around the rocky patches and the rocks at Pelican Point.
  • Don't touch coral, stingrays or other marine life.
  • North Caicos has few services. Bring water, sun protection and a charged phone.

Local tip

If the north coast is choppy, head to the west side of Sandy Point Beach. It's usually sheltered from the steady easterly trade winds.

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