Bambarra Beach, Middle Caicos

Bambarra Beach is proof that Grace Bay does not hold a monopoly on perfect water. On remote Middle Caicos, the least visited of the main islands, it is a long, soft, empty strand of brilliant white sand fronting shallow, clear, turquoise water that looks every bit the equal of the famous north shore, only without the resorts, the sunbeds or the people. A sandbar runs offshore, walkable at low tide toward a small cay, and on most days the only footprints in the sand are your own. For lovers of empty beaches, this is one of the best in the country.

The honest framing is purely about getting here and self sufficiency. Middle Caicos is reached by ferry to North Caicos and then the causeway, so a visit is a planned day out rather than a quick stop, and a hire car makes all the difference once you are on the island. The beach itself is completely undeveloped, with no service, no shade beyond the casuarina trees and no lifeguard, so you arrive with water, food, sun cover and everything else and carry it all out again. There is little here but sand, sea and quiet, which is exactly the appeal but worth knowing in advance.

It suits anyone who rates solitude and water quality above convenience, from couples to small families happy with calm, shallow water. Bambarra also hosts the island's model sailboat regatta each year, a charming local tradition, though dates and details are to be confirmed. Pair it with the dramatic cliffs of nearby Mudjin Harbour for the full Middle Caicos contrast, and keep Grace Bay on Provo for the days you want full resort service.