What to Do in Turks And Caicos

For so many reasons, the popular Turks and Caicos are truly a paradise.  If you’re planning on traveling there and are having trouble with your plans, fret not faithful reader.  We’re always here for you.  Thus, without further adieu, here are the 15 best things to do in Turks and Caicos.   

1. Whale Watching On Salt Cay

The best time to visit the Turks and Caicos is between January and April.  The weather is great and it’s also the best time to charter a whale-spotting boat.  If you don’t have your sea legs you can always find a nice whale-spotting spot on one of the nearby cliffs that look out on the Turks Head passage that joins the water surrounding Hispaniola to the western Caribbean.  Either way, you’ll have a great chance to see pods of humpback whales as they head south to the Silver Banks’ warm waters.

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Relax At Grace Bay

Long-time readers have read about a lot of pristine white sand on Instagramable beaches.  Nevertheless, veteran visitors can confirm that there is something special about Grace Bay on the isle of Providenciales.  This  Caribbean beachfront on the northern shore comes complete with scintillating sandbanks and mineral blue water.  You will also find the majority of the island’s finest resorts here.  You will have your choice of luxury suites and private villas as well as noteworthy bars and restaurants.  While you’re here, see the rest of Princess Alexandra National Park too!

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Kiteboard At Long Bay Beach

Long Bay Beach is also located on Providenciales Island.  If you’re an adrenaline junkie or simply are ready to try something exciting, this is the place to be.  The crystal-clear warm water here is perfect for first-time kiteboarders.

Here you can rent everything you need to go kiteboarding.  In fact, if you want to you can even take lessons from a seasoned professional instructor.  If you’re an experienced kiteboarder all the better.  There are several great adventure packages available.  You will discover difficult swells, secluded cays, and deserted lagoons too.

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Fill Up At The Thursday Night Fish Fry

While in the Providenciales don’t forget to sample some saltwater delicacies at a Thursday Night Fish Fry at the famous T & C Fish Fry.  (Frequent flyers recommend the barbecued fish.)  Here on the silky sands of Bight Park, you’ll dine with both other travelers and the locals too.  Get a feel for the local way of life.  Don’t forget to check out the nearby market stalls and enjoy the live music courtesy of a local Junkanoo Band.  The band performs into the wee hours of the morning.  

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Play A Round At The Provo Golf Club

If you enjoy golf then you should already know the Provo Golf Club is one of the best 18-hole championship golf courses in the Caribbean.  Here you will find beautiful green fairways and bright white bunkers complete with coconut plants, pine blooms, and swaying palm trees.  There’s also herons and migrating pink flamingos, glistening water features, and tennis courts.  When the game is over, hit the Fairways Bar and Grill.  There you can sample a variety of tasty Caribbean treats and even fresh T and C fish dishes.

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Go Snorkeling Through Smith’s Reef

Veteran visitors confirm that Smith’s Reef is one of the best places for snorkeling due in part to its high underwater visibility.  Additionally, it is easily accessible from both Turtle Cove’s jetties and from the beach at Grace Bay.  Here you will discover colorful coral protruding out of the seabed and sandbanks, sponges rife with spotted sea slugs and exceptional eagle rays casting their shadows upon the seafloor.  Beware of the poisonous lionfish though and the boats too.  After all, Smith’s Reef is quite popular and thus often very busy.

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Visit Governor’s Beach

Those in the know say that Governor’s Beach is the finest beach on all of Grand Turk.  This stretch of sand is  generally calm and peaceful because the trade winds don’t quite make it to this area of the island.  It is named for the nearby mansion.  During the high season, it is a frequently-visited area thanks to the ships that dock in the harbor of quaint Cockburn Town.  Oddly, the beach itself is never really crowded.  Additionally, the beach itself is backdropped by groves of casuarinas and pines that add a touch of privacy.

