The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are a group of islands in the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean and northern West Indies.
Where is Turks and Caicos? It is a British Overseas Territory located southwest of the Bahamas and north of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. English is the official language. The U.S. dollar is the official Turks and Caicos currency.
The Turks and Caicos Islands time zone is Eastern Standard Time (UTC/GMT-5). The Turks and Caicos time zone makes travel particularly convenient for those on the East Coast of the U.S.
Turks and Caicos is a prime travel destination famous for stunning beaches with powdery sand, brilliant turquoise water, world-class snorkeling and diving, abundant wildlife, luxurious resorts, and great weather. We visited and stayed in the Turtle Cove area of the gateway island, Providenciales (Provo). We spent our time there being awestruck by the beauty of the ocean and landscape, exploring the underwater world snorkeling, and spending a day of resort luxury at Seven Stars Turks and Caicos.
We can’t wait to give you an overview of the islands, how to get there, top things to do in Turks and Caicos, and point you to more resources for planning an amazing Turks and Caicos vacation! Since we visited Providenciales, our tips will focus there. We include some more general info and resources to learn about the other islands.
Let’s dive in!
The Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands are on top of an underwater plateau rising high above the ocean floor (8000 ft-11,000 ft or 2400 m-3300 m depending on sources). An active, vibrant barrier reef shelters the islands. It is the 3rd largest in the world. Coupled with local shipwrecks, this makes Turks and Caicos snorkeling and diving some of the best in the world! The health and size of the coral reefs were amazing with large fields of fan corals, elkhorn coral, pitcher coral, and more! Life teemed seemingly everywhere we looked with turtles, brown and spotted eagle rays, parrot fish, jacks, grouper, puffer fish, and so many more! Amie remarked that Smith’s Reef was an abundance of riches. I completely agree with that sentiment!
Turks and Caicos map of the area and notable places
We made a Turks and Caicos map showing the area and all of the places listed here to help you navigate Provo!
Getting to the Turks and Caicos
Direct flights to Turks and Caicos are available from many U.S. and Canadian cities, London, and many countries in the Caribbean. International Turks and Caicos flights all arrive in Providenciales. The Turks and Caicos airport is Providenciales International Airport. Cruise ships land at Grand Turk Island. For those staying on the island after your Providenciales flight, you’re a short cab ride from your destination. Some all-inclusive Turks and Caicos resorts also offer airport shuttle service! Shared vans are easily available just outside the airport and stop at major resorts, hotels, and villas. In 2023, the cost of our van ride for 2 from the airport to La Vista Azul in Turtle Cove was about $36 USD.
For those on other islands, you’ll be looking to connect to a domestic flight or passenger ferry to your final destination. Visit Turks and Caicos Islands has a guide to inter-island travel to help you with planning. If you’re planning a trip to the TCI, please have a look around visittci.com! It’s a gold mine of travel resources and stunning photography showing the paradise you can expect on the islands. Visit Turks and Caicos Islands and TripAdvisor were sources for much of our snorkeling and trip research.
Getting around on Provo
We can only personally speak to getting around Provo. We did not rent a car for our stay and instead relied on walking, van rides included with our snorkel tour, and taxis for our day at Grace Bay Beach. Depending on your accommodations and desired activities, you might consider renting a car. In March 2023, an approximately 4.5 mi (7 km) taxi ride from Turtle Cove to Grace Bay was about $30 one way. The cost can add up. The taxi company was prompt to arrive and was responsive to emails which helped as we didn’t have cell service on the islands.
If you do rent a car there are a few things to be aware of:
- Being a British Territory, people drive on the left which matters to us 🙂
- Speed limits are generally low and the streets weren’t too crowded.
- We definitely saw drivers taking liberties like crossing lanes to pass and even going up over a curb close to where we were walking! Keep alert if you do drive.
The town of Grace Bay has great sidewalks for getting around on foot. In the Turtle Cove area where we stayed at La Vista Azul, Lower Bight Road had ample sidewalks that got us to the beach, restaurants, a small road to Smith’s Reef (did I say it was amazing?!), and nearly to the grocery store.
Where to stay in the Turks and Caicos Islands
When doing our research for where to stay in Turks and Caicos, we reduced the problem to where to stay in Providenciales as we knew we wouldn’t have time to visit the other islands on this trip. We’ll provide some insight there and refer you to the ever-wonderful Visit Turks and Caicos Islands for details on other islands.
