Providenciales Land Sports & Activities
Tired of lounging on the best beach in the world? Providenciales has a variety of land sports and activities that you can participate in while you're on vacation in the sunny Turks and Caicos Islands, spanning a range of age groups and interests.
For information on land activities across the country, see Turks and Caicos Land Sports and Activities.
ATV Tours
ATV tours of Providenciales have become one of the more popular land activities on the island. Some of these tours visit the wild, less-explored west coast of Providenciales, cruising to the spectacular West Harbour Bluff and the Pirate's Cave, Malcolm’s Road Beach, and Sapodilla Bay near Chalk Sound National Park.
Another popular stop is the Turk's Head Brewery, which serves a variety of locally made craft beers on tap. An ATV tour of Providenciales is a fun way to see a large portion of the island in a short amount of time while catching the breeze and some sun. Some companies also offer tours that visit points of interest on the eastern side of the island, such as Long Bay and The Hole. Most tours are 2–3 hours long.
Horseback Riding
Horseback riding on the beach is one of the island’s top land sports. There are three stables on Providenciales: Provo Ponies at Long Bay, Unique Tours in Blue Hills, and a small stable at Five Cays near the famous Bugaloo’s restaurant. Two of the stables are within access of the beach, and the highlight of these rides is wading through the shallow and crystal-clear ocean water on horseback.
Horseback riding is an activity that the whole family can enjoy, even if you're a beginner. The professional staff at the local stables provide basic riding instructions and can offer guide-led ponies for small children.
Both morning and afternoon rides are offered. Reservations are required, and as this is a very popular activity, it's best to reserve well in advance of your expected date. Sunset rides are another option, and are a great way to end the day.
Golf
Providenciales is home to the beautifully maintained Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club. Designed by Karl Litten and built in 1992, this award-winning 18-hole course is par 72. The setting is among low limestone cliffs and small ponds, and the grounds abound with bird life.
Located in the Grace Bay region of Providenciales, the Golf Club offers private golf instruction and tennis and pickleball, in addition to the standard round of golf.
Cycling
Casual cycling, mainly as a means of getting around Grace Bay, the Bight, Turtle Cove, and Leeward, is very popular on Providenciales. There are many types of bikes to choose from, from wide-tired beach bikes and electric bikes to classic and simple resort cruisers.
If you plan to go cycling on Providenciales, see Cycling and Driving in the Turks and Caicos.
Tennis and Pickleball
Many of the resorts and hotels, as well as some villas, have their own tennis court. If you don't have a court at your accommodation, the most popular place to play tennis and pickleball is the Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club, which has two flood-lit courts you can reserve, as well as a shop where you can rent paddles, rackets, and balls.
Nature Adventures
While it’s difficult to compete with the spectacular beaches and marine environment of Providenciales, the terrestrial habitats of the island have plenty to offer. There are beautiful coastal regions, a few interesting historical sites, several national parks, and nearby mangrove channels teeming with life.
While Providenciales is the most developed island in the Turks and Caicos, it’s still relatively quiet compared to similar destinations in the Caribbean and has undeveloped patches to explore.
Hiking
Providenciales and all of the Caicos Islands offer beautiful and varied coastal hiking. Established and dedicated hiking trails are still largely absent due to the limited development in the country, yet many coasts offer open conditions.
Bird Rock Trail is Providenciales' only established hiking route and is located at the southeasternmost point of the island. This flat trail has low difficulty and winds through vegetation and wetland, eventually opening up onto a limestone outcropping where you can see remnant shells from the old conch farm.
The country’s top hiking trail, the Crossing Place Trail, is located on Middle Caicos. If you want to discover the sights off of Providenciales, it’s easy to visit some of the outer islands on a day trip. Simply select an island, book a rental car, and take a ferry or flight. For information on the sights and scenes of the less-inhabited islands, see our island-specific pages.
Birdwatching
There's decent birdwatching to be found on the island, with egrets, herons, ospreys, and pelicans common throughout Providenciales. You can also see flamingos in certain areas. If you're interested in birdwatching, consider planning a day trip to North and Middle Caicos, where you can find much larger concentrations of flamingos and undeveloped landscapes.
In the interior dry brush lands and forests, you can spot smaller birds like warblers, bananaquits, anis, mangrove cuckoos, Antillean nighthawks, and the extravagant Bahamas woodstar hummingbird.
While there are no scheduled birdwatching tours in the Turks and Caicos, private excursions can be arranged with a handful of local eco-tour businesses, such as and Big Blue Collective.
Outdoor Photography
Nature, bird, and sports photographers will have endless subjects to capture on Providenciales and throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. In addition to the incredible landscapes and common wildlife, there is a tremendous range of endemic and endangered species indigenous to the islands.
An example is the Turks and Caicos rock iguana. Found on some of the small cays in Chalk Sound National Park and a number of cays throughout the archipelago, this interesting lizard is friendly and easily approachable.
The underwater photography opportunities are just as inviting. There are vibrant reefs and corals, sea creatures large and small, and tranquil beach settings. The turtles of Providenciales and nearby Mangrove Cay are great subjects (and when you spot them, so are the friendly dolphins).
You don't need a permit to fly drones recreationally in the Turks and Caicos, and so many of the coastlines, national parks, and land forms of Providenciales are beautiful drone photos waiting to be captured.
During the winter months of the year, humpback whales migrate past the Turks and Caicos and make for amazing snorkeling encounters. See Whale Watching to learn about operators and tours.