Turks and Caicos Islands A Turquoise Paradise in the Caribbean
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
General Information
As a lover of tropical islands and magical beaches, I checked which beaches are considered the most beautiful in the world. I discovered that almost every year, the popular website Trip Advisor, as well as many travel magazines, chooses a beach called "Grace Bay" in Turks and Caicos as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I decided to check the place up close and indeed was captivated by the charms of this small and charming Caribbean country, which has long beaches with fine, soft white sand, lined with palm trees, and most importantly, calm, pure, and crystal-clear water in an amazing turquoise color. I couldn't stop marveling at the turquoise colors, and I couldn't get out of the pleasant sea water. Every day I discovered a new beach more beautiful than the last. Thanks to the huge selection of beautiful beaches, you can feel almost like Robinson Crusoe—alone on a private island...
In this article, I will present the islands, their beautiful beaches, and recommended hotels and tours on the islands, which you can also book here from known and reliable sites.
American and Canadian tourists have fallen in love with Turks and Caicos, and rightly so: a pleasant and safe country (considered one of the safest in the Caribbean), sun-drenched with 350 sunny days a year, located less than a two-hour flight from Miami and Fort Lauderdale, about two and a half hours from Philadelphia and less than a three-hour flight from New York. There are also direct flights from Toronto. Canadians love Turks and Caicos so much that a few years ago there was even a serious thought (now shelved) to turn the country into a Canadian territory. Many tourists purchase holiday apartments there and spend all the winter months there. Many celebrities have also begun purchasing luxury villas there. The late singer Prince purchased a stunning villa overlooking the sea. Other stars like Bruce Willis, Donna Karan, or Oprah Winfrey have also purchased real estate on the island.
The Turks & Caicos Islands TCI are a small country in the Caribbean consisting of eight main islands and another 40 small cays, most of them uninhabited.
The islands are located southeast of the Bahamas and north of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and at a distance of 926 km southeast of Miami.
The country is a British territory, the official language is English, and the currency is the US Dollar.
About 30,000 residents live on the islands, and over 200,000 tourists arrive annually by flight, with more than double that number on cruise ships. The islands' economy is based mainly on tourism.
Tours and Attractions on Providenciales Island from GetYourGuide.com:
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The average temperature between November and May is 27-29 degrees, and between June and October, it is 29-32 degrees.
The National Flag:
The flag includes three elements typical of the area: the Turks Head cactus (common in the islands and resembling a Turkish hat in shape, hence the name of the islands), the Conch Shell.
And the Spiny Lobster, which are very common in the island waters.
The most common foods in Turks and Caicos naturally come from the sea: a variety of fish and seafood, especially the giant Conch Shell, from which salads, soups, and various stews are prepared (reminiscent of calamari in taste and texture).
♦ The Island of "Providenciales" Providenciales
The most popular and visited island is "Providenciales," abbreviated as "Provo," where most international flights from the USA and Canada arrive.
Did you know? There are no lakes or rivers in the Turks and Caicos Islands, but there are 400 kilometers of beaches!
The most popular beach on this island is "Grace Bay," which is 12 miles long (over 19 kilometers!) and has won every possible title (and rightly so). It is located in the north of the island, on the Atlantic Ocean side. Along its entire length are many hotels, most of them impressive and very luxurious, although hotels of medium standard and reasonable prices can be found near the beach.
Hotels, apartment hotels, and villas for rent are also scattered in many other places on the island, most of them in its northern part.
Another wonderful beach in the north of the island, smaller and more isolated, is "Pelican Beach".
This beach is adjacent to a neighborhood of villas where each villa overlooks the sea or a water canal, which also has deep turquoise water, and every villa, of course, has a private dock with a yacht.
Especially recommended beaches for families with shallow and calm water are located in hidden coves on the Caribbean (southern) side of the island. Highly recommended: Taylor Bay Beach and Sapodilla Bay Beach.
Near these beaches is a national park called Chalk Sound National Park, which is entirely in the water. This is a turquoise lagoon with dozens of cays. You have to search well for viewpoints because amazing villas were built on the narrow peninsula surrounding it, taking over the breathtaking view and turning it into their exclusive property.
Most of the beaches on the Caribbean side of the island are mainly suitable for windsurfing. The most popular beach for surfing is: Long Bay Beach.
♦ Recommended Hotels in "Provo" Providenciales
Hotels in "Grace Bay":
All hotels have a swimming pool, a beach with sun loungers for the free use of hotel guests, and free use of kayaks, paddleboards, and in some, also windsurf boards and sailboats.
