Making the most of your trip to Turks and Caicos

When I first started planning our honeymoon I wanted somewhere with beautiful beaches, sunshine and of course somewhere I had never been. I didn’t want the average beach vacation honeymoon but my husband didn’t want to travel to the other side of the world to see Tahiti and Fiji quite yet. We had traveled to Hawaii before and done the caribbean all inclusives. When a friend had mentioned Turks and Caicos I had never even heard of this location (first indication it was a good idea!). I started researching and immediately fell in love. It was everything I was looking for: not a common tourist destination, close enough to home (1 layover with a total of less than 6 hours flight time), miles of world renowned beaches, and A LOT to explore. Eleven days in paradise later, tan, happy and reluctantly back in the snowy mid-west I excitedly give you tips on how to make the most out of YOUR trip to Turks and Caicos.

Rent a car, bike or scooter to explore the island. We flew to the island of Providenciales, the main island of Turks and Caicos. This is where most of the resorts and vacation homes are located and where tourism is the most prominent, particularly Grace Bay Beach.  Although we didn’t rent a car we did rent bikes

Chalk Sound

and a Vespa scooter to explore the island. The island is small, only 24 miles, so a scooter and bikes were definitely sufficient for what we wanted to do. We spent several days on secluded beaches, discovered Chalk Sound, and indulged at restaurants off the beaten path. Providenciales is a stunning island and it is definitely an adventure to see as much as you can.

Snorkel. I cannot stress this one enough. There are endless snorkel options on this island alone, not to mention on the islands we didn’t get to see. There are two reefs you can access right off shore and within walking/biking distance from Grace Bay: Smith’s Reef and Bight Reef (also known as Coral Gardens). These reefs offer an abundance of beautiful coral formations, a multitude of different colorful fish as well as several other marine animals including sting rays, eels, turtles, pufferfish and we even saw two sharks! The water is absolutely the clearest water I have ever snorkeled in and had so much life. Bight Reef is more crowded and is easier to find due to the buoys the island has stationed around the reef but absolutely a must do. Smith’s Reef is larger and more secluded. Another option for snorkeling is to do a snorkel tour with one of the island tours. We decided on Dream Caicos Tours and we are so happy we did. We explored several different reefs that were not accessible right off shore. Here we found conch, starfish, sand dollars and stunning coral formations. It was never difficult to snorkel, the water was calm and I always felt safe. 

Walk the beaches. Grace Bay Beach is a 12 mile beach of pure gorgeousness. A dreamy

Grace Bay Beach

white sand beach with the most vibrant blue-green and turquoise waters I have ever seen. I spent many hours walking this beach. It truly was one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. And then we found Taylor Bay Beach

and Sapodilla Bay Beach, two secluded beaches on the other side of the island. Here you can walk what seems like forever in crystal clear waist deep water. I felt like I had walked into a magazine of perfection. These beaches were unlike anything I had ever experienced. This was seriously paradise.

Catch a sunset. I am a sunchaser to the fullest. Sunrises, sunsets and everything in between. There is nothing that stops me in my tracks more than a sunset. Grace Bay had some definite sunsets to write home about. Several restaurants have views of the beach so even if you are dining you can still catch the magic. Hearing the waves, seeing the sky change and watching the sun goes down after a day in paradise can make any heart happy.

Take a boat to the other islands. There are so many islands in the Turks and Caicos that it is virtually impossible not to want go out and explore. There are many options to venture out to other islands: private charters, tours, ferries, and renting a boat to name a few. We decided on a tour. We were able to explore Fort George Cay, Half moon Bay, Iguana Island, and two other islands that were not named. It is a peaceful experience to explore islands where no one lives and beaches that few people walk on. We also heard wonderful things about taking the ferry to Grand Turks and Middle Turks Islands; however, we did not do those this trip.

Experience the water sports. With waters as beautiful as these it is definitely a must to play in the water! Many resorts have free use of sea kayaks, paddle boards, hobie cat sail boats, ocean trampolines, and floaties. Around the island you can easily rent jet skies, boats, and other motorized water toys. No matter the device you decide don’t forget to have fun on the water. 

There are so many ways to enjoy yourself while you are in paradise. If you are looking for an island made of turquoise dreams Turks and Caicos is the place to go. Tourism has only started recently and the island is full of endless beauty. These are just a few of the ways to make your trip a once in a lifetime experience. Venture to TCI and let me know some of your favorite adventures. Stay Wild friends.