Gibbs Cay Turks and Caicos
Gibbs Cay (also known as Stingray City) is a small uninhabited island located approximately 1 mile (1.5 km) off the eastern coast of Grand Turk. This is a truly beautiful 7-acre island with an excellent beach on the western coast and scenic ironshore on the east. In the center is a hill with sea oats.
The unique attraction of Gibbs Cay is the southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus) found in its surrounding waters, which appear in vast numbers whenever a boat lands. Numerous tour companies offer Gibbs Cay stingray tours for both cruise guests and overnight visitors to Grand Turk.
Stingrays have been found in the area naturally, but their presence has been encouraged by the fish and squid illegally fed to them by some tour guides.
See also Top Things to Do on Grand Turk.
Origin of the Name
Gibbs Cay is quite possibly named after George Judson Gibbs, who was a Grand Turk resident during the 1800s. He is also known for donating the historic duho (a Lucayan ceremonial seat) currently housed at the Turks and Caicos National Museum.
Stingray Tours
Several local companies offer tours. Tours for cruise guests depart from near the Grand Turk Cruise Center, and others typically depart from Cockburn Town. Many include free pickup.
Lunch is included in many of the tours (sometimes for an extra fee), along with snorkel gear, soft drinks, and water. The food is often cooked right on the beach while you’re swimming and snorkeling with the stingrays.
Snorkeling
Tours vary by company, but most also include a 30-minute (or similar duration) snorkeling stop south of the island. Other tours include conch diving.
Safety
While the stingrays at Gibbs Cay have grown up around people and are extremely friendly, they are wild animals. Be aware of your surroundings when swimming with the stingrays and do not touch, feed, or harass the animals.
Visit Turks and Caicos Islands is only aware of one injury to a visitor (not fatal). The visitor was feeding a large group of stingrays, slipped and fell, and then stepped on a stingray’s barb. The visitor was attended to by the ship’s medic and was on crutches for a few days. This is the only injury that we know of involving stingrays at Gibbs Cay.
This area is part of the Grand Turk Cays Land and Sea National Park. It is prohibited to touch wildlife, including lifting stingrays partially or completely out of the water.