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Learn Something At The Turks & Caicos National Museum

The Turks & Caicos National Museum is tucked away behind a series of red-tiled roofs and whitewashed terraces.  It is one of the top draws in the capital of the archipelago, Cockburn Town.  The building that holds the museum is called Guinep House. (The name is derived from the almost 200-year-old fruit tree out front.)  Here you can study the historic reconstructed archaeological remains of the oldest shipwreck in all the Americas, the famous Molasses Reef Wreck.  There are also exhibits on the native Lucayan people and islander culture.

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Sample Carib Cuisine At Coco Bistro

The romantic Coco Bistro is run by owner and chef Stuart Gray.  Foodies report it is now of the Turks and Caicos’ “most acclaimed fine-dining eateries.”  Gray has worked with the likes of Ken Hom and Michelle Roux and loves to use local ingredients and the freshest herbs possible.  Here you will be able to dine on fine Caribbean food with an interesting Mediterranean twist.  You’ll partake of buttered salmon, Dominican fruit ceviche, lobster tacos, scallops, shrimp satay, tomato salads, tuna, and even mahi in Thai curry sauce.  

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Tour Old Cheshire Hall

The lichen-dotted, sprawling ruins of old Cheshire Hall hold a real sense of history.  There amidst the pine trees and cacti deep within the center of popular  Providenciales, you will learn of the European slave owners who came to this place to create the plantation boom back in the 1700s.  Cheshire Hall once encompassed over 5,000 acres.  Today you can still see the old cotton presses, the dilapidated great hall, and the old slave quarters all made mainly from the local limestone.  It’s also an interesting spot for birdwatching. 

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Explore The Conch Bar Caves

The well-known Conch Bar Caves are actually carved out of the beds of limestone rock and karst hills of the Middle Caicos island.  There you will discover a veritable stunning subterranean labyrinth of underground chambers and tunnels.  Some of the tunnels are naturally lit by shafts of light that make their way down from the surface.  Others are chock full of big boulders or large stalactites.  You might see chambers that feature graffiti listing the names and dates of some of the earliest visitors or even the remains of early Lucayan tribesmen.

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Witness The Natural Beauty Of Chalk Sound

The magnificent Chalk Sound is one of the island’s most beautiful natural sites.  These geologic protrusions barely peak above the turquoise water in shocks of rugged stone and green grass.  This entire area is now an official national park.  A great way to see this place is to take the popular Chalk Sound Drive, which runs between the lagoon located on the southern shore and the warm Caribbean Sea.  Be sure to see the many different iguanas and lizards and even try your hand at kayaking or paddle-boarding if you’re so inclined.

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Explore Wild Mudjin Harbour

This windswept area of sheer cliffs is a must-see for any truly adventurous traveler.  Frequent flyers claim this property that runs a large portion of Middle Caicos Island is one of the Caribbean’s “most breathtaking natural” landscapes.  You will notice the conoid, precipitous rocks rising out of the ocean waters.  See the sandy coves where one can play smuggler or pirate and the rocky headlands with mysterious monikers such as the Dragon Formation.  Ah, and don’t forget the intimidating silhouettes of such creatures as the reef rays and sharks as well!

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Enjoy Columbus Landfall National Park

The impressive Columbus Landfall National Park spans almost the entire west coast of gorgeous Grand Turk.  It includes the specific spot where many historians believe its well-known namesake explorer first set foot here in the 1400s.  Ah, but while the history is interesting, many people prefer this place for the park’s underwater reaches.  Here you can see huge sponges, lionfish, manta rays, steep coral walls, and tropical fish too.  Some visitors even get their PADI certification here thanks to certain businesses in neighboring Cockburn Town.

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Go Bonefishing

Sports fishing and deep-sea fishing are not the most favorite options here.  Nevertheless, doing some bonefishing in the shallows is bigger than ever here.  Travelers from all across the globe enjoy this skillful method of catching fish.  They like wading into the shallows armed with little more than an improvised fishing rod and some bait hoping to fool the slippery, silky bonefish.  Those in the know suggest trying your luck along the rocky reaches of Highlands Bay, or on the rock-bound coast of Bell Sound just north of Cockburn Town.  Even if you catch nothing, the views are unforgettable.