Pine Cay in Turks and Caicos is one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets. This secluded private island is home to an elegant 12-room hotel, a small collection of private homes and two miles of pristine white-sand beach. Pine Cay has unveiled its re-brand – the latest addition to its new look following a recent hotel renovation - alongside new Relais & Chateaux accreditation, the only property in Turks & Caicos to be part of the exclusive collection.
Pine Cay’s low-key legacy Pine Cay’s storied history began in the late Fifties, when Austrian explorer Count Ferdinand Czernin stumbled across the island on his travels. Enamored by its untapped wilderness and complete seclusion, Czernin began a mission to share this remote treasure with like-minded friends eager to escape the demands of metropolitan life. Sadly, he passed away in 1966 before his dream was realized, however his legacy lives on through a handful of intrepid families who invested in the island throughout the 1970s, sensitively building charming family homes and a central Clubhouse to work in perfect harmony with their surroundings - the first of its kind to exist in Turks & Caicos. Today, these families are still key guardians of the island, with their children and grandchildren amongst a small collective of homeowners who oversee the running of the purposefully low-key island. Now there are 38 homes (eight of which are available to rent) dotted across the 800 acres of land, and what began life as the Clubhouse for homeowners and their guests has naturally evolved into a boutique hotel for Pine Cay’s intimate but growing community.
A rustic renovation A recent renovation saw the hotel elegantly re-design its ten existing Beachfront Rooms, and add a new spa, fully-equipped gym and two freestanding Beachfront Suites, all designed to champion Pine Cay’s original rustic charm and barefoot ethos. Pared-back interiors celebrate the cool Caribbean location, with calming sandy tones and natural pine and driftwood accents complemented by bold pops of turquoise and deep ocean blues. Beautifully bright bathrooms feature double vanities, a walk-in rain-shower and outdoor waterfall shower, whilst private outdoor decks are home to double day beds, outdoor dining areas and direct access to the pristine beach. A Tiki Beach Bar was added earlier this year, and a full renovation of the main bar is set to follow next year.
Under the sea: wild adventures A 20-minute boat ride from mainland Turks & Caicos, Pine Cay is home to one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches, with two miles of picture-perfect white sand belonging exclusively to hotel guests and homeowners for upmost privacy and tranquillity. The world’s third largest barrier reef, along with salt flats, shimmering freshwater lagoons and undulating sand dunes mean guests are encouraged to get back to nature in the most glorious of ways. Days at Pine Cay are spent snorkeling over the kaleidoscopic coral reef and reef balls, which double up as a nursery for harmless baby nurse sharks, turtles, schools of young fish and all manner of juvenile marine life. Dazzling diving can be arranged with a trusted local dive partner, as can kitesurfing.
On-loan paddle boards and entirely transparent kayaks are ready and waiting to be borrowed, and the cerulean waters are ripe for fishing adventures, including deep-sea fishing, reef fishing and unrivaled world-class bone-fishing. A near-constant breeze from the trade winds promises prime sailing conditions, and a small fleet of Hobie Cats are available for use, with larger boats available to hire for an additional cost. Back on dry land, there’s birdwatching, biking, tennis, shelling at Sand Dollar Point, swimming in the freshwater pool, under-the-stars screenings at the Sand Dollar Cinema or day trips to nearby islands. Unforgettable wildlife encounters range from the gargantuan (whale watching) to the tiny: dazzling glow-worm cruises take place each lunar month, and guests can toast the luminescent spectacle with fiery rum punch.
Island flavors Defying its far-flung locale, Pine Cay’s colorful and vibrant cuisine captures the joy and spontaneity of island life. Guests can expect sumptuous breakfasts of fresh tropical fruit handpicked from the kitchen garden and irresistible pastries, breads and buns from Pine Cay’s head Pâtissier. An array of light bites, zingy salads and just-caught seafood await at lunch, whilst those wanting to explore more of the island can opt to take a picnic basket brimming with goodies to enjoy at any location of their choosing. Afternoon tea and cocktail hour allow guests to while away the day until dusk, and at dinner guests are treated to daily-changing tasting menus that showcase the very best local produce and champion a melting pot of international flavors. An extension of its generous spirit, Pine Cay’s signature Island-Inclusive rates include all meals, snacks, desserts, soft drinks and select alcohol, alongside transfers, daily snorkeling trips, water sports, sailing and other island adventures, meaning guests’ every need are catered to from the moment they set foot on the island.
Oceanic bliss Channeling the blissful serenity of its setting, Pine Cay guests are invited to unwind at the Sand Dollar Spa, where two tranquil treatment rooms await. Guests can pick from a wide range of massages and body scrubs, alongside reflexology, lymphatic massage, Ayurvedic rituals, cream baths and bespoke treatments at the hands of Pine Cay’s expert Balinese masseuse. Signature treatments include the Pine Cay Escape: a full-body scrub, cooling cucumber-and-yogurt body mask, mini facial and soothing scalp massage; and the Caribbean Sea’s Ultimate Restoration ritual: an energizing body scrub blended with papaya and pineapple extracts, followed by a crème-fraiche body wrap, a facial and a Balinese or Swedish massage. Other health highlights include a fully-equipped gym, tennis court and beachfront yoga classes.
Operating with a conscience Sustainability and biodiversity preservation are at the core of Pine Cay: cars are not permitted on the island, but rather transportation exists in the form of electric golf carts and bicycles; single-use plastics are nowhere to be seen; and boats are equipped with fuel-efficient four-stroke engines. All buildings have rain-water catchment and storage systems with grey water used for irrigation, whilst compact Dark Sky lighting is installed throughout the hotel, including new eco-friendly beach lighting to give the island an added glow by night. Pine Cay is a key partner in the Caicos Pine Recovery Project, working to protect the country’s native tree, the Caicos pine (Pinus caribaea) and its habitat for the future, currently under threat from the invasive pine tortoise scale.
Entering the exclusive Relais & Chateaux collection Pine Cay is the first hotel in Turks & Caicos to receive Relais & Chateaux accreditation, and one of only seven properties in the Caribbean to be part of the collection of luxury hotels and gourmet restaurants. Relais & Chateaux has commended Pine Cay for its “quintessence of privacy” and selected the island as it “champions [the brand’s] core pillars of sustainability and biodiversity”.
To book: Island-Inclusive rates at Pine Cay start from US$1,525 per room per night including all meals, soft drinks, select alcohol, transfers from the mainland, watersports, sailing and all on-island activities, based on two sharing. Pine Cay welcomes children over the age of 12.
www.pinecay.com