The less-inhabited westernmost area of Provo wasn’t a major option for us. Closer to the central region of the island is the Turtle Cove area. That area has villas and condos with some hotels as the main places to stay.
Further east is the Grace Bay area where you’ll find more Turks and Caicos hotels, Turks and Caicos all-inclusive resorts, and some private residences. Windsong on the Reef, Seven Stars, and Beaches resorts are all in this area.
The east end of the island near Leeward Settlement was mostly private residences and single-family homes available on Airbnb and VRBO.
Narrowing our options
- Style We decided we weren’t looking for a resort and wanted a kitchen
- Activities We wanted to focus on snorkeling and being in the water
- Travel We wanted to avoid the need for a car if possible
- Surroundings We wanted something a bit quieter that was still within walking distance of restaurants and the beach
The 2 finalists were a private condo in La Vista Azul in Turtle Cove and a single-family home in Leeward Settlement. After some deliberation, we went with La Vista Azul because the home in Leeward Settlement would have mandated a car and Turtle Cove is where the amazing Smith’s Reef was. Given our desires, La Vista Azul was great! The view was amazing, we had a kitchen to cook in and a beautiful terrace, we could walk to Smith’s Reef and restaurants, and the area was peaceful. The major drawback I found with our choice was that the distance from Grace Bay mandated taxi rides.
Groceries on Providenciales
The big grocery stores we saw on Provo were Graceway Gourmet and Graceway IGA. We walked along Lower Bight Road to the closer IGA on our first night to stock up for our stay. The walk was generally very nice with pretty flowers (bougainvillea everywhere) and trees. The walk took us past the east beach access for Turtle Cove. Read more on beach access in Turtle Cove below! We also saw something odd streaking across the sky and struggled to identify it for a while. Maybe the aliens were finally coming? Then we had the thought “We’re pretty close to Cape Canaveral in Florida. I wonder if that was a rocket?”. Sure enough, we looked when we got home and there was a SpaceX launch! We got to see a Falcon 9 fly!
The last bit of the walk to the IGA after turning onto Leeward Highway made us question our choices a bit. There wasn’t really a sidewalk and we had to walk on the shoulder. Nor was there a crosswalk so we had to dodge our way across the road. On our way into the IGA parking area was when we had a driver drive up into the shoulder and come a bit too close for comfort.
At any rate, the IGA is well stocked with many staples, items we’d find in the U.S., and some local favorites. If you’re looking for more local flavor, there might be a different grocery that would be better to explore. Prices were certainly higher than we were used to in our Boston stores. We found everything we needed for breakfast, coffee, lunch supplies for the beach, and some wine for our patio for Amie! They had some spicy plantain chips that were my favorite post-snorkeling snack. Yum!
The Best things to do in Turks and Caicos
Now you’re settled in your accommodations and stocked up with food, beverages, and coffee. What to do next? We’re talking about traveling to a beach paradise! So many of the best Turks and Caicos activities revolve around being outdoors, on the beach, or in the water.
Snorkeling and scuba diving
Snorkeling and scuba diving in Turks and Caicos come first on our list because we loved snorkeling Turks and Caicos so much! Our snorkeling experiences were exquisite! The barrier and shore reefs provide rich coral habitats to explore. The steep drop-off of the plateau provides great wall diving opportunities and stunning views while snorkeling. Local shipwrecks provide even more opportunities! On a snorkeling tour with Big Blue Collective, we got to go to a wall area in West Caicos. We started snorkeling in water that was about 40 ft (12 m) deep. Then we could turn and swim away from land to see where the underwater plateau sharply dropped off thousands of feet (hundreds of meters). Swimming over that line into what seemed like the great abyss was awe-inspiring!
Snorkeling tours
Many operators provide Turks and Caicos snorkeling tours to suit all styles. A popular itinerary we saw when researching is a half-day trip including 1-2 snorkeling stops, a stop at Little Water Cay (Iguana Island), and lunch of either bbq or a fresh conch harvested by a freediver from the boat. We wanted to focus on snorkeling so we chose to go with Big Blue Collective’s “Edge of the Banks” full-day excursion to maximize our time in the water. It turns out they feed you and provide rum punch too! We got to see stunning sea fan beds swaying in the waves, large elkhorn corals, fish galore (including a shy but ever-curious puffer fish), turtles, spotted eagle rays who circled past us seemingly curiously, and more.
