There's something deeply satisfying about finding a place where you don't have to announce yourself. Ambergris Cay is located on the southeastern edge of the Atlantic Ocean Turks and Caicos Islands The Keys is a 1,100-acre private island that opened to resort guests in 2019 only. This is not your typical Caribbean resort, with steel drum music blasting from the speakers and pool activities scheduled. Instead, it offers something increasingly rare: true seclusion on an all-inclusive private island that truly allows you to escape the crowds.
I will tell you up front, this is not a resort for everyone. If your kids need structured entertainment or you're looking for lively resort energy, there are better options here. But if the idea of your kids spotting endangered rock iguanas on a morning golf cart ride or having an entire beach to yourself sounds appealing, keep reading.
Access requires some orchestration. Most guests fly into Providenciales International Airport (PLS). The resort will arrange for you to depart from Provo to Atlantic Aviation's private terminal, and then take a free 20-minute small plane flight to Ambergris Caye's own airport. At 5,700 feet high, the runway happens to be the longest private runway in the Caribbean and can accommodate private jets up to 92 feet in length. If you arrive by private jet, you can land, clear customs and reach your villa within ten minutes.
The peak season is from December to April, and from January to March you can watch whales at the whale watching spot at Land's End Villa. Summer and fall bring warmer temperatures, but the crowds are smaller and prices are lower.
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Pool and beach
The resort has a pool near the clubhouse at Monk Beach, and it's intentionally low-key—there's no swim-up bar or water slides. What makes it successful is its setting: lounge chairs with views of the turquoise Caicos Islands, attentive service including afternoon ice cream delivery, and enough space that you're never fighting for a chair. You may not even see other guests. But honestly, the pool feels almost beside the point. Each beachfront bungalow has its own heated plunge pool, and larger villas have private pools.
Ambergris Cay has eight miles of coastline, most of which you will have to yourself. Monck Beach, where the bungalows are located, has fine white sand and calm waters, perfect for young children. Columbus Beach is close to tennis courts and villas like Poseidon and Neptune, and the Atlantis side has more wave activity, making it perfect for older kids who like to jump on the waves. The resort provides free kayaks, paddle boards, hobie cats and water trampolines.
The real standout? Take a day trip to the resort's Little Ambergris Island, an uninhabited nature reserve next door. They'll take you on a boat to the Hangover Tiki Bar, a floating pontoon where you can snorkel, swim, or just relax with a drink while the kids explore the shallows.
resort activities
There are only 17 bungalows and 11 villas on 1,100 acres, so it's not a place overwhelmed with activity. Instead, the resort offers a range of thoughtful options, most included during your stay.
Non-motorized water sports are available free of charge: kayaking, paddleboarding, hobie cat sailing and snorkeling. The island's protected location in the Caicos Islands means the waters remain calm and clear. Shore fishing is also included, but serious anglers will want to book a deep sea or bone fishing excursion for an extra fee.
On land you'll find two tennis courts and a pickleball court, with professionals offering lessons. The gym features Peloton bikes and opens to a shaded rooftop yoga deck overlooking the ocean. I find it very windy, so wear a layer of clothing when I go to class in the morning. You can explore the island's roads using e-bikes, and if you're feeling ambitious, there are also hiking trails.
It's worth scheduling a sunset cruise – when the sky turns pink and orange, visitors often spot turtles and rays. During whale watching season, take a boat out to watch humpback whales migrating through the Turks Island Channel.
Each bungalow and villa comes with a dedicated island host (butler) and private golf cart, which will transform your stay. Want to bike to the clubhouse for breakfast and return in a golf cart? wonderful. Need a host to stock your fridge with a specific drink or arrange a surprise beach picnic? They'll take care of it before you finish asking.
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Room selection
Families have great options here, which surprised me considering the resort's couples-oriented reputation. Accommodation is divided into three categories: one-bedroom bungalows (17), two-bedroom bungalows (2) and multi-bedroom villas (11).
One-bedroom beachfront bungalows are ideal for couples or families with one child. Spacious 1,600 square feet with vaulted ceilings, indoor and outdoor showers, and heated plunge pool just steps from the beach. These are not interconnecting rooms so larger families will need to look elsewhere.
For families who need more space, the two-bedroom bungalow offers a king-size bed and two single beds, and is situated in a prime beach location with a larger pool and patio area. The living room also has a queen-size sofa bed, so a family of three or four kids can squeeze in.
If your budget allows, a four-bedroom villa makes more sense. Full kitchen, truly family-friendly living area, multiple bathrooms, laundry and plenty of space for the family to spread out.
Villas range from three bedrooms (Poseidon and Neptune, close to the tennis courts and Columbus Beach) to the stunning 11-bedroom Dream Estate with four swimming pools and its own private beach. Several four-bedroom villas, including Aurora and Morning Star, come with two single beds, making them ideal for families with many children. Land's End and Puesta del Sol are located at the southernmost tip of the island, offering maximum privacy.
