Providenciales Private Boat Charters and Tours
One of the top things to do in the Turks and Caicos is to take a boat cruise or charter, and there’s a tremendous selection of businesses and vessels to choose from. Most of the tours from Providenciales and Grace Bay are larger shared tours, and may have more than 30 passengers, yet there are also many companies that only offer custom charters.
Private charters can be arranged on nearly all vessel types. This page focuses on the smaller and more cost-effective options. If you’re looking for a more expansive yacht or unique boat, see Private Luxury Charters and Sailing Charters.
Why Choose a Private Charter?
Besides the obvious aspect of being able to choose who is on your charter, the primary advantage of a custom charter is that you’ll get to spend the day at the sights and attractions of your choice, be it beach, reef, or historical site.
Another consideration is your group size. Shared half-day charters start at about $120 per adult, so large families and parties may even save money by going with a custom charter.
Private Charter Vessel Amenities
Nearly all boat tours in the Turks and Caicos include basic water, some drinks, and possibly snacks, local beer, and rum punch. On custom trips, it’s typically possible to arrange specific food or drinks, although it may incur an additional cost.
Many tour and charter boats, even the smaller vessels, have bathrooms. If this feature is important, confirm before booking.
Most tours have a collection of snorkel gear for guests to use, and also may have water sports equipment such as towable wake floats, the fun and exciting Subwing, or inflatable paddleboards for exploring remote coastlines and wetlands.
The Best Boat Tour Sights and Attractions
The Turks and Caicos really does offer a spectacular marine environment, and the simple fact is that you’ll only ever be able to see a fraction of what there is by taking a charter or two.
Many of the local private charter captains love what they do, so they will typically choose the best feasible locations considering the weather conditions.
One of the best elements of boating in the Turks and Caicos are the secluded beaches that can be found just minutes from the dock.
Snorkeling is one of the top activities in the Turk and Caicos, and there are countless incredible sites and reefs to explore. Interior reefs tend to have a wide array of colorful reef fish and varied coral, and the barrier reef features fascinating underwater terrain and vibrant yellow and purple sea fans. Those oriented towards adventure may also want to try freediving. It’s hard to find a more compelling setting to practice this water sport than the crystal-clear waters of the Turks and Caicos.
Little Water Cay is a beautiful and uninhabited nature preserve island, and an important sanctuary for the critically endangered Turks and Caicos Islands rock iguana. These giant lizards are interesting and docile, so visiting Little Water Cay offers the rare opportunity of seeing a critically endangered animal in its natural environment. The island also has some incredible beaches!
Water Cay is the much larger counterpart to Little Water Cay, and offers miles of exquisite beach. The coast here is typically secluded and sheltered from the eastern trade winds, so it’s a great place to lounge on perfect white sand.
Half Moon Bay is one of the most popular boating destinations in the Turks and Caicos, and with good reason. This spot is an extensive sandbar that filled in over decades in the channel between Little Water Cay and Half Moon Bay. On the north side of this area is a wide and scenic beach, and on the southern side is a sheltered and shallow lagoon. Tall casuarina trees provide shade, and there are iguanas to see in the dunes as well! Half Moon Bay Lagoon is a great flat water kiteboarding spot, as a narrow dune protects the area from waves, yet doesn’t block the wind.
The private island of Pine Cay features some of the best beaches in the Turk and Caicos. As with Water Cay, the perfect white sand and turquoise water here is typically deserted.
Fort George Cay is another popular island in the chain of cays between Providenciales and North Caicos. In the late 1700s, the island supported Fort Saint George, which was the largest defensive feature in the Caicos Islands. The site of the fort has long since washed away, yet seven cannons can still be seen in the shallow water where the fort once stood. In recent years, the cay has become better known for the exquisite sandbars and beach that leads off the western side of the island.
West Caicos is one of the finest boat destinations in the Turks and Caicos, and there’s a wealth of sights in the water and on land. There are many deserted beaches to explore, and the West Caicos Marine National Park features breathtaking blue water, amazing snorkeling, and exciting cliff jumping locations. On land is the very interesting Yankee Town historical site, and Lake Catherine, which is one of the finest birdwatching locations in the Turks and Caicos.
French Cay is a very remote island on the southern Caicos Banks and Caicos Barrier Reef. This nature reserve is a haven for bird life, and the surrounding waters teem with sharks and marine life. It’s a great option for nature enthusiasts.
West Harbour Bluff, part of the Frenchman’s Creek and Pigeon Pond Nature Reserve, is a remote and very scenic coastal peninsula on the southwestern corner of Providenciales. Found here are the tallest ocean cliffs on the island, a small coastal cave, historical rock inscriptions, a secluded beach and cove, and amazing wildlife sightings.
The possible destinations on a boat cruise are not limited to what’s discussed here! There are over 100 named islands and cays in the country, all of which are exquisite! Some great locations that are further afield include Long Cay and Fish Cay near South Caicos, Little Ambergris Cay, Joe Grant Cay, East Caicos, and many more.
The La Famille Express is a very popular boat tour stop off of Providenciales. This imposing old Soviet freighter wreck is grounded in the shallow Caicos Banks a couple of miles off of Long Bay Beach.
Jojo the Dolphin, the famous Atlantic bottlenose dolphin mascot of the Turks and Caicos, can often be seen in the waters off of Grace Bay, Leeward, and the Caicos Cays. Jojo isn’t the only dolphin you may encounter, as there are a few dolphin pods that have made their home in the Caicos Islands, some of which include incredibly cute baby dolphins!
Fishing is another option on some of the private boat tours in the Turks and Caicos. Choose from deep sea sport fishing for wahoo, mahi-mahi, marlin, tuna, and mackerel, or reef and bottom fishing for snapper, grouper, and jacks. During the open seasons, it’s also an option to dive for conch and Caribbean spiny lobster. Many local restaurants are happy to prepare the day’s catch—the perfect way to celebrate the trip!
Boat Rentals
If you’d rather be your own captain and rent a boat without a guide, your options are quite limited, and mainly consist of small jet boats, and open skiffs.
The waters surrounding the Turks and Caicos can be very challenging, and it’s common for even locals with experience to encounter difficulties. There are countless reefs and shallows to contend with, and wind and the open ocean swell can create challenging waves.
If you rent and pilot your own vessel, it’s very important to follow the advice and guidance of your boat rental company regarding areas of vessel use and weather conditions.
Boat Charters
