The 18 Best Attractions in the Turks and Caicos

Mudjin Harbour 

Mudjin Harbour on the island of Middle Caicos is one of the top beaches and coastal scenes in the Turks and Caicos, and for good reason. This beach is home to the highest ocean cliffs in the country, dreamy caves, and the rugged limestone Dragon Cay.

Be sure to follow the path to the top of the cliff that overlooks the beach. You’ll be rewarded with spectacular views. The stone path also continues to a small hidden tunnel and cave that leads to another secluded beach.

Mudjin Harbour is the top must-see attraction on any day trip to North Caicos and Middle Caicos, and the place you’ll probably want to spend the most time exploring. It’s best to plan your visit in advance to use your time here wisely. Consider also stopping at Conch Bar Caves, Bambarra Beach, and Wade’s Green Plantation.

Half Moon Bay 

Half Moon Bay is a beach and shallow lagoon that borders an extensive sandbar, which connects the islands of Little Water Cay and Water Cay. Over the last few decades, the casuarina trees (an invasive plant now largely removed), sea oats, and dune vegetation have grown quite a bit, so it’s not quite so apparent today as it was in the past that a channel once existed where Half Moon Bay lies between the islands.

The north-side beach is wide with soft white sand and turquoise water. This area is popular with charter and tour boats, yet there’s always space to be found. The southern side of Half Moon Bay is a sandy lagoon with very shallow and warm water.

Half Moon Bay is a great place for watching wildlife too. The endangered Turks and Caicos Islands rock iguana can be seen in the dunes, baby lemon sharks are often spotted in the shallows in the lagoon, and birdlife abounds.

Chalk Sound National Park 

The unique Chalk Sound National Park on Providenciales is one of the most picturesque areas in the country. This park consists of a shallow lagoon with glowing turquoise water and hundreds of small limestone islands.

Chalk Sound is simply beautiful to see from shore, but it’s also great for kayaking and paddleboarding. Many of the cays in the lagoon are home to iguanas, and there’s even a mother and baby dolphin that live in the national park.

Chalk Sound is also a great place to rent a luxury villa for your stay in the Turks and Caicos. The southern edge of Chalk Sound is lined with rental vacation homes, so it’s possible to stay directly on the turquoise waters.

Leeward Beach 

Leeward Beach is an immaculate coast that continues to the east from where Grace Bay Beach ends. It is probably the second-best beach on Providenciales, albeit with greater seclusion than Grace Bay. The coast varies a bit, yet is consistently excellent.

Starting from the east, Leeward Beach offers a wide swath of white sand and perfect water. The central region of the beach has a few low limestone outcroppings that provide a bit of privacy, and the easternmost Emerald Point area is simply breathtaking.

Water Cay 

Water Cay is one of the many scenic cays (a group sometimes called the Caicos Cays) found between Providenciales and North Caicos. The island’s main claim to fame is the exceptional two-mile (3.2 km) beach that lines its north coast.

Low dune cliffs line the beach and provide a bit of isolation. The ocean is an appealing turquoise, and there’s even a small shipwreck to explore near the shore.

This island's beach annually hosts Caribbean House Evolution, an electronic music festival with a boat party on Water Cay.

West Caicos Marine National Park 

Remote yet close enough to visit by boat from Providenciales, the West Caicos Marine National Park is a spectacular location and natural feature of the Turks and Caicos Islands. This area typically offers sheltered and calm water, with some of the most unbelievable shades of blue. Low limestone cliffs line the coast here, and there are snorkeling spots, caves, and great cliff jumping spots.

The interesting Yankee Town historical site is also located inland. You can see an old steam traction engine, a primitive kerosene engine, a defunct railway, and some ruined buildings.

West Caicos is just one of the locations that may be a stop on charters that tour southwestern Providenciales. Other great places to visit include West Harbour Bluff, Turtle Rock, and Bay Cay.

Princess Alexandra National Park 

The Princess Alexandra National Park is an extensive and important protected area in the Turks and Caicos that includes attractions such as Grace Bay Beach, the Bight Beach, the Bight Reef (also known as Coral Gardens), Smith’s Reef, Leeward Beach, Mangrove Cay, and Little Water Cay.

Also inside the national park is the barrier reef that protects Grace Bay, which features beautiful snorkeling and scuba diving locations. One of the top things to do when on vacation in the Turks and Caicos is to snorkel along this amazing barrier reef.

Leeward Reef, a section of the barrier reef near Leeward Cut off the northeastern side of Providenciales, is one of the most popular spots to visit.

Sandy Point Beach 

Sandy Point Beach is a pristine coast located on the northwestern end of North Caicos. It is a shallow inlet system with sandbars at the mouth of Parrot Cay Channel, which is the waterway that separates North Caicos from Parrot Cay.

The shallows and sandbars almost connect North Caicos to Parrot Cay. The ocean at Sandy Point Beach close to North Caicos is typically quite calm, as it’s sheltered from the usual eastern trade winds by tall casuarina trees.

Some boat charters and excursions from Providenciales visit the area, but it’s also possible to take a day trip to North Caicos and Middle Caicos and explore on your own.

Little Ambergris Cay 

A spectacular hidden gem in the Turks and Caicos is the nature reserve island of Little Ambergris Cay. Located adjacent to its more substantial private island counterpart of Ambergris Cay, this uninhabited island is found on the remote edge of the Caicos Banks.

