Ambergris Cay: A Unique All-Inclusive Resort Experience

Ambergris Cay is here to help you rethink what you know about all-inclusive resorts.

The afternoon sun was pulsing overhead as I stepped onto the Piper Navajo PA31, a six-seat, twin-engine propeller plane set to take off at Providenciales International Airport and land on the longest private runway in the Caribbean at 5,700 feet just 20 minutes later. However, it wasn’t the novelty of the tiny hopper, nor the latter superlative that bubbled the adrenaline within me: I was copiloting a plane to Ambergris Cay, a private island in the southeastern corner of Turks and Caicos.

When Antonio, the pilot, asked if I wanted to ride shotgun, I was skeptical of his too-good-to-be-true offer, but after a wide smile and welcoming arm wave forward, I enthusiastically followed his cue and made my way to the cockpit, where I stared at the many knobs and levers ahead. Within minutes, I was hypnotized, watching Antonio’s nonchalant choreography: push this button, flip that switch, power on the engine, watch the propellers commence their rotation. I leaned back, took a mental snapshot — and a few digital ones, too — and we were off, floating high above the sublimely turquoise waters.

But this was only the beginning — a mere appetizer to Ambergris Cay, where extraordinary experiences are par for the course, and guests are not only made to feel special but like family. A destination unto itself, Ambergris Cay is a 1,100-acre private island with all the luxe accoutrements. Moreover, it’s the type of barefoot, relaxed resort where staff learns your name and preferences, crafting a custom stay without any fuss or formality found in other upscale hotels.

Perhaps its greatest attraction is its location — an untamed, Jurassic Park-like expanse spread with island scrub, Turk’s head cacti, and iguanas brazenly basking in the sun on the sand and wooden docks that arc out into the transparent waters. Resident reptiles aside, the sugar-white sands and teal-hued waters are uninterrupted, with Providenciales’ swarming pace about 50 miles away and the closest inhabited island, South Caicos, 14 miles to the north. (I didn’t come within 20 feet of another guest during the peak season.)

Unique Attractions of Ambergris Cay

But it’s not just the removed address that puts Ambergris Cay in its own league. Dotting the grounds are seven three- to six-bedroom villas, some more than 5,000 square feet and all sumptuously equipped with common living and dining areas; beach-facing private pools; outdoor showers; full kitchens and refrigerators stocked daily with beer, wine, prosecco, and water; telescopes for stargazing; and more. Furthermore, these paradisiacal lairs, which can accommodate up to 12, are all-inclusive, meaning all food and drink, including 24-hour room service and top-shelf spirits, are covered.

Luxurious Accommodation Options

For parties à deux who want to stay directly on the sand, Ambergris Cay also offers 10 one-bedroom beachfront bungalows, where guests have their pick of gorgeous spots to unwind. The accommodations include a heated plunge pool, a wraparound terrace with lounge furniture and a dining table, an outdoor shower, or inside the sleek, brightly lit digs with sliding floor-to-ceiling doors to keep the stunning oceanscape within gaze.

Culinary Experiences at Ambergris Cay

The serene spa, with its beachfront rooms, did successfully draw us away from our dreamy home away from home, along with the candlelit meals at oceanside restaurant Calico. This indoor/outdoor restaurant serves three meals a day, with a rotating dinner menu to keep things fresh (favorites included conch ceviche, local lobster bisque, and blackened mahi-mahi with sweet plantains and homemade creole sauce).

Activities Available

Every day, we embraced the unhurried pulse of island life, letting our mood dictate our movements, whether that meant drifting between the pool and ocean, or engaging in something more active: biking the sandy paths, playing tennis or pickleball (with courts even lit for night play), taking a bone-fishing lesson, or enjoying kayaking, paddleboarding, or snorkeling. There are electric golf carts to get around the island, but perhaps the best news is that almost everything is included in the price.

Final Thoughts

Furthermore, Ambergris Cay redefines the typical all-inclusive resort experience — there are no crowded pools, cheesy activities, basic buffets, or watered-down cocktails here. Instead, it remakes the genre, with private butlers and luxurious villas, along with round-trip air transfers included in the rate.

As my trip in December 2021 faded into memory, I found myself often reminiscing about unique experiences, such as the fresh coconut Damian plucked off the tree and cracked open just before our departure. We captured stories of catching five fish during an offshore excursion, and, of course, those twilight swims in our private pool that made us feel the island was exclusively ours. Ambergris Cay is truly about creating extraordinary moments.