Turks and Caicos: Nothing But Beaches

beach girls 1

Small but Mighty, Discover Turks and Caicos one beach at a time.

Sunset on Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos.
Sunset on Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos.

By Sarah Sutin

Turks and Caicos is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Literally…TripAdvisor constantly ranks Turks and Caicos in the top three most beautiful beaches in the world.

puppy2After living there for almost two years, I can definitely attest to that rank. So why is it not as well known as the Bahamas or some of the other touristy islands in the Caribbean?

Frankly, I am not sure, but I quite enjoy the quaintness of this little British overseas territory.

No Bowling Alleys in Turks and Caicos

There are lots of beach activities and explorations to be had. It is an island with no movie theatre, no bowling alleys, or many “rainy day” activities (although it doesn’t rain much here). You won’t find malls or chain restaurants either.

This is an island where you come to explore, lie on the beach, or a little of both. Turks and Caicos are made up of several small islands, each of which offers their own unique beauty.

The largest, Providenciales, still just a mere 47 square miles, is home to dozens of beaches with soft white sand and turquoise water. Grace Bay Beach, which spans five miles long on the north side of the island, is home to most of the hotels. While there seem to be more resorts than ever, many are not high rise buildings, so this beautiful five-mile beach never seems to be crowded…for now.

One of the most frustrating things about a beach getaway can be the vendors walking up to your chair every five minutes. Not here. You won’t see many locals on this beach, so if you are looking for a truly relaxing vacation without any interruptions, Providenciales is definitely the way to go.

A tranquil beach in Providenciales.
A tranquil beach in Providenciales.
Where this beach is located on Providenciales.
Where this beach is located on Providenciales.

What to Do on Providenciales:

Turks and Caicos offers fantastic diving and other water sports.
Turks and Caicos offer fantastic diving and other water sports.

Scuba and Snorkel: If Turks and Caicos is known for one thing, it is definitely scuba diving and snorkeling. The pristine water makes for incredible visibility.

Whether you are an avid diver or have never tried, Turks and Caicos is one for the books. You will discover dozens of types of fishes, creatures, and even sharks.

Paddleboard the mangroves: If following turtles and reef sharks around doesn’t interest you, then paddleboarding in the mangroves isn’t for you.

But let’s face it that isn’t everybody’s thing. This activity could take 20 min or 3 hours. It really just depends on your speed and interest in stopping to take in the wildlife.

Look for Jojo:   Jojo is a famous dolphin that swims around the beautiful grace bay waters. If you are out on a sailboat, or just a swim, look for a lone dolphin with scars on his fin.

He is very keen on boats (hence the scars) and very friendly to visitors. No need to pay for a dolphin enclosure on this island.

Cliff jumping: Pirates Cove is famous for its breathtaking views and high cliffs to jump from. Have a picnic, or just hang out on the top of these cliffs and take in the beauty of the island, and jump off if you dare.

Sailing a catamaran on Turks and Caicos.
Sailing a catamaran on Turks and Caicos.

Flyboarding and Jet skiing: While the government has strict laws on motorboats, as they cause pollution and ruin the reefs, you won’t find many companies that offer these activities.

While they are limited, it is still possible, and loads of fun. Flyboarding is definitely one for the books.

And don’t forget…beach hopping! You can spend days exploring all the beaches on this little island. While Grace Bay is the largest and most well known, we can’t forget the others.

Dozens of other quaint beaches are to be discovered on this small Caribbean island. Long Bay Kite Beach is known for kiteboarding and a great place to sit with a beer.

There are several other smaller hidden beaches that are more difficult to find but their beauty won’t disappoint.

Taylor Bay, Sapodilla Bay, and Chalk Sound are just a few. These beaches are unique, a place where you can walk in the knee-deep water for what feels like a mile. These beaches are less developed and you won’t find many hotels nearby, but all are accessible by car or foot.

Having fun on the beach, Turks and Caicos.
Having fun on the beach.

If this still isn’t enough, you can hop on a ferry or propeller plane and explore one of the other smaller islands that make up Turks and Caicos. It is super easy to do in a day, plus these islands are so small, you won’t need much more than an afternoon.

Where to eat:

Surf on the wharf on Grace Bay.
Surf on the wharf on Grace Bay.

Since Turks and Caicos is mostly sand, there is not much agriculture, meaning not much of their food is grown locally.

There are about two things that the island produces themselves, Conch and Coconuts. If you have never had Conch, it is the shellfish that you hold up to your ear to hear the ocean.

It also tastes pretty similar to calamari for reference. Da Conch Shack and Bugaloos are two of many “Conch” based restaurants on the island that serve up the shellfish a dozen different ways as you devour it on a picnic bench beachside.

All in all, if you love to walk and relax on a beautiful beach, explore a little, and eat delicious seafood, Providenciales is one heck of an island. So if you haven’t already, hop online and buy yourself a ticket!

But be careful, mine turned into a one-way.

Sarah Sutin
Sarah Sutin

 

 

Sarah Sutin lives in Turks and Caicos, where she is a GO for Club Med, who specializes in circus acts.

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