he Turks and Caicos
is an amazing destination for outdoor enthusiasts. This itinerary guide packs in a few more sights and activities than our
7 Night Guide for First Time Visitors, so there’s bit less relaxing on the beach.
Prior Reservations
In addition to your accommodation and flights, you may want to make some activity and dining reservations prior to arrival in the Turks and Caicos, as availability of some
boat charters,
horseback riding, and some fine dining restaurants are likely to be limited, especially during the winter to spring high season.
We advise
renting a car for the duration of your stay. On Providenciales, the rate for a compact or economy car typically come in well under $50 per day. North American drivers will primarily notice that we
drive on the left in the Turks and Caicos.
Every visitor to Providenciales should have a checklist of beaches to visit. At a minimum, we recommend
Grace Bay, the Stubb’s Point (also known as Pelican Beach or Sunset Beach) and Emerald Point (also known as Leeward Going Through) locations on
Leeward Beach,
Long Bay Beach, the
Bight Beach,
Sapodilla Bay, and
Taylor Bay.
Restaurants and Dining
If great dining is important, you’ll want to make your
restaurant checklist as well. We advise making reservations well in advance for the popular fine dining restaurants.
Fine Dining
Great gourmet restaurants include
Coco Bistro,
Caicos Café, Le Bouchon, Grace’s Cottage,
Bella Luna,
Mango Reef,
Las Brisas, Mangolia,
Bay Bistro, Via Veneto, Baci.
Casual and Lunch Dining
For casual dining, consider
Sharkbite,
Pizza Pizza,
Provence,
Da Conch Shack,
Bugaloo’s,
Ricky’s,
Chinson’s,
Fairways.
Arrival Day
It’s generally a simple and quick process to arrive at Providenciales. Budget 1-2 hours on arrival for clearing immigration and customs, picking up a rental car, and traveling to and checking into your accommodation.
Your arrival afternoon is a great time to stop by a
supermarket to pick up some groceries and supplies. If you’d like to buy alcohol,
Wine Cellar offers the widest selection, and
Turk’s Head Brewery offers the lowest prices for local beer by the case.
Graceway Gourmet and
Do It Best carry beach accessories such as umbrellas, towels, coolers, and inflatables. The
Dive Provo shop and
Blue Surf Shop sell snorkel masks, rash guards, and swim wear.
Day 1 – Explore Our Great Beaches
A great way to spend your first day in the Turks and Caicos is to simply enjoy some of our unparalleled beaches. Providenciales offers a great selection, but most will be happy simply spending most of the day at the world-famous
Grace Bay.
Consider visiting one of the
shore snorkeling sites as well. Providenciales features two snorkeling reefs that are easy to access. The
Bight Reef is the most popular site, is easy to access, and is adjacent to great beach.
Smith’s Reef is nearby, yet it is a little more difficult to find the best reefs. The central outer section at Smith’s Reef is spectacular.
Day 2 – Boat Charter to the Caicos Cays
Our top recommended activity is to take a
boat cruise or charter that visits the beautiful
cays, beaches and reefs around Providenciales.
There’s a wide variety of tour businesses and vessels to choose from, with both shared and private charters available, and most are excellent.
Some of our favorite sights and stops include the
iguana sanctuary of
Little Water Cay, the beautiful beach at
Half Moon Bay, and the secluded cays of
Water Cay,
Pine Cay, and
Fort George Cay. Most cruises stop at
snorkeling sites as well, such as the exquisite barrier reef near Leeward.
Although pricey, a
private charter is a great experience. You’ll be able to spend the day how you’d like, and avoid the crowds. See
Providenciales Boat Charters from information on selecting the right charter.
Day 3 – Day Trip to North Caicos and Middle Caicos
A great way to spend a day in the Turks and Caicos is to take a
day trip to North Caicos and Middle Caicos. These two sparsely populated islands are connected by a road causeway, and feature a wealth of natural sights and secluded beaches.
To get to North Caicos, take the small
passenger ferry from
Heaving Down Rock Marina to
Sandy Point on North Caicos, which is a fun and scenic ride itself. You’ll have to rent a car for the day on North Caicos for transport.
Top sights are the majestic
Mudjin Harbour,
Conch Bar Caves,
Bottle Creek, and miles of secluded beach. Minor yet fascinating attractions include the
Cottage Pond blue hole,
Wade’s Green Plantation, I
ndian Cave, the
Crossing Place Trail, and the several quaint
villages found across the two islands.
Day 4 – Explore Providenciales by Car
Another great way to spend a day on Providenciales is to explore a bit
by car.
The coastal residential region of
Turtle Tail on
Venetian Road offers a very scenic drive. Another interesting route is the coastal road in the old community of
Blue Hills.
The southwest coast region includes the brilliant
Chalk Sound National Park,
Sapodilla Bay Hill and
Sapodilla Bay Beach, and
Taylor Bay.
Two great restaurants are found in the
Chalk Sound and
Five Cays area.
Las Brisas overlooks the turquoise Chalk Sound Lagoon, and Bugaloo’s is found on the beach at the fishing village of Five Cay.
A perfect way to end the day is on a
sunset cruise. There are several to choose from, including private and shared sailing charters.
Day 5 – Snorkeling, Diving, or Eco-adventure
Outdoor and nature lovers should consider a day discovering our incredible marine environment. A dedicated
snorkeling safari that visits diverse reef systems is amazing, and usually stops at barrier reef sites, sheltered inshore reefs, and the majestic cliffs and unbelievable blue water of
West Caicos.
If you’d rather be above the water’s surface, try a
kayak or
stand up paddleboard adventure in the verdant mangrove wetlands of the Turks and Caicos.
Certified scuba divers should consider a
two tank dive.
Day 6 – More Beaches and Water Sports
Your final full day is perfect to fit in some of the activities that you may not have had the chance to do over the previous days.
Parasailing over Grace Bay is incredible. The quiet ruins of
Cheshire Hall Plantation offer an insight into the
Loyalist days of the Turks and Caicos.
Provo Ponies is very popular and does beach and ocean
horseback riding at the turquoise waters of
Long Bay Beach.
Departure
The queue for airline check in and security are usually a little longer for departure than what they are for arrival. We advise arriving three hours prior to flight departure during the winter and spring months, and two hours prior to departure in the summer and fall months.
Extra Activities and Ideas
If you have a little extra time or want to substitute one of the prior recommendations, explore the following. Providenciales offers some great
water sports, and you vacation in the Turks and Caicos can be the perfect time to try one out.
Freediving is a tranquil and unforgettable experience. The Turks and Caicos offers excellent
sport fishing and
bonefishing.
Salt Cay and South Caicos are also great islands to visit on a
day trip. The tiny island of Salt Cay offers a laid-back British Bermudian colonial atmosphere and great beaches. South Caicos has rugged landscapes, salinas, and old world charm.
Jet skis available as rentals by the hour or as guided tours, are quite exciting.
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