Long Bay Beach
Providenciales
Long Bay is an incredible 3-mile (4.8 km) long beach on the southeast side of Providenciales. The water at this popular coast is breathtaking turquoise, with shallow depths leading off for a very great distance off the beach. Like nearly all beaches in the Turks and Caicos, the sand at Long Bay is white with perfect consistency.
Due to being located on the southern and shallow Caicos Banks side of Providenciales, Long Bay does not experience any open ocean swell waves that many of the northern and western beaches on the island may encounter, and at times experiences small choppy waves caused by local winds.
Long Bay Beach fronts the residential region of Long Bay Hills
The southwestern end of Long Bay Beach tends to be quite tranquil and features quite a few luxury vacation rental villas. Many of these beautiful accommodations include amenities such as kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. A villa can be the perfect choice for kiters or families as it allows for seclusion and more time on the water!
On the horizon off of Long Bay Beach is the grounded wreck of the freighter ship La Famille Express. This popular boat charter attraction is located 2.3 miles (3.7 km) off the coast, and was washed onto the shallow Caicos Banks during Hurricane Frances in 2004.
Long Bay Compared to Grace Bay
Both Long Bay Beach and Grace Bay Beach are amazing coasts, yet they are quite different. The ocean at Grace Bay increases in depth closer to shore, yet due to being on the sheltered side of the island, the water tends to be calmer.
Beachfront resorts and hotels line much of Grace Bay as well, whereas Long Bay is a bit more private.
Location and topography play a tremendous part in the creation and quality of beach sand, and another apparent difference between the two beaches is the sand. Grace Bay’s sand is younger as it has traveled less from its point of origin on the barrier reef, resulting in larger and irregular grains that are soft to walk on. Long Bay’s sand has generally migrated a much greater distance across the Caicos Banks and is consequently small-grained and consistent, which naturally compacts better.
Kiteboarding
Long Bay is by far the most popular kiteboarding location on Providenciales and dozens of kites can be in the air on windy days. Due to the northeast trade winds, Long Bay usually has onshore or side-on wind.
In addition to the spectacular water and clean sandy ocean bottom, the shallow depth makes it much easier to learn as you’ll be able to stand without drifting downwind. This especially is a factor during the transitional period after initial instruction yet before important skills are fully practiced and picked up. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better kite spot anywhere in the Caribbean.
Check out Kiteboarding for more information and local businesses.
Long Bay Real Estate
The residential community of Long Bay Beach and Long Bay Hills supports a thriving real estate market, with a range of undeveloped residential lots and finished homes, as well as a limited range of luxury condos.
The South Bank Project
On the beach and water at Long Bay there are also several ongoing upscale residential projects, the largest of which is South Bank. This project is a carefully planned community on the southwestern side of the beach, with parcels on the beach, on the limestone cliff coastline, and surrounding the interior marina lagoon.
South Bank is located at a unique section of the coast, and allows for easy access between a great beach and a protected marina. The architecture and design of the project is contemporary Caribbean, with easy access to the ocean and flowing living spaces.
Accesses
Long Bay has several beach accesses, but the easiest to get to is the Long Bay North access, which is located adjacent to the Shore Club development. Here, car parking is provided and a boardwalk leads to the beach. It’s a bit more difficult to find the other accesses, so we recommend this site for initial visits.
The southwest side of Long Bay Beach does have several access paths that lead from Long Bay Beach Drive to the beach. These paths are unsuitable for driving, so a short walk to the coast is necessary.
Dangers
Kiters, power boats, and jet skis are safety concerns. These tend to stay further out, but it’s best to be aware of them. The accommodations on this coast tend to be away from most activity.
Old conch shells in the water can be an annoyance and painful when stepped on. Although the Long Bay North area has been cleaned out, shells can occasionally be found in the water off much of the rest of the three-mile-long beach.
