Kick-off your shoes and let your toes dig deep into powder white sands while the sky blue waters of the Caribbean Sea entice you to swim. These world-class beaches of Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) combined with tropical savannah weather and diverse coastal topography makes it the ultimate beach destination on every traveler’s bucket list. This cluster of 40 sea-level coral islands that forms an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean is grouped into two. The Turks group includes the Grand Turk Island, their center of commerce and government. The Caicos group comprises the other six main islands that includes Provo (or Providenciales), home of the sprawling Grace Bay Beach popular for its luxury resorts, restaurant, shops, diving, and scuba sites. Below is our recommended things to do in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Include them in your travel plans when you visit this paradise in the overseas British territory of the Bahamas.
1. Walk across the heavenly Leeward Beach
Leeward Beach, among the prettiest beaches of TCI, is found in northeastern Providenciales. The coastline stretches from Grace Bay Beach up to Turtle Cove, and Smith’s Reef is perfect for walking uninterrupted on the flawless white sand. It’s not as busy as Grace Bay Beach and has a lot of quiet, scenic areas. View the Grace Bay beach resorts and hotels at its western end. To the east is the Little Water Cay’s Iguana Sanctuary, the fleet of yachts at the Blue Haven Marina, and Mangrove Cay’s wetlands. Enjoy tubing, wakeboarding, cruising, paddle boarding, and kayaking at the Leeward channel area.
Leeward Beach
Address: Leeward Settlement TKCA 1ZZ, Turks & Caicos Islands
Website: Leeward Beach
2. Explore the awe-inspiring Conch Bar Caves National Park
Explore the largest bat cave in the Bahamas. The Conch Bar Caves, named after the nearby Middle Caicos village, is the Carribean’s biggest surface-level cave system. The caves were mined for guano (bat droppings) which were sold overseas as fertilizer. Now a heritage site and a protected park, it houses four bat species and a variety of rare plants and animals. The underground caves feature the marks and inscriptions of former miners as well as striking stalagmites, stalactites, and tiny lagoons. The caves have low ceilings so don’t wear a hat while inside. Wear shoes that have grips for slippery floors.
Conch Bar Caves National Park
Address: Conch Bar, Middle Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands
Website: Conch Bar Caves National Park
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 3pm; Sat: 11am - 3pm (closed on Sun)
Price: 20 USD
3. Be amazed by Sapodilla Bay Hill Rock Carvings
Another protected historical site is Sapodilla Bay Hill Rock Carvings. These rocks are found on a hilltop at the end of a long winding uphill trail in southern Providenciales. These carvings date back to the early 1800s inscribed by shipwrecked sailors while waiting for their rescuers. The letterings indicated the names and dates of the unfortunate stranded sailors. At the apex of the rocky hilltop, you are granted panoramic island views including Chalk Sound National Park. You can imagine how forlorn these sailors felt at the same time amazed by the beauty of nature that surrounded them.
Book Tours : Providenciales Sunset Safari Tour
4. Take your partner for a sunset cruise on Grace Bay
TCI’s trademark Grace Bay Beach consistently wins the best beach in the world title by Tripadvisor. With 8 kilometers (4.97miles) of pure white sands and aquamarine waters of the Caribbean, it contains the world’s biggest coral reef systems. This premier beach and diving spot is on Provo, among the major and most developed TC islands. Luxury resorts and hotels and beachfront condos and residences decorate its coastline. Explore Smith’s Reef underwater park or go snorkeling at Bight Reef. Take a cruise around the Princess Alexandra Marine Park. Meet the wild bottlenose dolphin named Jojo, the country’s national treasure for his playful human interactions.
Visited this place?
5. Visit the fascinating National Environmental Centre
If you want to see how the underwater topography of the Turks and Caicos Islands looks like then visit the National Environmental Centre. It’s along Lower Bight Road in Providenciales near the snorkeling site of Smith’s Reef and Bight Reef and the Children’s Park Bight Beach. Its highlight is a huge-scale exhibit of TCI’s underwater plateau and enables the viewer to differentiate the islands belonging to the Turks and Caicos groups as well as the Columbus Passage that goes between them. The museum may be small but it shows a ton of information about TCI’s indigenous plants and animals and its various ecosystems through colorful exhibits and displays.