Worth noting: villas are scattered all over the island. Our villa was a 12 minute golf cart ride away. The golf cart plays your own music via Bluetooth, so enjoy the ride!
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children's activities
In the clubhouse, which serves lunch, families can find pool tables, ping pong, board games and video games. The calm shallows offer free non-motorized water sports and a water trampoline for swimming.
Saving grace? The island itself is fun for the kids. Kids can spend hours looking for iguanas, exploring the beach, learning to paddle and spotting wild flamingos. The small number of families on the island means that children quickly become friends with each other and arrange to meet at the pool or beach.
Dining at Ambergris Caye, Turks and Caicos Islands
All meals are included and served a la carte rather than buffet style, which alone sets Ambergris Caye Resort apart from typical all-inclusive resorts. You won’t find themed nights or needing to book weeks in advance. Instead, the kitchen prepares what you want, when you want it. The restaurant's dinner menu rotates frequently.
Calico, the main restaurant, offers Caribbean-style cuisine with an international twist. The menu changes seasonally, but features fresh seafood — lobster, snapper, tuna — as well as steaks, pastas and creative vegetarian options. The clubhouse offers more casual fare: burgers, panini, salads, grilled fish for lunch.
Family members particularly enjoyed the in-villa dining options. Butlers can arrange a beach picnic including fried chicken, tropical fruit and coconut cake, or families can order room service and dine on the patio as the sun sets. Flexibility means you can match your meals to your mood, not the other way around.
Includes premium spirits, wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages. The bars at Calico and Club House make solid cocktails, and the bartenders will quickly learn your preferences. Bookings for wine and chef's tables only are available at an additional cost.
A word of caution: although the food is great, this is not a Michelin star restaurant. This is seriously delicious holiday food made with fresh ingredients. If you're expecting cutting-edge cuisine, adjust your expectations. If you want a delicious meal, look no further, you'll find it here.
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spa
Set in lush gardens, the Elevate Spa features four treatment rooms: one couples treatment room, two single treatment rooms and a manicure/pedicure room. The spa menu covers the expected services – Swedish massage, deep tissue, hot stone therapy and body wraps. However, my massage therapist's skills were unexpected, a standard massage turned into well executed deep tissue and Thai stretching, which left me very impressed.
I appreciate that for an additional fee of $110 per person, treatments can be delivered to your villa or bungalow, especially useful when you don't want to leave your private pool but can enjoy a massage. The spa uses products from the area, and the treatment cabins are located on the beachfront, meaning you can hear the waves during your treatment.
For children, the spa offers basic services like manicures and pedicures, but there is no dedicated children's spa menu.
The spa is not the main attraction of the resort, nor should it be. It's a great place for outdoor activities and beach time, and spa treatments are a pleasant add-on rather than a centerpiece.
local events
Here’s where things get tricky: There is no such thing as “local” in the traditional sense. Ambergris Caye is a private island and you won't pop into town to shop or find local restaurants.
More practically, the resort can arrange fishing charters, diving excursions to nearby reefs and boat trips to other reefs in the archipelago. These all cost extra, but they are handled seamlessly by your island host.
The question is: do you really want to leave?
Final thoughts about Ambergris Caye, Turks and Caicos Islands
Although there aren’t many people, it doesn’t mean you can’t make new friends.
Ambergris Cay excels at one very specific thing: providing true privacy and natural beauty with service that is never intrusive but consistent. The 1,100 acres means you can hike for an hour and encounter only iguanas and birds. The smaller number of guests ensures personalized attention without feeling precious or overly attentive.
But this requires the right expectations. This is not a resort where your kids stay in the kids club all day while you read by the pool. This is not a place with nightlife, shopping or constant entertainment. If these factors are important to your family, other factors Turks and Caicos Islands Resorts Might suit you better.
If driving a golf cart along the shoreline of a mostly undeveloped island while blasting your family’s favorite playlist sounds like a great morning, then think about it. It would be even better if you stop at various shores and tide pools and let your kids see what they can find.
The highlight of Ambergris Caye is the opportunity for families to get away from it all – cycle around the island without traffic, watch whales from your villa, eat breakfast in your pajamas and swim straight from your room to the ocean. Children who usually refuse to leave their devices often spend days exploring the beach and playing in the waves because there are simply no competing distractions.
I receive additional benefits for my clients through a direct relationship with the hotel management team. More importantly, I can help you determine if this resort truly meets your family's needs or if you might be better served by another hotel.
The all-inclusive nature of the resort means one price covers just about everything—flights to the island, meals, most activities, your butler, and golf cart. This transparency makes budgeting easy and eliminates the hiccups that plague many luxury resorts.
For families seeking true seclusion and truly professional service, Ambergris Caye offers something increasingly rare. I'm here Make sure it's suitable for your much-needed vacation.
