Ferry day trip to North and Middle Caicos

Nobody guides you on this one. It is a scheduled passenger ferry and a rental car. Boats leave Heaving Down Rock (Walkin Marina) at the east end of Provo several times a day and take about half an hour to Bellefield Landing on North Caicos, usually running the north route past Little Water Cay, Water Cay, Pine Cay, Dellis Cay and Parrot Cay. Caribbean Cruisin' runs most sailings in blue and yellow boats and sells tickets from its yellow building at the marina; the smaller MV My Girl also does the crossing. Booking is not required, but turn up 20 to 30 minutes early and take the first boat out.

The ferry carries no cars, so the rental agent meets you at the dock. A causeway joins North Caicos to Middle Caicos, and the islands have fewer than 2,000 people between them and no public transport. The stops worth the drive are Mudjin Harbour's limestone cliffs and sea cave, Conch Bar Caves (the largest dry cave system in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos chain, seen only with a guide, so call ahead), the free Indian Cave with its skylights, the ruins of Wade's Green Plantation, the blue hole at Cottage Pond, the flamingo pond and beaches such as Bambarra. Avoid Sundays, when sailings are fewer and many shops, gas stations and restaurants close.