Kiteprovo

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!

Reviews: 5 stars on and
(combined 700+ reviews)

  • star rating  Super positive wingfoil experience at Kite Provo with Mati: : patient, knowledgeable coaching, flexible with conditions – We booked wingfoil lessons with Mati at Kite Provo and couldn’t be happier. Mati is a fantastic instructor: calm, extremely patient, and genuinely skilled at breaking things down step-by-step so… read more

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    December 27, 2025

    star rating  Amazing experience, highly recommend!!!  – We did the SUP tour, it was absolutely amazing!!! We saw so many turtles, baby sharks, barracudas even, we couldn’t believe it. Our guides were so nice explaining everything to… read more

    avatar thumb Annie C
    August 16, 2025

    star rating  Not Worth the Money – Disappointing Family Experience  – We booked the mangrove kayak tour for our family of five (with three young children), and unfortunately, it was a complete disappointment and not worth the nearly $500 we spent.… read more

    avatar thumb Jessica L
    July 31, 2025
  • star rating  The best of long bay  – Provo is the oldest kite school on the island and it truly showed why! True professionals from the front office to the instructors. Would recommend whole heartedly to anyone interested… read more

    avatar thumb Kai I
    July 30, 2025

    star rating  New to kiteboarding and learned a great deal  – My husband and I didn’t know what to expect and ended up learning a great deal about flying the kite and getting started. I’d definitely like to go again.… read more

    avatar thumb Laura H
    June 17, 2025

    star rating  BEST 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

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    May 16, 2025
  • star rating  Took two private lessons with Mark. Great instruction and guidance that significantly improved my kite and board skills. The spot was made for kiting with shallow water and steady… read more

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    February 13, 2023

    star rating  Kite Provo is amazing. I learned to kite with them a few years ago and keep coming back for progression lessons and for beginner lessons for family. The instructors are… read more

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    February 11, 2023

    star rating  Instructor was awesome, patient, followed on jet ski, just the right combo of demonstrating and offering tips. Site is exceptional too. Office very organized and flexible.

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    January 24, 2023
  • star rating  Best experience to see marine life and tour parts of of the mangrove not everyone gets to see. I can only hope to get better at paddle boarding but for… read more

    avatar thumb christinf093
    January 5, 2023

    star rating  Great experience from booking through the SUP tour, a bunch of turtles, fish and several sharks. Very informative guide.

    avatar thumb joele2015
    December 24, 2022

    star rating  Our group had a mixed experience with Kite Provo. The 4 of us were split across two instructors, Alan and Nic. The two folks with Alan had a great time–they… read more

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    December 23, 2022
  • star rating  This is the second year we wen to Kite Provo and had a wonderful time improving our kiting while minimizing frustration Mark was fantastic as an instructor and Astro was… read more

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    November 27, 2022

    star rating  First Class Kite lessons! – We signed up for a full week of lessons with Kite Provo and could not have been happier. The instructors were GREAT! Of course, the water and weather are so… read more

    V1696DUbeckym
    September 13, 2022

    star rating  This 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

    haleyh1234
    August 7, 2022

Real-time Wind & Weather
Compliments of Kite Provo

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Sensor
Wind Speed (Knots/mph)
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Temperature (C/F)

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9.5/10.9
11.3/13
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