♦ Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa All Inclusive
Beaches Turks & Caicos is a huge hotel consisting of four "villages"—the Italian, French, Caribbean, and Key West villages (with a fifth on the way)—and is especially suitable for families. Each village has its own pools, separate reception, and there are 22 restaurants and food stalls, bars, a water park, kids' clubs, sports facilities (including tennis and pickleball courts), water sports of all kinds, shows, and plenty of activities, all on an all-inclusive basis. It has large, spacious rooms and suites and apartments of various sizes, suitable even for 10 people or more. Some have a well-equipped kitchen. This hotel is located on the most beautiful beach in the world in Grace Bay on the island of Turks and Caicos, and those who arrive can stay for a whole week without leaving and not be bored for a moment.
A luxury suite hotel located on the seafront, ranging from spacious double studio apartments to huge penthouse apartments (167 sqm) with two bedrooms and a living room intended for 7 people.
A 4-star suite hotel also located on the wonderful Grace Bay beach. The hotel has suites in a variety of sizes suitable for 2-6 people.
A 3-star hotel across the street from the popular beach with a shuttle service to the beach (5 minutes walk). The hotel has rooms suitable for 2-4 people. Suitable for those who want to live in the center of things but pay a more reasonable price.
♦ Tours and Excursions on Provo Island
The most convenient and cheapest way to tour Provo is by rental car (driving here is on the left side). Most roads on the island are well-paved and convenient for driving. There are branches of both international and local companies on the island, and rental prices are quite reasonable (compared to expensive taxi prices). There is no public transportation on the island at all, so those who want to travel and explore and not just spend time at the beach near their hotel can get around by rental car, taxi, or a few guided land tours on the island. The main and most popular tours are boat tours which mainly include snorkeling, beautiful beaches, and sometimes conch searching. There are full-day tours, but you can certainly settle for a half-day cruise (3-4 hours).
♦ Booking a tour around the island from Viator: Providenciales Unmissable Sightseeing Tour A guided tour in a safari vehicle including lunch to get to know the island. Lasts about 5 hours and includes hotel pickup and drop-off.
Boat Tours and Snorkeling
It is worth joining a boat tour where, in addition to a scenic cruise in calm turquoise waters and snorkeling at the reef, you will also visit a small nearby island known for the many iguanas living there and learn much about the giant conchs of Provo. The local guides will haul up a variety of conchs from the depths, from which they will prepare a delicious salad (also including tomatoes, peppers, and onions) and teach you much about the giant mollusk that grows an impressive shell.
Booking a cruise on Provo Island from reliable Viator:
♦ Half-day snorkeling cruise in Providenciales: 4hour Group Half Day Snorkeling Excursion in Grace Bay An experiential cruise with a cheerful atmosphere, snorkeling. Includes food and drinks, lasts about 4 hours. There are morning and afternoon trips.
Clear Kayak Tour through Mangroves on Provo Island:
♦ Experience watching fish, turtles, corals, and sharks from inside a fully transparent kayak: Mangrove Clear Kayak Tour Lasts about 2 hours.
Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise to watch fish, corals, and turtles on Provo Island:
♦ A cute short tour in Turks and Caicos by the Turks Tour Company is in a completely transparent boat departing from Turtle Cove Marina for an approximately one-and-a-quarter-hour cruise over two reefs. During the cruise, you see many turtles and fish, including stingrays and batfish, various corals, and of course, different views of the island. A small but comfortable ship. Especially suitable for those who are not fans of diving or snorkeling or entering deep water and want to see the animals in the clear Caribbean waters.
Half-day boat cruise including picnic and swimming:
It is great to visit the world's first farm for growing these conchs, Caicos Conch Farm, located about a fifteen-minute drive from Grace Bay.
Update: Due to hurricanes in 2017, this attraction is closed to visitors until further notice.
During the guided tour, you will learn about the conch's growing method, see it from a tiny size to its full size, be able to touch the shells, see the growing pools, and more. This farm also breeds many fish.
Water Sports and Recreation
"Provo" is a paradise for water sports and recreation, from boating of all types: kayaks, SUP, sailboats, through windsurfing to various water amusements such as parasailing and banana boats which are very popular on the northern beaches.
It is a good idea to purchase a DAY PASS for the facilities of "Club Med" which is also located on Grace Bay beach. The pass includes free use of the site's facilities including all types of water sports and many activities, as well as free food and drinks (including alcohol).
♦ The Island of Grand Turk
Another visited island in this chain is Grand Turk, the capital of this tiny country, located at the southeastern end of the island chain.
This is a small island (contrary to what its name might suggest), 11 km long and about 2 km wide, and about 4000 residents live on it. The main city on the island is Cockburn Town, where the country's government buildings, several small hotels, the National Museum of Turks and Caicos, and several wonderful beaches with soft white sand and turquoise water are concentrated.
The island has become popular since large cruise ships of the Carnival Corporation began visiting it in 2006. In the winter months, almost every day, two large cruise ships arrive at the port.
Read More inthe article: The Island of Grand Turk