National Environmental Centre
Address: Lower Bight Road, Providenciales
Website: National Environmental Centre
Opening hours: 8am - 4:30pm (daily)
Price: Free
6. Go bird watching at Bird Rock Point Heritage Field Road
Bird Rock Point Heritage Fields offers nature lovers a substitute for water-based activities and beach hopping. This quiet area is surrounded by a housing community and seaside coppice forest with a huge conch farm. This east-side part of Providenciales island is underdeveloped with mangroves, sandy coves, seagrass beds, and a long trail that leads you to this rustic paradise. This untouched portion of the island is home to a vast variety of migrant birds and rare species of flora and fauna. Enjoy walks along the virgin beach. Watch the colorful display of birds from a distance using the binoculars.
Bird Rock Point Heritage Field Road
Address: Leeward Highway East end near Heaving Down Rock, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands
Website: Bird Rock Point Heritage Field Road
7. Ride with Provo Ponies
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
One of the unique and exciting ways to go around the islands is to get on one of the pretty Provo Ponies. These lovely beasts will help you navigate through the beachfront to explore hidden canals and dirt roads. They love trotting on the soft sands and frolicking in the waters. Get your cameras ready and prepared to get wet as they canter with the shallow waves of Caicos Banks. Sign up for guided tours and enjoy this romantic moment with friends and loved ones in a safe manner. It’s an experience that you shouldn’t miss so take a lot of pictures.
Provo Ponies
Address: 32 Dolphin Lane, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
Website: Provo Ponies
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9:30am - 12:30pm, 3pm - 6pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
Price: 96 USD onwards
8. Explore the islands with Paradise Scooters
Aside from riding ponies and taking long walks, riding a Paradise Scooter is one of the best ways to navigate around Providenciales. The Vespa scooter, introduced to the islands in 2012, is still rented today to complete your TCI tour. Hire a guide to ride along with you and visit all the scenic beaches and hidden locations around the islands. Some tours include a stopover at the famous Da Conch Shack for lunch. Whether you will be riding with a tour group or setting off on your own, exploring the islands riding a Paradise Scooter is one exciting experience.
Paradise Scooters
Address: 9 Grace Bay Plaza, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
Website: Paradise Scooters
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8:30am - 5pm; Sat - Sun: 9am - 5pm
Price: 149 USD
9. Wander around Wade's Green Plantation
North Caicos - Wade's Green Plantation
Posted by Bambarra Rum on Wednesday, 9 January 2019
Wade’s Green Plantation in North Caicos’ Kew settlement used to be a 1798 cotton plantation owned by Wade Stubbs. Today, this 860-acres (348 hectares) plantation sitting on the dry tropical forest is the Caribbean’s most preserved loyalist plantation that has withstood the test of time. Surrounded by a tranquil green forest, the plantation has retained its charming character. Formerly called “Bellefield”, the site was used by the TCI National Trust department to stage role-playing and portrayals. It’s the only place in the islands where you’ll find lots of ship graffiti that dates back to 1830.
Wade's Green Plantation
Address: Kew, North Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands
Website: Wade’s Green Plantation
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9:30am - 3:30pm; Sat: by appointment (closed on Sun)
Price: 10 USD
10. Drink and dine at Da Conch Shack
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
A trip to TCI is not complete unless you’ve visited Da Conch Shack. CNN has declared this as one of the world’s best beach bars. You’ll find this bar in Providenciales, a little beyond Grace Bay Beach in a secluded beach along Blue Hill Road. Their traditional conch recipes are served in various ways. Try their other fresh seafood dishes like snapper and grouper. Drink them down with the famous Bambarra Rhum or with an ice-cold Turks Head beer! At sunset, dance barefoot on the sand to live music played on the beach under the swaying branches of coconut trees.
Da Conch Shack
Address: Blue Hills Rd, TKCA 1ZZ, Turks and Caicos Islands
Website: Da Conch Shack
Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (daily)
11. Enjoy elegant outdoor dining at Coco Bistro
Dine in style at Grace Bay center nestled in the Provo’s largest palm grove. The lovely outdoor restaurant called Coco Bistro is hailed as one of the best restaurants on the island owned by the world-famous Executive Chef Stuart Gray. The unique ambiance and delicious island cuisine made from fresh local ingredients and farm-grown spices and herbs create a delightful gastronomic experience. Indulge in their conch dishes served in two ways. The Pepper Crusted Rare Local Tuna is another bestseller that is served with salsa, rice balls, asparagus, red pepper coulis, and a crisp bottle of white wine.
