Unique Turks & Caicos Experiences

If you’re looking for a unique thing to do in these islands, there’s no shortage of activities to choose from. The Turks and Caicos is made up of scores of uninhabited islands and cays and surrounded by a mesmerizing underwater world.

There are beautiful night skies perfect for stargazing, enormous coral walls that fascinate scuba divers, and idyllic beaches where you can ride horses right into the water.

You can meet many of its animals, both on land and at sea, just as nature intended—right in their natural habitat. Some are only found in this small archipelago.

The country’s crystal-clear turquoise water is one of its most defining characteristics, and naturally, many of its top activities revolve round the ocean. Here are a few unique experiences to consider for your vacation.

Stargazing

Come nightfall, there’s a beautiful night sky to see in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Planets, constellations, and the Milky Way are visible to the naked eye here on clear nights. There are no designated dark sky reserves, though exceptional stargazing can be found on several islands (like Middle Caicos, East Caicos, and Ambergris Cay) that have very limited development and low light pollution.

Stargazing is a free activity you can do just about anywhere in the country (even in Grace Bay). Some tour companies offer nighttime cruises where you can see great stars.

Glowworms

The Bermuda fireworm (Odontosyllis enopla) or glowworm, is a bioluminescent marine worm found in the country’s surrounding ocean (and few other places globally). These glowworms light up the ocean shortly after sunset for several days following the full moon, emitting a brilliant green glow as they mate. Nighttime glowworm cruises allow you to observe this magnificent display by boat.

This phenomenon occurs during a narrow monthly window, so glowworm tours are only offered three days per month. They’re also a nice way to take in the sunset and do a little stargazing.

The Caicos Cays

One of the most unique geographic features of the Turks and Caicos is how closely its islands are clustered together. From Providenciales, it’s possible to explore many small uninhabited cays in a single day, including Little Water Cay (Iguana Island), Water Cay, Fort George Cay, and Dellis Cay.

These cays offer pristine beaches and crystal-clear water. Several are home to friendly Turks and Caicos rock iguanas (an endangered reptile found only in these islands).

Most half-day boat tours combine a visit to one or more cays with snorkeling and lunch. A private charter is the best way to experience them all in a single day.

Ocean Horseback Riding

With ocean water that is the envy of the world, Turks and Caicos is one of the best places to go horseback riding in the ocean. Most rides happen on Long Bay Beach, one of the country's prettiest coasts.

Rides start on a white-sand beach, then end with a dip in knee-high (for the rider) ocean water.

Horseback riding expertise isn't required for this activity, as the local stables (almost all are located on Providenciales) welcome all skill levels. Due to its popularity, excursions often book out weeks in advance.

Bonefishing

The bonefishing here is world-class, not only because of the catch (bonefish, barracuda, and the occasional tarpon or permit) but because of the flats themselves. Many of the best locations see very few visitors, yet are still relatively easy to access.

The best bonefishing is on North Caicos and Middle Caicos, two large and sparsely populated islands that are easy to visit on a day trip. Beautiful flats with crystal-clear water go on on for miles here.

Groups are typically small (often just 2–4 guests). A unique aspect of this type of fishing is getting to learn from guides who've fished these waters for generations.

Wild Dolphin Encounters

While encounters are never guaranteed, the abundance of wild dolphins in Turks and Caicos that have taken an interest in humans makes it a likely place for a wild dolphin encounter. The most famous local dolphin is JoJo, a wild bottlenose dolphin that has been swimming near humans and boats since the mid-1980s.

Dolphins are often seen on the southern Caicos Banks side of Providenciales and the northern side of the Caicos Cays. Sometimes, they approach swimmers, divers, and snorkelers in the water. More commonly, you can see them jumping in the wake produced by speed boats or swimming near vessels.

There are no dedicated dolphin-watching tours, but some companies have better luck with dolphins—who memorize the sound of boats they like—than others.

Whale Watching

Turks and Caicos is one of the few places where you can see humpback whales in perfectly clear turquoise water. Whale watching is done between January and April, when humpbacks migrate to the archipelago to breed and give birth—in fact, some of the youngest whales are just a few days old when lucky visitors see them frolicking in the waves.

Under the right conditions, some tour operators allow you to snorkel at a respectful distance from the whales.

The greatest concentrations of whales are found around Grand Turk and Salt Cay, though whale watching is also offered on South Caicos and Providenciales.

Gibbs Cay's Stingrays

This small island is best known for the many resident southern brown stingrays that inhabit its waters. Gibbs Cay's wild rays shimmy along the sea floor just a few feet from the cay's shoreline, and have become fairly accustomed to humans over the years. It's common to see more than a dozen in waist-deep water when swimming or snorkeling off the cay.

All of the stingrays here are wild and free to come and go as they please, and the cay tends to see fewer crowds than similar Caribbean destinations with large stingray populations.

Private and shared tours are offered to this cay from Grand Turk (some depart right from the Grand Turk Cruise Center).