Providenciales International Airport (PLS) Transfers & Transport
The Providenciales International Airport (PLS) is located in the central Downtown region of the island of Providenciales, which is about 7 miles (11 km) and typically a 20–30 minute drive from the resorts of Grace Bay Beach.
The transport options from the airport are limited to car rentals, taxis, private transfers, and, in a few cases, shuttle and transfer services provided by accommodations.
There’s no public transport or bus service on Providenciales or any other island in the Turks and Caicos.
If you’re looking to get through the airport with as little delay as possible, consider using the Fast Track service, which provides expedited processing through immigration and customs.
Private Transfers
Private vehicle transfers, or luxury VIP transport as they are more commonly known, are pre-scheduled car hires that offer pickup at a specified location. For airport arrivals, VIP transport services usually meet guests directly outside of the arrivals terminal at the airport and whisk them away to waiting vehicles with little delay.
Providenciales has several businesses that provide private transfers in upscale SUVs, such as Chevrolet Suburbans and Cadillac Escalades.
Private transfer vehicles are differentiated from taxis in local law in that they must be pre-booked and not hailed on the street—much like Uber or Lyft in most U.S. states.
Fares for a private luxury transfer from the airport to Grace Bay start at $135 (2024 price).
Group Transport
Due to the way taxi drivers typically calculate rates, it’s often best to consider a private car service when traveling in groups of four or more for airport transfers. Taxis and private transfers often have comparable rates for larger parties, with the private car service usually offering better service and no wait.
Taxis
Taxis are readily available at the Providenciales International Airport.
Unlike in many other destinations, taxis in the Turks and Caicos are usually large passenger vans or shuttles that charge per rider or couple and offer shared rides. From the airport, multiple people going to the same or adjacent resorts will often share a ride. Because taxi drivers wait to fill up their shuttles, you may have to wait 5–15 minutes to leave the airport.
The fare for two people (rides often have other paying customers as well) to central Grace Bay is $28 (2024 price).
Car and Jeep Rentals
Many car rental companies advertise airport car pickup, yet the service ranges from actual onsite car collection to situations where arriving customers wait and are then shuttled away by passenger van to the rental agency’s offsite facilities, where the paperwork and pickup occurs.
Picking up your car directly at the airport typically reduces wait and processing times.
Generally, you can get the fastest service and vehicle pickup through the boutique car and jeep rental companies, as there’s typically an agent assigned to every arriving party and the vehicles are available at the airport parking lot.
Renting a car is typically the least expensive transport option for the typical stay in the Turks and Caicos.
Resort Shuttles and Pickups
A few of the larger resorts provide an airport transfer service. This is rarely complimentary, and more often at additional cost to your stay. Legally, such services operate in much the same manner as a private transfer, in that they must be scheduled in advance of service. Airport transfers qualify, as the local accommodation is expecting the guests.
The transportation offered varies quite a bit. The expansive Club Med all-inclusive resort operates a large bus, while some hotels simply make arrangements with a taxi. A few of the more exclusive retreats have their own fleets (such as the remote Amanyara resort’s collection of Mercedes-Benz SUVs).
In the case of the luxury resorts found on the cays near Providenciales, such as the COMO Parrot Cay Resort on Parrot Cay and the Pine Cay Resort on Pine Cay, land transport to the ferry dock at Leeward on Providenciales is typically arranged by the resort for a fee. Make sure to clarify the transportation plan with your accommodation before arrival.
Local Businesses