Coco Bistro
Address: Grace Bay TKCA 1ZZ, Turks & Caicos Islands
Website: Coco Bistro
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 5:30pm - 10pm (closed on Mon)
12. Admire the collection at Art Provo gallery
The art gallery is owned and operated by a long-time resident and local artist named Mary O’Neill. It opened in 2003 and then in 2007 moved to its current address on the Grace Bay shopping strip in the high-status Regent Village. The gallery is a collection of various artworks created by several local island artists using ceramics, prints, hand-crafted jewelry, and art glass pieces. Crafts made from conch shells, sea glass jewelry, fanner baskets, Coconut oil, Salt Cay Salts, and other gift items are sold in the gallery as well. Choosing the best souvenir to buy will be the day’s hardest decision.
Art Provo
Address: Regent Village, Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos Islands
Website: Art Provo
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 5:30pm (closed on Sun)
13. Snorkel with Caicos Dream Tour
Caicos Dream Tour is a company that offers tours on a chartered boat fully equipped with necessary gear and staff on an exclusive water-bound adventure. You can book the double-deck catamarans for a private half-day or full-day cruise; a dream day getaway that includes feasting, cruising, and snorkeling; a romantic sunset cruise with free food and booze; the snorkel and conch cruise; and for corporate or group charters. You can customize your trips with your personal preferences on the island locations you want to tour and with your choice of food, drinks, and water sports activities. You’ll be traveling with your own crew of boat captains, professional guides, and staff to ensure that you’ll be having a splendid time out at the sea waters of Turks and Caicos.
Caicos Dream Tour
Address: 1 Princess Drive Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, TKCA 1ZZ, Turks & Caicos Islands
Website: Caicos Dream Tour
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)
14. Discover marine life with Flamingo Divers
Flamingo Divers is a group of licensed and professional divers with over 50 years of combined diving experience. They only dive in groups of eight at one time and use top-quality diving equipment. They start the dive at 7:30 am by exploring the amazing underwater seascape of West Caicos, Sandbore Channel, French Cay, and Northwest Point. Each destination is an hour to a 45-minute boat ride depending on weather, wind, and tide conditions. You will be provided with light snacks and will be brought back to the dock around 2 pm.
Flamingo Divers
Address: Southside Marina, Venetian Rd off of Leeward Highway
Website: Flamingo Divers
Opening hours: 7:30am - 2pm (daily)
15. Swim with celebrities at Parrot Cay
Among the tiny islands between North Caicos and Providenciales, Parrot Cay is the largest with 1,000 acres (404.68 hectares) of land and a mile-long (1.609 kilometers) stretch of sandy beach. A Kuwaiti family owned the island in 1988 until it was bought in 1998 by a Singaporean Hotelier - the COMO Hotel and Resorts Group. This high-class island resort features 61 rooms, luxurious beachfront villas and houses, and two international restaurants. The COMO Shambala retreat offers wellness programs like Pilates and Yoga as well as water-based activities like snorkeling and diving. Come where celebrities like Bruce Willis, Donna Karan, and Keith Richards have bought their private homes. Its secluded and private location makes it the favorite beach destination of Julia Roberts, Justin Timberlake, and Phil Collins.
COMO Parrot Cay
Address: Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands
Website: COMO Parrot Cay
16. Behold the views at Chalk Sound National Park
Chalk Sound National Park is a lovely 5 kilometer (3.1 miles) natural lake with stunning clear blue waters decorated with tiny underwater cays which are safe havens for iguanas, other marine species, plants, and birds. The clear water allows you to see the bottom of the lagoon in all directions as far as hundreds of yards. The picturesque view is superb so it’s worth a day trip before heading off to the nearby Sapodilla Bay and Taylor Bay for a swim. Rent a kayak or a paddleboard to get around the waters of Chalk Sound. Head over to Las Brisas Restaurant where you can rent the equipment and book boat tours. Grab some lunch or dinner while enjoying the view from their deck. If you’re lucky, you’ll encounter barracudas, stingrays, and lemon sharks while you paddle.
Chalk Sound National Park
Address: Chalk Sound Drive, TKCA 1ZZ, Providenciales
Website: Chalk Sound National Park
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
17. Cruise with Sail Beluga
The Beluga is an award-winning catamaran built and owned by Captain Tim. She landed in Providenciales with Captain Tim in 1985 after winning the ENZA New Zealand ocean catamaran race. Since then, Captain Tim has taken many visitors on a privately chartered boat tour around the TCI. In March 1985, they met Jojo the dolphin who often accompanied them on their adventures. You can book for a romantic trip or a private sail around the clear blue Turks and Caicos waters for a full day or an entire afternoon. Captain Tim or Captain Nick will be happy to navigate you through the waters and discover hidden coves, find a deserted island, or locate the perfect site to snorkel and dive. You can also enjoy the ride while sipping the delicious Beluga Rum Punch.
