Turks and Caicos Land Sports & Activities
Discover Incredible Wilderness and Wildlife!
As a tropical island destination, the sports and activities to do on land in the Turks and Caicos are a bit more limited compared to the plethora of things to do on and in the ocean.
Similar to the situation with water sports, most land tour and excursion businesses are located on either the islands of Providenciales or Grand Turk.
Hiking, Birdwatching, and Nature
If spending time in the great outdoors sounds like a great vacation, our archipelago is the perfect destination.
The Turks and Caicos has countless amazing coastal hiking locations, however, dedicated trails are lacking. North Caicos and Middle Caicos offer the top hikes, yet the rugged and wild coasts of Providenciales, South Caicos, and Salt Cay don’t lag far behind.
The Crossing Place Trail on Middle Caicos is the longest (and many would consider the most scenic as well) established trail, and follows the traditional route that led to North Caicos. There’s plenty to see, including the highest cliffs in the country, beautiful wetlands, Karst cave features, and beaches with long-traveled flotsam.
All of the main islands in the Turks and Caicos offer secluded and desolate beaches to walk and explore, and each offers a unique atmosphere and experience.
You’ll never know what you may find when beachcombing. There are seashells, interesting bottles, sea glass, and fishing net floats of every age and origin.
Experiencing a spectacular sunset is a perfect ending to the day. Each of our islands has a great spot to watch the sunset, and possibly even glimpse the elusive green flash. See Turks and Caicos Sun for information on sunrise and sunset times.
Birdwatching is another great nature activity. Saline ponds and mangrove channels are common throughout the Turks and Caicos. Inside these beautiful environments are an impressive array of wildlife. Great blue herons, yellow-crowned night herons, tricolored herons, green herons, reddish egrets, snowy egrets, great egrets, cattle egrets, grebes, and flamingos are common in the wetlands and ponds, and on the coasts, there are oyster-catchers, kingfishers, ospreys, sanderlings, terns, stilts, and more. If you’re lucky, you may spot one of our rarer species, such as the West Indian whistling duck, peregrine falcon, rosette spoonbill, or frigatebird. There are over 200 species sighted in the Turks and Caicos.
Outdoor photographers will find endless subjects on land and in the water. If you’re looking to photograph a critically endangered animal in its natural environment, it doesn’t get much easier than a visit to Little Water Cay to shoot the friendly and approachable Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana!
If travel and cultural photography is more appealing, there are many great locations throughout the Turks and Caicos. Blue Hills and Five Cays on Providenciales offer beachfront communities with abundant color and a Caribbean atmosphere. Kew and Bottle Creek on North Caicos support down-to-earth settlements with tropical small-scale agriculture. Balfour Town on Salt Cay and Cockburn Town on Grand Turk have a rich British-Bermudian colonial heritage. The fishing village of Cockburn Harbour on South Caicos doesn’t see much tourism, and consequently exhibits an atmosphere of a bygone Caribbean.
Horseback Riding
Horseback riding is offered both on Providenciales and Grand Turk. Tours take place in very scenic settings, and all tour businesses will typically include beach rides and wading in the crystal-clear ocean for those who wish to. On Providenciales, rides take place on Long Bay Beach and the Bight Beach. On Grand Turk, the typical location is East Side Beach near the Grand Turk Lighthouse.
The average Turks and Caicos pony is a little smaller than those found at the stables in many other countries, yet is hardy and sure-footed.
Golf and Tennis
Providenciales is home to the top-rated Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club, featuring a course designed by Karl Litten. This expertly-maintained 18-hole course offers interesting limestone features and ponds teeming with birdlife. The club also has driving nets, chipping and putting areas, as well as tennis courts.
Many resorts, hotels, and luxury rental villas feature tennis courts, and lessons by professional instructors are available for those looking to learn.
ATV and Off-Road Tours
For visitors wanting a bit more excitement, guided ATV and buggy tours are offered on Providenciales and Grand Turk.
Another way to discover the wild side of the Turks and Caicos is to take a day trip to North and Middle Caicos, rent a 4x4, and explore the back roads and lesser-traveled trails.
All-Inclusive Resort Activities
There are several all-inclusive resorts in the Turks and Caicos, and in addition to the boat excursions, snorkeling, and complimentary use of non-powered water sports equipment, there are also land sports to choose from.
The largest all-inclusive in the country is Beaches, a family-oriented complex that features a water park and 19 restaurants. There’s tennis, volleyball, basketball, soccer, giant chess, and gaming arcades, as well as the water activities.
Club Med Turkoise is an adult-only all-inclusive hotel on Grace Bay Beach with active fitness programs, tennis, trapeze, and a sports field.
The luxury Amanyara Resort is found on the remote west coast of Providenciales and adjacent to the Northwest Point Marine National Park and the Frenchman’s Creek Nature Reserve. As this accommodation is flanked by pristine tropical wilderness, it’s no wonder that many of the attractions here center on the environment. Discover the nature trails, reefs, and limestone ironshore coastlines.