Little Ambergris Cay offers crystal-clear ocean water, unrivaled and pristine sandbar systems, and amazing beaches that can go months without seeing a single visitor.

Due to Little Ambergris Cay’s isolated location, the only way to visit the cay is via private boat charter.

Long Cay 

Rarely visited, Long Cay near South Caicos is a truly beautiful location. As its name suggests, this island is very narrow and long. On its eastern side are rugged cliffs and the deep blue of the Turks Islands Passage (Columbus Passage) that separates the Turks Islands from the Caicos Islands, which is often a bit choppy. On the western side of the cay are small beaches, the shallow Caicos Banks, and some of the clearest ocean water found at any beach in the country. The vistas from the top of the ridge that runs the length of the island are some of the finest in the Turks and Caicos.

Long Cay is a protected area and part of the Admiral Cockburn Land and Sea National Park. It's also home to populations of the indigenous Turks and Caicos rock iguana. Stingrays, manta rays, eagle rays, lemon sharks, hammerhead sharks, and nurse sharks can be seen in the waters surrounding the cay.

Due to the remote location of Long Cay, tours typically don’t visit the area from Providenciales. A private charter will likely be necessary to explore Long Cay.

Bottle Creek Lagoon 

Competing with Chalk Sound National Park on Providenciales when it comes to blue water, Bottle Creek is a shallow lagoon located between North Caicos and Middle Caicos. The area typically has some of the most vibrant turquoise water hues in the Turks and Caicos.

The East Bay Islands National Park borders the northern side of the lagoon. Here, Bay Cay and East Bay Cay are home to a wide array of wildlife, from birds of many different varieties to sea life and rock iguanas.

North Bay 

North Bay Beach on Salt Cay is one of the finest beaches in the Turks and Caicos, yet rarely sees visitors. This coast offers exquisite soft white sand, clear water, seclusion, and small snorkeling reefs.

Salt Cay is a great place to stay for a few nights (day trips aren't typically possible). You'll discover a laid-back island that still retains an Old Caribbean atmosphere. There are the remnants of the sea salt industry, historical sites, interesting coastlines, and friendly donkeys.

Plandon Cay Cut Beach 

One of the most amazing views in the Turks and Caicos is found at the far northern point of South Caicos at Plandon Cay Cut, past the abandoned 1950s U.S. Coast Guard LORAN Station. On top of the bluff, a collection of channels and cays paint an image that you must see to believe. Plandon Cay, Middle Creek Cay, McCartney Cay, Big Cay, and Sand Bore Cay provide contrast against the blues, topazes, and turquoises of the lagoon.

South Caicos is home to a few luxury resorts, but it’s also possible to visit the island on a day trip from Providenciales.

Taylor Bay 

Taylor Bay Beach is a secluded and sheltered beach on Providenciales located in the Chalk Sound region of the island. The beach offers a quiet atmosphere, shallow and warm water, and very calm ocean conditions.

Taylor Bay is a great stop when exploring the Chalk Sound area of Providenciales, and adds another attraction in addition to the scenic national park and Sapodilla Bay Beach located in the region.

Fort George Cay 

Fort George Cay is a popular boating destination from Providenciales, due to a scenic system of sandbars that lead off the western side of the cay. Here, the shallows, patches of sand, and turquoise water paint an incredible picture.

When visiting the cay, ask your captain to point out the cannons. As the island’s name suggests, a small fort once stood in the area. Fort Saint George was built in the late 1700s, primarily for defense against pirates. Seven cannons can still be seen in the shallow water off the cay, including two large 32 pounders.

West Harbour Bluff 

West Harbour Bluff is known by many names, including Split Rock, Southwest Bluff, and Pirate’s Cove. Regardless of what you call it, this coastal area is exquisite and is a great place to spend an afternoon or a few hours.

West Harbour Bluff is located in the extensive Frenchman's Creek and Pigeon Pond Nature Reserve on the remote southwestern end of Providenciales. In this area, you’ll find the tallest ocean cliffs on Providenciales, a sheltered and calm beach, a small cave, historical rock inscriptions, and fascinating wildlife.

A very long and unpaved road leads out to this part of the island, but it’s easiest to visit with a guide. Several boat and jet ski tour companies offer excursions to West Harbour Bluff.

Conch Bar Caves 

As a predominantly limestone-foundation island chain, the Turks and Caicos has many Karst Process cave systems and features. This includes Conch Bar Caves (the largest dry cave system in the Lucayan Archipelago) and the Middle Caicos Ocean Hole, which may be the widest blue hole on Earth.

Conch Bar Caves is extensive, and home to several types of bats. To reduce the disturbance of wildlife and damage to the cave features, all tours are guided.

Crossing Place Trail 

The Crossing Place Trail offers some of the most impressive vistas of any coastline in the Turks and Caicos. Located on the island of Middle Caicos, this trail navigates the historical route that people used to travel on foot between Middle Caicos and North Caicos. The path leads from the settlement of Conch Bar to the Mudjin Harbour area, then to Juniper Hole, past Well Cay and Conch Cay, and finally, to North Caicos.

The Crossing Place Trail currently leads along high limestone cliffs with interspersed beaches. There’s wildlife to spot, interesting flotsam and beachcombing, the Blowing Hole feature, and much more.