Sail Beluga
Address: Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands BWI
Website: Sail Beluga
18. Go deepsea diving at Smith's Reef
Smith’s Reef is the best underwater playground for divers. This snorkeling site near Turtle Cove on Provo’s north coast is one of the easiest to access being only 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles) from Grace Bay. The coral reefs in the area are homes to a variety of colorful reef fish and ocean wildlife. Sea fans, sponges, various corals, and sea animals occupying the ledges are healthier than the ones seen in other snorkeling sites of Provo. This stress-free and safe diving site is ideal for both beginners and experienced divers. Since it is protected by Princess Alexandria National Park, it is forbidden to fish, harvest or collect conch, lobsters, and other natural objects.
Smith's Reef
Address: Coconut Rd, TKCA 1ZZ, Turks & Caicos Islands
Website: Smith’s Reef
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
19. Enjoy paddle boarding with Big Blue Unlimited
Big Blue Unlimited is part of a bigger company that offers a variety of eco-tours and watersports. Paddleboarding is one of their popular offerings for eco-tourism that will take you on a two-hour tour around the mangroves and water channels. You will be guided by a group of professionals who will teach you how to safely stand up paddle and educate you about marine ecology as you go along your journey. As a safety precaution, they only travel in small groups and use the best gear that conforms to the conditions. Try paddleboarding and see the waters from a standing perspective and go to places that are difficult to reach.
Big Blue Collective
Address: Leeward Hwy, Leeward Settlement, TKCA 1ZZ, Turks and Caicos Islands
Website: Big Blue Collective
Price: 115 USD onwards
20. Get excited with Turks and Caicos Kiteboarding
Let excitement kick in and try one of the most exciting extreme sports on the islands. Visit Long Bay Beach and sign up for kiteboarding lessons. Your professional instructors teach you how to gauge the wind and water so that you can successfully get up on your kite and ride it through the seas. You may take several hours until you get it right but once you do, you are the master of the seas! The more advanced lessons will teach you how to do tricks like jumps, body positioning, transitions, and toesides. They also provide foil and jet ski lessons.
Turks and Caicos Kiteboarding
Address: Long Bay Kite Beach
Website: Turks and Caicos Kiteboarding
Price: 150 USD onwards
21. Hangout at SunRay Beach
SunRay Beach (also called Cruise Center Beach) is a public beach on the Grand Turk’s leeward side located beside a cruise pier dock. It attracts the largest number of beachcombers especially when a cruise ship is docked. People have free access to the soft, sandy beach including free use of beach loungers on the shore. The warm, crystal clear waters are ideal for snorkeling and swimming. You’ll see a lot of tropical fish and sea turtles swimming by. Restaurants like Jack’s Shack and Margaritaville are steps away if you have food and drink cravings. There are several shops selling souvenirs, beach equipment, and beach gear rentals along the beach.
GrandTurk Cruise Center
Address: Grand Turks, Turks and Caicos Island
Website: GrandTurk Cruise Center
22. Find your hideaway at Governor's Beach
Between Cockburn Town and the Cruise Center Beach is Grand Turk’s best-secluded beach - the Governor’s Beach. It’s near the main beach access of the Governor’s mansion called the Waterloo and belongs to the Columbus Landfall National Park. The stretch of white sands with a tinge of light peach is made from crushed shell and coral. Of all the beaches, the water here is the clearest making it best for scuba diving and snorkeling despite having very little rocks, corals, reef fish, and red sea fans to see. The Mega One Triton, a marooned oil rig vessel, is one of the highlights of this beach.
Governor's Beach
Address: Cockburn Town, Grand Turk
Website: Governor’s Beach
23. Take a trip to Cockburn Town
Cockburn Town, found on Grand Turk Island, is Turks and Caicos Islands’ capital. This dreamy old town is decorated with colonial-era structures that take you back in time. Ancient Bermuda-style buildings decorate Front and Duke streets and the beachfront. Her Majesty’s Prison has kept the exercise yard and cells in its colonial-era condition. The Salt Museum has replicas of the salt mines where slaves used to work while the National Museum has a display of the 16th-century shipwreck along with other artifacts. Take selfies with the old lighthouse which was built to fight against piracy. Take a sip of the famous Bambarra Rhum in one of the local bars.
Book Tours : Cultural Tour with Rum Cake
24. Relax on Bajari Beach
The exclusive Bajari Beach is a scenic beach oasis near the busy pier. Here the sand is pure and the water is clear. You can play with the sand, play beach volleyball, swim, snorkel, or relax on lounge chairs and enjoy the ocean view. There’s a natural reef close to its shores with some areas full of rocks brought in by the tides. It’s advisable to wear sandals or aqua shoes while exploring the beach. A water sports shop, gift shop, bar, and a beach grill are nearby.
