The Long Bay Shipwreck – A must-see attraction
in Turks and Caicos
For many years, the rusting wreck of La Famille Express has been one of the most famous shipwrecks in the region and certainly the most famous wreck in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It’s relatively easy to access by boat or jet ski and is popular for boaters and photographers due to its unique, stranded position off the turquoise shallow waters off of Long Bay Beach.
You can find the Long Bay Shipwreck about 2 miles off Long Bay’s Kite Beach on Providenciales. When on Long Bay Beach, look directly out and you can’t miss it. It has been a major attraction of Kite Beach since its arrival in 2004 when it was dragged along the coast of Providenciales during Hurricane Frances.
What happened to La Famille Express?
La Famille Express is a cargo ship that ran aground in Turks and Caicos during Hurricane Frances in 2004. The vessel became a well-known shipwreck off the coast of Long Bay Beach on Providenciales. The hurricane pushed the ship toward the shallow waters, where it has remained ever since, becoming an iconic sight and very popular destination for boaters and photographers.
How do I get to La Famille Express shipwreck?
The most common way to reach the Long Bay shipwreck is by boat or jet ski. Many local tour operators such as Caicos Catalyst offer trips to the shipwreck, combining it with other activities like snorkeling or sightseeing. You can snorkel around the shipwreck where you will see lots of reef fish and the occasional lobster. You can also visit it via kayak or paddleboard but this is not generally recommended as it’s over 2 miles off of Long Bay Beach.
With the right wind direction and conditions, advanced kiters & foil boarders can kite upwind and around La Famille Express. This is a 2 miles upwind ride and should only be attempted by advanced kiters who take all necessary safety precautions! Kiting out to and around The Long Bay Shipwreck from Long Bay Beach is almost a rite of passage for high-level kiters who spend a lot of time kiting on Long Bay Beach.
Climbing the shipwreck & safety precautions
If you get the chance to pay her a visit, you might notice that mother nature has taken its toll. Climbing onto the shipwreck and exploring it was once a popular and readily accessible activity thanks to a net that hung over its port side. However, we now strongly recommend that you do not climb onto the wreck. The ship has significantly deteriorated over time, presenting numerous potential hazards due to its abundance of sharp edges along the rusty surface.
Additionally, there are general safety concerns regarding its stability. There have been discussions about the possible removal of the wreck, but as of the latest information, it remains a point of interest and a reminder of the hurricane’s impact on the area.
The La Famille Express shipwreck remains as a significant feature in the landscape of Long Bay Beach and is a must-see attraction in the Turks & Caicos.
Bring your camera and a mask to make the most out of your visit!
How many shipwrecks are there in Turks and Caicos?
Turks and Caicos is home to numerous shipwrecks, with estimates suggesting there are over 30 known wrecks around the islands. These shipwrecks vary in age and origin, ranging from historic vessels dating back to the 18th century to more recent ships. However, not very many of these wrecks are accessible as most sunk off the barrier reef where the water is too deep to access them.
La Famille Express off on Long Bay Beach is the most popular and most easily accessible shipwreck in the Turks & Caicos.
Kite Provo Offers Even More to Do!
Take a magical journey through the shallow water estuaries of the beautiful Turks & Caicos ‘Mangrove Island’ nature reserve. Paddle alongside countless turtles, baby lemon sharks, pufferfish, rays, snapper, anemones, star fish, conch, pelicans and more.
Wing boarding is the newest wind powered water sport! Safe and easy to learn as the wing has no lines and the board doesn’t sink! With no previous wind or water experience, enjoy riding the board during your 1st lesson. Wing Boarding is for everyone!
See What Our Boarders are Saying About Us!
- Ali R
Jay was awesome! Really took the time to teach me how to maintain control of the kite under strong wind conditions. I would highly recommend. Shout out to Jerry, too.
April 1, 2022Annette MWe appreciate that Chris and Jason are friendly, informative, genuine and eco-minded! Our family of 5 adult first time paddle boarders saw sharks, turtles and jellyfish. We held a sea… read more urchin and live conch. We also learned about the importance and uniqueness of the mangroves. Heads up you can only do tour during high tide, which changes everyday so look at that or call ahead to plan. If you want to take pictures you must act fast and have a waterproof camera or go pro. We would absolutely go again.
December 1, 2021steveyX7524XCAwesome Kite boarding school!!! – Alan, our instructor was amazing. The whole team was great! Wish we’d have booked the 10 hour package, cause we were so hooked, we scheduled two more lessons… read more after our first day. Clearly Kite Provo is the best, as we watched many other students and their instructors at other programs along the beach. None compared. We will be back!