Many of the providers offer van pickups from major hotels and resorts. Check with them if you’d like such a service. They also nearly always provide snorkeling gear for use as well. Though, we chose to bring our masks and snorkels as we know they fit and function well. Don’t forget to bring your clothing for snorkeling UV protection, a hat, sunglasses, and a towel.
Shore snorkeling
Multiple great Providenciales snorkeling options are available from the shore including the Bight Reef / Coral Gardens and Smith’s Reef. We’ll cover these in more detail in future posts. We were so enamored with Smith’s Reef that we never made it to Bight Reef. It is very accessible and well-regarded. These reefs are close to shore and can be accessed without boats. They are a little ways from Grace Bay where most visitors stay. We chose to stay in Turtle Cove so we could walk to these areas.
Read more about our best snorkeling Turks and Caicos experience at Smith’s Reef with turtles, spotted eagle rays, jacks, grouper, and coral in our upcoming post! I’m not exaggerating when I say that we both had some of the best encounters of our lives with marine life here! It’s amazing that so many ocean friends live so close to the shore.
Water sports in the TCI
The warm turquoise waters of the TCI are so inviting that you’ll have a hard time resisting. Opportunities abound for water sports like kayaking, paddle boarding, kite surfing, sailing, boating, jet skiing, and more. There are many outfitters who can get you set up for all the fun you need! The mangroves off the eastern shore of Provo near Mangrove Cay are a popular location for eco kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Many of the Turks and Caicos resorts in Grace Bay like Seven Stars, Club Med Turks and Caicos, and The Ritz-Carlton offer the use of kayaks and small Hobie Cat sailboats right from the beach.
Boat tours, charters, and whale watching in Turks and Caicos
Taking a boat tour is the best way to experience more of the islands as you’ll have a chance to see the less inhabited portions of the area and get stunning views of the shorelines, cliffs, and caves not seen or accessible from land! Many operators offer such services. We used Visit Turks and Caicos Islands and Trip Advisor to research our Turks and Caicos snorkeling tour and found those resources invaluable.
Turks and Caicos whale watching season is in the winter from late January through March (some sources cite a wider range of December-April). Humpback whales come to the warmer waters to mate and give birth. Turks and Caicos whale-watching tours are provided by a few operators on typically smaller vessels than you may be used to in other areas. On our trip with Big Blue, we saw a mother and calf humpback whale! In rarer opportunities, you might be able to snorkel with them, providing an experience of a lifetime! Unfortunately, we didn’t get that opportunity, but seeing them from the boat was still lovely. Their songs can sometimes be heard while in the water. At dinner one night, a gentleman told us about a few whales that swam by close enough to see during a scuba dive!
The beach
The Turks and Caicos beaches are some of the most highly-regarded beaches in the world! Grace Bay Beach is commonly ranked as the best beach in the world on Trip Advisor for its powdery soft sand and warm inviting turquoise water. After visiting, we can see why! The TCI provide many amazing beach opportunities ranging from the easy access of Grace Bay Beach to secluded beach paradises on uninhabited islands only reachable by boat tour. Whatever beach experience you’re seeking, you’re likely to find it in the TCI. Again, check out Visit Turks and Caicos Islands for an in-depth listing of the variety of beaches across the islands.
Just relax
OK, so we’ve been busy in the preceding sections. This is supposed to be a vacation! Absolutely, we all need to take some time to relax in the warm sun and listen to the waves. Piña coladas under umbrellas don’t hurt either. The abundant beaches with public access provide ample opportunities for you to find your perfect relaxation spot. We spent many hours on our terrace at the condo we rented and luxuriated on the beach with a day pass at Seven Stars Turks and Caicos for our final day on the island. The TCI provide many spa opportunities as well if that’s your style of relaxation.
Shopping
The town of Grace Bay is home to many boutiques and cute shops. We strolled through town, popped in a few shops, and had a great lunch with beef patties and nice coffees at Lemon 2 Go. You’ll find a mix of souvenir shops, more upscale home furnishing shops, and high-end clothiers and jewelers to suit everyone’s desires.
The Thursday Fish Fry
The famous Thursday Fish Fry is a weekly event combining food, live music, dancing, and crafts. Admission is free. Bringing cash is recommended as not all vendors will accept electronic payments. You’ll find a carnival-like atmosphere with a wide variety of local foods for all tastes!
