Top Things to Do in the Turks and Caicos

Discover Our Spectacular Beaches

There are so many incredible beaches in the Turks and Caicos and on the island of Providenciales, all with beautiful turquoise clear waters to go swimming in.

The unparalleled Grace Bay Beach is the general favorite, but many smaller and secluded beaches can be found on Providenciales. All the beaches in the country are public and free to access, and are never crowded. Discover your own piece of paradise.

Some of the best beaches on Providenciales include world-famous Grace Bay Beach, calm Sapodilla Bay and Taylor Bay, Long Bay Beach, Leeward Beach, Malcolm’s Road Beach, and the Bight Beach. Exceptional coasts on other islands in the Turks and Caicos are Mudjin Harbour, Bambarra Beach, Little Ambergris Cay, the sandbars at Fort George Cay and Pine Cay, and the shallow channel and bar systems at Parrot Cay and Sandy Point Beach on North Caicos.

Take a Boat Cruise to the Caicos Cays

There’s a wonderful collection of small cays between Providenciales and North Caicos, and these beautiful islands offer miles of spectacular and deserted white sand beaches. Discover perfect turquoise waters, snorkeling reefs, and the indigenous Turks and Caicos Rock Iguanas.

Possible destinations include the iguana sanctuary of Little Water Cay, the beach and lagoon at Half Moon Bay, the secluded and amazing beach at Water Cay, the exquisite sandbars and sunken cannons at Fort George Cay, and the vibrant corals and fish at the Leeward Reef snorkeling site.

Excursions visiting the south coast of Providenciales have a totally different set of sights and attractions, from the wrecked La Famille Express freighter ship, to the breathtaking blues of West Caicos and the West Caicos Marine National Park, the cave and historical features of West Harbour Bluff, the iguana island of Bay Cay, and snorkeling sites that include Turtle Rock, beautiful reefs, and shipwrecks.

Some of the large all-inclusive resorts on Grace Bay, including Beaches and Club Med Turkoise, have scheduled boat tours for their guests, which typically visit Half Moon Bay Beach and the Leeward Cut snorkeling reef.

Take a Snorkeling Cruise

The reefs around the Turks and Caicos are amazing, offering an abundance of crystal-clear water, fish and sea animals, and healthy coral. Taking a boat snorkeling cruise often makes for a great underwater experience, as you won’t have to search for the reefs, and the offshore sites are often livelier than reefs near the beach.

On snorkeling boat trips, you also may encounter one of our friendly wild Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. We have two that interact with people: the famous JoJo the Dolphin, and the new baby Dreamer!

The Grace Bay and Leeward barrier reef snorkeling sites combine tranquil beds of yellow and purple sea fans that wave back and forth with the swell, and intricate coral gullies and caves, which are topped with colorful corals. Schools of fish, stingrays, turtles, nurse sharks, and lobsters can be seen across the reefs.

Take a Day Trip to North Caicos and Middle Caicos

Just a thirty-minute ferry ride from Providenciales are the quiet islands of North Caicos and Middle Caicos. The two islands are less developed than Providenciales, and feature great landscapes, secluded beaches, old plantations, and Conch Bar Caves, one of the largest dry cave systems in the Caribbean.

Many visit Middle Caicos just to see Mudjin Harbour, a majestic coastal landscape of beaches, cliffs, and turquoise water.

Kayak or Paddleboard in the Wetlands

The Turks and Caicos supports an amazing network of mangrove wetlands and tidal channels, and these pristine waterways act as the nurseries for many types of sea life. A guided excursion into these shallow wetlands will allow you to spot wildlife close-up in their natural environment. On a good day expect to see juvenile sharks and turtles, conchs, barracudas, bonefish, starfish, stingrays, and birdlife.

Snorkel from the Beach

A great complement to a snorkeling cruise is to visit some of the beach reefs in the Turks and Caicos. Providenciales has some really beautiful sites, where large numbers of colorful reef fish, stingrays, turtles, and lobsters are easy to approach and see.

The Bight Reef (also known as Coral Gardens) is the most popular and easiest to access of the beach reefs, and is located on the western end of Grace Bay. Smith’s Reef, found near Turtle Cove, is even more extensive and complex than the Bight Reef, albeit a little harder to find.

Last but not least is Malcolm’s Road and Northwest Point. This is a spectacular area, yet quite remote. There’s clear water and a wide array of life, including small and mid-sized sharks.

Semi-Submarine Tours

Want to enjoy our beautiful reefs in air-conditioned comfort without getting wet? The Undersea Explorer is a semi-submarine operated by Caicos Tours, and allows passengers to ride below the water’s surface, with large observatory window to see out of.

Tours depart from Turtle Cove Marina and visit the fascinating bay reefs of Smith's Reef, Turtle Cove, and Babalua Beach. The Undersea Explorer is stable and perfect for all ages.