Bajari Beach
Address: Cockburn Town TKCA 1ZZ, Turks & Caicos Islands
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: 160 USD
25. Stay away from the crowd at Pillory Beach
Pillory Beach (also called Guanahani Beach) is TCI’s second best beach. It’s a secluded beach where you can spend quiet moments on the pristine waters and powder white sand. Its coastline stretches 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) to North Creek up to Grand Turk Lighthouse. Though it’s not as crowded as Cruise Beach and it’s not a great spot for snorkeling for the lack of large marine life, its rustic appeal is what attracts its patrons. Some areas have enough reefs and corals to support a colorful marine life worth exploring. The beach is home to Over Back, a low-profile community. North of Cockburn Town are crafts, shops, and restaurants serving delicious island cuisine.
Pillory Beach
Address: Cockburn Town, TKCA 1ZZ, Turks and Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands
Website: Pillory Beach
26. Bring your kids to Taylor Bay Beach
Taylor Bay Beach is a kid-friendly beach with its crescent-shaped cove filled with shallow clear water that stretches up to 700 meters (2297 feet) from the shore. This secluded beach allows kids to safely play in ankle-deep water without being knocked down by the waves and see the fishes without using a snorkel. This beach is great for swimming and floating and if you want to have privacy for you and your family. The beach access is tricky to find along Ocean Point Drive. Do bring an umbrella as there’s not enough shade on the beach.
Book Tours : Providenciales Group Island Tour
27. Drop by Grand Turk Lighthouse
Among the stellar TCI landmarks is it’s one and only lighthouse. It was assembled in 1852 at the Grand Turk’s northern tip after being shipped in pieces from the UK. It stands 18 meters (60 feet) tall on top of a hill accessed by traversing a donkey trail. It was used to warn sailors as they approach the shallow reef and help them navigate through stormy weather. Though it is now non-operational, it’s declared a historical site that the National Trust protects. Underneath its shade, have a picnic while enjoying the spectacular view of North Creek. The months of March and February are best for whale watching from the lighthouse.
Book Tours : Landmarks of Grand Turk
28. Opt for an adventure cruise to Little Water Cay Nature Reserve
Little Water Cay or better known as Iguana Island, is a lovely low-lying island in Providenciales’ Leeward area. Its wildlife habitat is the breeding ground of Cyclura Carinata or TCI’s rock iguana. Aside from seeing a lot of these species of iguana scattered all over the island, you can also observe several other habitats that thrive on the cay. There are coastal scrubs, coppices, mangroves, buttonwood communities, and tidal and hyper-saline flat areas. It’s the perfect eco-tour site recommended for families. Here you can find a variety of rare shorebirds, hermit crabs, lemon sharks, and plants.
Book Tours : Turks & Caicos Snorkel Adventure Cruise
29. Learn the past at Turks and Caicos National Museum
Visit the national museum to know more about TCI history and culture. The museum is a historic building (the former Guinep House one of the island’s oldest homes) that is currently run by the Board of Trustees as a non-profit organization. Their main feature is the Molasses Reef Shipwreck, the Western Hemisphere’s oldest shipwreck. Smaller exhibits display the history and life of the islands. There’s Slavery Gallery, another for Nature and Environment, the Golden Age of Turks Islands exhibit, and Coral Reef and Island Geology. The museum also features a museum shop and offers cruise ship tours.
Book Tours : Museum and Governor’s Beach Experience
30. Soak in culture at Cheshire Hall
Cheshire Hall Plantation, the most significant cultural heritage site of TCI, is where you’ll find the most preserved ruins from the plantation era. It was founded by Thomas Stubbs during the 1700s and is the largest plantation in the island measuring at 5,000 acres (2,023.43 hectares). The buildings made of local limestone used to house hundreds of slaves that worked on the plantation. Aside from the ruins, you’ll appreciate the beautiful natural scenery where countless bio-networks thrives. The National Trust has declared this plantation a heritage site and protected area. It’s heaven for nature enthusiasts with its fruit- and flower-bearing trees attracting a plethora of birds and insects.
Lounge by the breathtaking blue waters
Let these blue waters be your heaven on earth with the islands offering more than just beautiful beaches to swim in. Taste and experience their rich culture and history by dining in their open-air restaurants or when touring the islands using the paddleboard, kayak, or by pontoon. Dive into their oceans and explore the underwater playground. Whatever you choose to do, try from one of these activities when visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands.
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