Warning Don’t make the mistake we did! The location of the fish fry moved from The Bight Park to Stubbs Diamond Plaza in the Bight in April 2022. The Google Maps listing for The Bight Park still mentions the fish fry. We excitedly walked there from our place. The lack of lights and noise as we approached made us suspicious. We finally met up with a group dressed up for the fish fry who were similarly confused. They had cell service and finally found the new location which was still a significant distance away! We were tired after our long walk and decided to call it a night. The mixup kept us from making it to the fish fry because of the confusion but we hope you get to go and enjoy the festivities!
What to eat and drink in Turks and Caicos
OK let’s talk about Turks and Caicos food. You’ve been out exploring and busy with activities. That works up an appetite. Here are some of the top things we ate and the best Turks and Caicos restaurants we tried in Provo.
- Peas and rice This is the local name for beans and rice served on the island and was my go-to side order. It’s first in the list because I ate it so frequently.
- Seafood The seafood is fresh and wonderful!
- Conch Turks and Caicos conch is a local specialty served in fritters, fried as “cracked conch”, or in fresh salads similar to ceviche. Flavor-wise I’d describe it as similar to a dense mild-tasting clam.
- Grouper This is a local fresh catch and a favorite of mine jerked or blackened. I enjoyed several servings of this at Sharkbite Bar & Grill in Turtle Cove with peas and rice. Sharkbite became our favorite of the Providenciales restaurants we tried.
- Red snapper These are often served fried and whole with a nice spice blend. We had this at the adorable Hideaway Grill and Chill. If served as a whole fish, be prepared to eat around some bones.
- Lobster Local lobsters can be found served in many ways. We didn’t get to try these but many menus featured them.
- Tuna tartare & yucca fries at Seven Stars – Oh boy were these good!
- Rum drinks Rum punch and piña coladas doused in dark rum are all around!
- Many Caribbean-inspired favorites like Jerk chicken, curries, and beef patties are on offer
- A wide variety of other cuisines. We saw Italian, Irish, Mexican, and American-inspired restaurants all around as well. There are options for everyone.
Tip: locating beach access points in Turtle Cove
We stayed close to Smith’s Reef and followed a map from Visit Turks and Caicos to guide our trip. There are 3 beach access points: west, central, and east. We tried all 3 and made some mistakes so you don’t have to. The west access point is our recommendation for Smith’s Reef. That location is easy to find and was the shortest walk on the beach to get to the reef. It also provides some parking. Our TCI Google map shows all of these areas in the Snorkeling layer.
Note When you enter at the west access area, you’ll see a large sign for Smith’s Reef. That’s not where the reef is! We made this mistake and started swimming right there. That area doesn’t have much to see and can pose risks with boat traffic. A nice man in a tour boat stopped and told us where to go. Don’t be like us! Enter at the west entrance and walk east (to your right) along the beach until you reach the point shown on the map. You’ll likely see other snorkelers and the section of the reef closest to shore was protected by large red buoys. See our TCI snorkeling post for more details and check out the map on Visit Turks and Caicos Islands for even more detail.
Other access points
You can also enter via the central and east access points. Those provide closer access to the 3 shoal reef sections shown on the map. The central access can be hard to spot. You’ll walk east along the large beautiful residences of Coconut Road until you hit a cul-de-sac. At that point, look for hedges on your left. Just past the hedges, you’ll see a gravel/sand walkway that looks like it could be a private path. A few feet down the path, you’ll see a tiny “Beach Access” sign hanging in the bushes telling you that you’ve got the right place. There are maybe 1-2 parking spots at this point. If you’re driving, I’d recommend the west access.
What did we think of our time in Turks and Caicos?
Our week in paradise ended with us feeling refreshed and fulfilled. We hit a great balance of activity, exploring, visiting underwater friends, and relaxing. It was an amazing trip that gave us some of the best snorkeling we’ve ever experienced both at Smith’s Reef and on the Big Blue Collective tour. We had our misstep of going to the wrong fish fry location, snorkeling in the wrong area, and the slightly sketchy end of our walk to get groceries. Overall I’m thrilled that we visited and grateful to Amie for suggesting the trip!
Wrapping up
What do you think? Are you ready to head to the Turks and Caicos Islands for a vacation? Have you visited before and have experiences to share? Let us know in the comments!
