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Reasons Why You Should Visit Turks and Caicos

Fort George is one of many world-class beaches in Turks and Caicos | © Ramona Settle / Alamy Stock Photo

14 September 2021

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Enjoy several beach holidays in one in Turks and Caicos. This string of Caribbean islands is rich with nature reserves, wildlife and breathtaking beaches, not to mention a fresh and vibrant local cuisine.

Turks and Caicos – consisting of the Caicos Islands and the Turks Islands – is home to one of the world’s top-ranked beaches, as well as barrier reefs and awe-inspiring interior landscapes aplenty. Although one of the planet’s top luxury holiday destinations, an eco-tourism ethos pervades, making it possible to visit this stunning destination responsibly.

To make a stop on Providenciales

Natural Feature

Drone photo of Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. The caribbean blue sea and white sandy beaches can be seen

The island of Providenciales – where flights to the Turks and Caicos archipelago land – is home to the must-visit beach at Grace Bay. The islands’ many protected natural beauty spots – which also include the vibrant turquoise lagoon of Chalk Sound National Park and offshore barrier reefs – are complemented by the convenience of bars, restaurants and other infrastructure. There are plenty of hotels on the island too, many of which are decidedly high-end.

It has one of the world’s best beaches

Natural Feature

View of Beachfront on Grace Bay in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos

Grace Bay Beach, on Providenciales, regularly tops the world’s best beach rankings (including Trip Advisor’s). It is just a 3mi (4km) stretch – though similar beaches at either end give the illusion of its continuation – with uninterrupted flawless, white sand underfoot. An offshore barrier reef protects the beach from Atlantic swells, making it a family and watersports hotspot around which luxury hotels have sprung up. Elsewhere, the uninhabited Dickish Cay features an idyllic, casuarina tree-lined beach, as does the adjacent Joe Grant Cay.

You can snorkel on a huge barrier reef

Natural Feature

Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) underwater, Bayahibe, Dominican Republic

Over 80mi (129km) of the spectacular barrier reef is accessible from Providenciales, affording visitors the chance to encounter marine life including several shark species. There are also green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles in these waters, where perfect starfish cling to the rocks. Elsewhere, on Grand Turk, the Columbus Landfall National Park offers yet more prime snorkeling and diving territory, encompassing all of Grand Turk’s west coast beaches and the barrier reef.

You can access some cays by boat or board

Natural Feature

Rock iguana on Little Water Cay, Turks & Caicos Islands.

Some of the small cays of Turks and Caicos are accessible by kayak, stand-up paddleboard, or boat cruise, typically from the Leeward Marina on Providenciales. These include Little Water Cay, which is nicknamed Iguana Island and where the prime activity for any time spent here is enjoying the sight of the native Turks and Caicos Islands Rock Iguanas. An endangered animal, these protected iguanas exude a regal air and are well worth the short boat or kayak trip to visit.

There are myriad cave systems to explore

Natural Feature

Indian Cave, Middle Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands, Caribbean.

Exploring caves is a firm part of the Turks and Caicos experience and Conch Bar Caves, which you’ll find on Middle Caicos, is the largest above-ground cave system in the Bahamas-Turks and Caicos Islands archipelago. Also on Middle Caicos, Indian Cave is a large single gallery cave with natural skylights where humans once lived. It’s now home to barn owls, bats and giant blue land crabs.

There are myriad historical sites

Historical Landmark

Wade's Green Plantation Historic Site, Kew, North Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands, Caribbean.

Do something different and take the time to experience Yankee Town, a remote and ruined 19th-century cotton planting settlement on West Caicos evocative of a Tarantino set. Elsewhere on the archipelago, historical sites you’ll be glad you made time to experience include the Cheshire Hall Plantation (on Providenciales) and Wade’s Green Plantation (on Kew), both of which offer valuable glimpses into Turks and Caicos’ past. Contemplate what we can learn from the horrors of the slave trade in a paradoxically gorgeous location.

You can contribute to sustainability

Park

Scenic beach on Picturesque Lane is a at the entrance to the Chalk Sound area of Provo island in Turks and Caicos.

A sustainable, custodial approach to nature will be key to Turks and Caicos’ future – and the locals and tour operators know it. Providenciales has national parks and nature reserves covering around half its coast and it’s possible to cover some distance by paddle boarding, as well as on foot. Northwest Point National Park is remote and ruggedly romantic terrain, while the aforementioned Chalk Sound is a must-see, with its electric-blue lake. Other points of interest here include rock carvings made by shipwrecked sailors in the 19th century.

There’s impressive wildlife

Natural Feature

They aren’t as cute as dolphins but give them a chance: swimming safely with and feeding stingrays in the turquoise waters of Gibbs Cay – just a quick boat ride from Grand Turk – is an unforgettable experience. In winter, humpback whale-watching off Providenciales is popular whilst bottlenose dolphins inhabit the waters here year-round.

You can dine on local sea snails

Restaurant, Seafood, $$$

raw edible sea snails, whelks close-up and lemon, parsley, garlic on a slate board on the table. Vertical top view from above

Boiled fish and grits for breakfast and conch meat – from the edible marine snail with the distinctive shell, pronounced “konk” – are among the specialty dishes you’ll come across in Turks and Caicos. Get more of a feel for local seafood at the weekly Provo Fish Fry night in Bright Park, where stalls also serve staples like jerk chicken and rum punch. Light-festooned palm trees set the scene at Da Conch Shack, a fun beachside joint on Blue Hills Road, or try elegant Coyaba Restaurant at Grace Bay.

There’s an awesome local brewery

Craft Ale Bar, Beer

The only locally brewed beer on Turks and Caicos is that of the Turk’s Head Brewery on Providenciales, so it’s surely classed as enlightened cultural research to visit and sample its four varieties. Visitor tours of this bright, contemporary space end with a chance to buy some beers and a bright logo T-shirt to show your loyalty. Even if you don’t make it to this behind-the-scenes experience, you will find the beers available in many restaurants on Turks and Caicos.

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Reasons Why You Should Visit Turks and Caicos

To make a stop on Providenciales

It has one of the world’s best beaches

You can snorkel on a huge barrier reef

You can access some cays by boat or board

There are myriad cave systems to explore

There are myriad historical sites

You can contribute to sustainability

There’s impressive wildlife

You can dine on local sea snails

There’s an awesome local brewery

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