Parasail over Grace Bay

There’s a reason many parasail boats can be seen operating in Grace Bay every day: gliding at 200 feet (60 m) in the air over Grace Bay is an amazing experience! Get a bird’s eye view of the beach, resorts, barrier reef, and larger sea animals in the water below.

Chalk Sound National Park

The incredibly-turquoise Chalk Sound National Park offers some of the most vibrant water you’ll see anywhere. This sheltered lagoon is home to hundreds of tiny islands, a vast blue hole underwater cave, a submerged plane wreck, and even the Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana. Two beautiful beaches are also located nearby: Sapodilla Bay and Taylor Bay.

Scuba Diving

There are so many beautiful and vibrant reefs to explore in the Turks and Caicos. Sites spread across over 80 miles (129 km) of barrier reef are regularly visited by dive boats from Providenciales. If you haven’t yet begun to scuba dive, several local dive shops offer open water and DSD courses. More experienced divers may want to try liveaboard diving.

Great dive spots are found in the West Caicos Marine National Park, at Northwest Point, in the Princess Alexandra National Park, and at the remote French Cay.

Horseback Riding at Long Bay

Another great activity is horseback riding in the shallow turquoise waters of Long Bay Beach. Provo Ponies is the island’s primary stable, and their ponies and horses are well-trained and enjoy wading in the ocean just as much as the riders!

Jet Ski on our Turquoise Waters

There’s no denying it, jet skis can be a lot of fun! There are so many spectacular places to explore in the Turks and Caicos. Take a guided trip to uninhabited cays, secluded beaches, the La Famille Express shipwreck, West Harbour Bluff, and more!

Freediving at the Wall

It’s not for everyone, but a truly unforgettable and exciting experience is freediving at the wall.

The underwater plateau that supports the Turks and Caicos tends to have a rather abrupt transition from shallow to deep, and in many places the depth goes from 40-50 feet (12-15 m) into the thousands over a very short span. This drop off is commonly referred to as the wall, and most of the top scuba dive sites in the country are on this subterranean cliff.

Freediving is simply the challenge of deep diving on your own breath. The equipment commonly used is similar to typical snorkel gear, and it’s possible with only a little practice to reach depths past 40 feet (12 m). You’ll see incredibly blue water, coral, and perhaps the occasional shark cruising the reef!

Always obtain proper and qualified free diving instruction before attempting the water sport, and never try to free dive on your own. There are several inherent safety risks associated with freediving and it’s critical to get an explanation of these dangers before diving.

Explore by Jeep or 4x4

Another great thing to do on Provo is to simply rent something fun to drive, and explore. The island has several central scenic (and paved!) coastal routes, including the Venetian Road and Turtle Tail area, Chalk Sound Drive, and the coastal road at the Blue Hills and Wheeland settlement.

If you’re looking for more adventure and excitement, the west coast national parks offer some fun off-road tracks. There’s West Harbour Bluff, Malcolm’s Road Beach, and the Northwest Point National Park to discover. High-clearance 4x4s, such as upgraded Jeep Wranglers, are recommended. Please stay on established roads and don’t drive on the beach, to avoid damaging the environment.

Regardless of whether you stay at a resort or villa, it’s typically best to rent a vehicle when visiting the Turks and Caicos. The country doesn’t have effective public transportation, so having your own vehicle will allow you to get out to some of our amazing beaches and sights.

Shopping at Grace Bay

A visit to the Turks and Caicos isn’t complete without a shopping trip to the galleries and stores at Grace Bay. At the Saltmills and Regent Village there are several stops you’ll want to make, including the Brilliant Studios Gallery, Anna's Art Gallery, and Potcake Place (to see some cute Potcake puppies!). There’s some great dining nearby as well, and popular Turkberry for dessert. Other nearby plazas include Ports of Call, Le Vele Plaza, and Grace Bay Plaza.

Day Trip to South Caicos

Another day trip experience that offers a unique ambiance is a visit to South Caicos. This interesting island is often overlooked by visitors, yet the island presents an authentic look into the culture and history of the islands, and the perspective of a small fishing and salt island.

There isn’t much tourism development on South Caicos, just the historical settlement of Cockburn Harbour, secluded beaches, and remnants of the abandoned sea salt industry.

Small domestic flights and ferries provide transit between Providenciales and South Caicos, and it’s possible to do a day trip via one of the small island hopper planes. The quick air journey is fun on its own.

Visit a Historical Site

The Turks and Caicos doesn’t have any impressive forts or monuments, yet there are some fascinating historical sites to be seen. The island of Grand Turk has some of the better sites, such as the Grand Turk Lighthouse, the Turks and Caicos National Museum, the Victorian-era H.M. Prison, and the colonial oceanfront Cockburn Town, yet Providenciales and our other islands all have some interesting places. On Providenciales, there’s Cheshire Hall Plantation, and on North Caicos and Middle Caicos is Wade's Green Plantation and Haulover Plantation, and Yankee Town on West Caicos is accessible by boat from Providenciales.