The spectacular Grace Bay.
Providenciales is the third largest island in the Turks and Caicos and has a total landmass of approximately 37 square miles (98 km sq). The length from end to end is about 17 miles (27km), and the width ranges from 1.5 miles (2.5km) to 8 miles (12km). The 2012 Census reported a population of 23,769.
Much of the island’s development, including the tourism enclaves of
Grace Bay ,
Leeward ,
Long Bay , the
Bight and
Turtle Cove , is found in the eastern and central regions of the island.
The western half of Providenciales remains largely undeveloped, and is home to several protected areas, including the
Frenchman’s Creek and Pigeon Pond Nature Reserve , the
Northwest Point Pond Nature Reserve , and the
Chalk Sound National Park .
Providenciales does not have a distinct city center or town, as is the case with many other island destinations. The
Downtown area is the closest approximation to a city center, and although it lacks an organized layout, many
government offices, shops and businesses are found here.
The south coast of Providenciales largely consists of low limestone “ironshore ” coastline, yet inland marine wetlands and ponds (
Chalk Sound Lagoon ,
Juba Sound ,
Discovery Bay and Turtle Pond) create semi-isolated peninsulas and coastal regions, many of which have become prime locations for luxury vacation
rental villas , including
Turtle Tail ,
Chalk Sound ,
Silly Creek , and
Cooper Jack Bay .
If you’re planning to visit Providenciales and stay at a rental accommodation, see
Providenciales Vacation Villas for information on lodging locations from a visitor’s perspective.
The Three Original Settlements
A salt flat near West Harbour Bluff, Providenciales. Sea water trapped in flats quickly evaporates to salt, which was the primary industry of the country for over 250 years.
Previous to the advent of the tourism industry to Providenciales in the late 1970s, the island was only home to three small settlements:
Blue Hills ,
Five Cays , and the
Bight . These communities were supported by fishing and subsistence farming.
The vacation industry on Providenciales began at
Turtle Cove , where the construction of the Third Turtle Inn and the
Turtle Cove Marina opened the island to international tourism. It’s interesting to note that the island’s first resort wasn’t located on the world-famous
Grace Bay Beach .
Transport, Getting Around and Exploring
We have dedicated articles on
getting around Providenciales ,
driving ,
rental cars ,
taxis , and
exploring by car . To save on
vacation costs , we generally advise that tourists rent a vehicle for their stay.
There’s no organized public transport or bus service in the Turks and Caicos, although
ride-hailing services exist.
Areas and Districts Map The map below shows areas and districts on Providenciales. The colored areas shown below reflect the partitioning of Providenciales used by this site to denote the location of
accommodation ,
activities , businesses, and more throughout this website.
Locations on Providenciales
Grace Bay is located in central Providenciales and is home to the majority of tourism development in the Turks and Caicos. The world-famous Grace Bay Beach front the northern edge of this area, and many resorts, shops, and restaurants are found here.
Leeward is an upscale and largely residential region located on the northeast end of Providenciales. The beautiful Leeward Beach fronts the coast here, and the area is home to many luxurious vacation rentals, as well as the expansive Blue Haven Marina.
The Chalk Sound residential region is located on a narrow peninsula of land between the lagoon of the Chalk Sound National Park and the shallow Caicos Banks. Many beautiful homes and luxury vacation villas are found here, as well as the sheltered beaches of Sapodilla Bay and Taylor Bay.
Long Bay is a coastal residential region on the southeast of Providenciales. The area supports a low density of homes and rental villas. Long Bay Hills is the interior part of this region, and Long Bay Beach lines the south coast. The Shore Club resort is the only large accommodation at Long Bay.
Turtle Cove is a quiet residential and tourism region located on the central north coast of Providenciales. The area is home to a few resorts, Turtle Cove Marina, several restaurants and shops, and quite a few vacation rentals. The excellent snorkeling site of Smith’s Reef is situated close of the beach here.
Turtle Tail is a highly scenic coastal region on the central south of Providenciales. This peninsula is largely separated from the mainland of the island by the shallow and beautiful Flamingo Lake and Juba Sound.