April 11, 2022 - willwelchjr
Epic start! – Baptiste is a great instructor who exhibited great patience! We had zero prior experience and truly enjoyed our time on Long Bay Beach with him. Great equipment and… read more instruction on the most picturesque paradise we have ever seen… We’ll be back!
March 18, 2022Christian BMy son and I had a great introductory lesson with Mawi! He took us through all the early stages at our pace, and it really cemented our desire to… read more learn kiteboarding and make it part of our journey. We will be back!
January 1, 2022George BI had 5 two-hour lessons with the Kite Provo team in early December 2021 as a beginner kite boarder. Kite boarding can have a steep learning curve, especially for older… read more guys like me. With their excellent teaching (and a lot of patience), I got up during the 4th session, and look forward to moving beyond beginner stage. I booked my lessons directly with them through their site. Here is the thank you note I sent: Dear Chris, Kristen, SJ, Mawi, Astro, and Jerry (and everyone at Kite Provo): Thank you so much for doing a wonderful job helping me struggle through being a beginner kiteboarder. I am so impressed by the quality of your teaching, your patience, kindness, and care in making sure things get done right even with the inevitable chaos all around. I very much look forward to trying to go to the next level as soon as I can.
December 1, 2021 - ChuckyChuckFromTheE
Quick progression – No wasted time, Jay gave me great progression quickly.
The instructors get you the spot quickly and the area allows you to recover quickly. Combined, you get a… read more lot done for the time spend.
July 29, 2022Island BillSJ and the Kite Provo crew are friendly and offer fantastic instruction. The crew are great instructors. SJ helped me reach a breakthrough with transitions and the setup- including newer… read more gear in great shape along with shallow warm water is perfect for any kiteboarder. Top-notch!
January 1, 2022D BGreat instructor, setting, weather and equipment for kiteboarding. Jay did an excellent job reviewing principles and moving through the lesson at our pace. Did a three hour… read more bring a friend lesson which brought us up to the point of rudimentary kite control and just starting to get up on the board. Left us wanting to return for the next step. Will be going back for more.
May 1, 2022 - becky c
We booked a paddle boarding tour from 8:15-10:15am. After a long paddle across the channel, we made it to the mangroves and saw all kinds of wildlife: conch, lemon… read more sharks, and many sea turtles. It was really amazing.
March 1, 2022BEST Kitesurfing and Mangrove Tour Experience! – This place deserves more than 5 stars! Both my kids did private lessons over Spring Break with Mati and Julie. They are both high school athletes and have a lot… read more of experience with MANY different kinds instructors and both said they were amazing instructors. The kids ended up going back for privates 2 more days (would have been 3 but there was no wind!) My husband even ended up doing a private with Antek because he was so impressed. All 3 had such a great time. Our biggest regret is not doing lessons the entire week we were in Turks and Caicos. And MY biggest regret is not joining in on the fun. The staff is super friendly. Don’t look anywhere else. These folks are the real deal. Also do the Mangrove Tour through Kite Provo. Mark, who is also a kiteboarding instructor, led this tour and it was FANTASTIC!
T T
May 16, 2025 - Linssk
The mangrove tour on paddleboards was a lot of fun! Saw so many turtles, some baby lemon sharks. The information about the area was great and it was… read more totally doable! Even if you are not an experience paddle boarder – you can do it! Thanks Mark and Mawi!
June 1, 2022haleyh1234This is the place to learn kiteboarding! – 1. Lessons were easy to book! Questions were quickly addressed and directions to the kiteboarding location were very detailed and easy to understand.
2. The location can not be… read more beat! Nice sandy beach, beautiful warm clear shallow water, small waves, lots of space, uncrowded, and most importantlywind.
3. It was the most amazing and fun experience I’ve ever had!
I showed up with a few trials under my belt, but had never gotten up. Luckily, I was paired up with Mark as my instructor. He was extremely patient and had a great sense of humor which made every lesson a positive learning experience, with the perfect balance of professionalism and fun.
Mark was eager to share his love for kiting and knows how to get you to fly (even if you lack natural grace and finesse like me). I progressed from face planting to successful waterstarts and riding across the water. He even took some pictures and videos for me so I have proof!
I just can’t recommend Mark enough! He was so easy to get along with and enjoying his company in addition to the instruction took the experience to the highest level. I can’t wait to come back!
August 7, 2022RobbedPerson 🙁Absolutely gorgeous place to learn or to improve your kiting skills. At low tide it is so shallow that you can easily recover and walk to your board. … read more This is huge as it allows you to work on water starts and speed control without constantly exhausting yourself by treading water or body dragging. The team are so kind and welcoming. I had some of the best lessons I have ever had with Mike and SJ and improved so much in a few sessions. I will be back for another week to kite at high tide!
December 1, 2021