Blue Hills is a local residential area and one of the three original settlements on Providenciales. A few local restaurants are located here, as well as several churches. Found to the west of central Blue Hills, the largely undeveloped Wheeland area is now often considered to be part of Blue Hills.
Found on the central north coast of the island, Blue Mountain is the highest point on Providenciales at 156 feet. Mainly a residential area, a few rental villas can be found here. A paved road leads nearly to the summit of Blue Mountain, where excellent views over Blue Hills, Downtown, and the northern barrier reef can be had.
Leeward Highway is the main motorway on Providenciales, and runs from the Downtown and airport area to the east end of the island. Many of the island’s larger stores and businesses are located along this highway.
Found between the Cooper Jack Bay and the Five Cays areas of Providenciales, Discover Bay is a mixed light industrial and residential area. Some small shops, restaurants and a school are also located here.
Downtown is located in central Providenciales and close to the airport. Several of the Government offices, the Post Office, many small restaurants and shops, and the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Center can be found here. Although one of the busiest areas on the island, building density tends to be low and sporadic.
One of the three original settlements on the Providenciales, Five Cays is found the south coast of the island. Beginning as a fishing village, this lower-income residential area is home to several small shops and restaurants.
Cooper Jack Bay is located on the central south coast of Providenciales, adjacent to the Discovery Bay and Venetian Road districts. Several scenic hills in this area offer spectacular views over the shallow and turquoise Caicos Banks.
Juba Sound is an often-overlooked area found south of Leeward Highway and adjacent to Turtle Tail and Long Bay Hills. Offering excellent views over Juba Point Salina, this area is mainly residential.
Located between the Downtown area and Blue Hills, Kew Town is a local residential area with some small shops, restaurants and businesses. It's a short distance from the airport and the Downtown area.
Thompson Cove is a quiet residential neighborhood located in central Providenciales near Blue Mountain and Blue Hills. This community is fronted by a beach, and has a canal system and a central park open space.
Babalua Beach is a centrally located beach and residential area. The coast is secluded and difficult to find, and consequently sees few visitors. Some decent snorkeling can be found here, yet it isn’t quite up to the quality of nearby Smith’s Reef. Likewise, the water and beach are nice, but are surpassed by many other beaches on Providenciales.
The remote and rugged limestone coastline of Northwest Point offers countless small coves and cliffs to explore. A great place to spend an afternoon, the interior ponds here are some of the best birdwatching spots on Providenciales. An especially impressive spot when the ocean swell is high.
South Dock is found on the southern coast of Providenciales. This industrial region is home to the primary cargo port in the Turks and Caicos. Chalk Sound, Five Cays, and Sapodilla Bay are adjacent to this coastal area.
South Dock Road is a region that connects the Downtown and airport area to Five Cays and South Dock. Much of this road and adjacent land supports industrial sites, yet the south-western section is home to residences and some accesses to the beautiful Chalk Sound lagoon.
This long and winding unpaved road follows along the Turtle Tail peninsula. A residential area with private homes and vacation villas, Venetian Road offers one of the most scenic drives on Providenciales as it weaves past low hills overlooking the Caicos Banks and the wetlands of Flamingo Lake and Juba Sound.
Beautiful and remote, Malcolm’s Road Beach offers much to explore. Due to being close to the edge of the Caicos Islands plateau and the deeper water, this beach occasionally experiences breaking surf directly off the coast, and has a bit more of a rugged appearance than the other beaches on the island. The adventurous can find great snorkeling here.
Heaving Down Rock is the far eastern side of Providenciales. This region is home to a marina, the landing point for the North Caicos Ferry, the Bird Rock hiking trail, and the Caicos Conch Farm.
Located in central Providenciales, Richmond Hills is a low density residential area. Private homes and a small school make up most of the development found here.
A small peninsula found near Chalk Sound on Providenciales, this region is home to many luxury villas. The small and winding road here that leads through the low bluffs and coastal vegetation is quite scenic.
Wheeland is a residential region on the western side of Providenciales. The area is accessed from Blue Hills and Millennium Highway, and features two separate neighborhoods: Wheeland Settlement and Millennium Heights.
