If you’ve already explored the Bahamas, Jamaica and Puerto Rico and are looking for somewhere different to explore in the Caribbean, Turks & Caicos is perfect for your next Spring Break, Summer or holiday vacation! I would highly recommend it for both couples and families because there are a multitude of activities for adults and kiddos. It’s also a great place for a romantic getaway or just to unplug from the outside world!
Located just 550 miles off the coast of Miami, Turks & Caicos is a British Territory and consists of 40 islands, 8 of which are inhabited. The most popular island in Turks & Caicos where we visited for 9 days is the island of Providenciales, voted the #1 island in the world on Trip Advisor in 2015!
WHERE TO STAY
Known for it’s gorgeous turquoise waters and pristine beaches, Turks & Caicos is famous for Grace Bay, the main beach area where you can find a plethora of resorts, restaurants and shops. If you’re looking to stay where the action is, Grace Bay is definitely the place for you! Voted the #1 beach in the world in 2016, you can work on your tan, casually snorkel right off the beach, eat at restaurants overlooking the beach and find plenty of activities to do in the bay.
Photo from GetsReady.com
If you’re looking to live like a local in a more secluded area of the island with no tourists, I would suggest suggest booking a private house or villa on
Airbnb or
RVBO on the opposite side of the island.
We stayed in a secluded beautiful home with an infinity edge pool and private beach on for the first half of the week of our vacation.
Check out this view!
For the second half of the week, we stayed at
La Vista Azul which is walkable to Turtle Cove, a cute and casual area filled with great restaurants and water views. La Vista Azul was cozy and comfortable. I would highly recommend staying here and would definitely go back!
For more resort and hotel information on the island, check out
hotels.com to input the dates of your trip, read reviews and check availability.
You can also click
here to read reviews on top rated places to stay.
ACTIVITIES
There are a number of outdoor activities for both adults and children in Turks & Caicos.
The staff on the boat made it super easy and helped us bait our fishing lines which was nice, especially because I didnt want to be the one touching slimy fish guts. I had never been fishing before, but caught 3 fish including this grouper! They gave us some great tips and also would take the fish off the hook for you (after you take all necessary insta worthy photos and selfies of course!)
To book a fishing trip with Grand Slam Fishing Charters, click
here.
Fishing was a lot of fun, but the ultimate highlight of our trip was
Snuba diving in in Coral Gardens around
Bight Reef.
Jodi is well known on the island for her Snuba expertise and was an absolutely amazing instructor. I only had previous experience with snorkeling so was a bit intimidated at first with having to learn how to breath from an air tank, but if my 65 year old mom could do it, you can too! It was honestly one of the most amazing experiences of my life!
Unlike a typical snorkel experience, you can get up close and personal with some really cool wildlife. We saw huge green turtles, lobster, eel, a giant sting ray and tons of gorgeous tropical fish. Jodi even picked up a sea spider and shrimp under water to show us which was REALLY cool. I highly recommend this activity as a must on your trip!
To schedule snuba with Jodi, click
here.
After an afternoon of activities in Grace Bay, cool off with a tropical cocktail at
Ozmosis Bar, a beachside bar at The Palms resort. You can enjoy a full bar, daiquiris or the island’s famous Rum Punch, my personal favorite!
Photo from TrueViralNews.com
One of the best local activities to do in Provinciales is the Thursday night
Fish Fry. Unfortunately our Thursday night got rained out so we weren’t able to attend but it is highly recommended and frequented by the locals. From 5:30 to 9:30 in Bights Park, you can enjoy local food vendors, entertainment and cultural activities. This is also a great activity for kids and all ages.
For a full list of top rated activities in Provo, check
here.
WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast & Brunch
If you’re looking for a great brunch spot, I would highly recommend
Bay Bistro at the Sibonne Beach Hotel. You can enjoy delicious banana coconut pancakes or lobster Benedict while overlooking the ocean from a causal shaded patio. The food was fantastic and they have an awesome $16 brunch deal that includes a menu entree + a Bloody Mary, screwdriver or mimosa. 😉
Photo from TripAdvisor.com
If you’re staying near Turtle Cove, Green Bean Island Bistro is the perfect place to grab your morning joe and a casual bite. Their breakfast bagel sandwiches really hit the spot! We put in a to go order before heading over to the secluded beach area where Smith’s Reef is located. This is another great area to snorkel if you dont make it to Coral Gardens to check out Bights Reef or want to snorkel somewhere less crowded. Certain areas are rocky getting in the water though so make sure you bring water shoes or flippers.
Lunch & Small Bites
One of my favorite lunch spots in Turks & Caicos was
Bugalos Conch Crawl which is well known for their conch dishes. You can eat outside under the shade of palm trees with a fabulous view of the beach and listen to their live music while enjoying a frozen tropical cocktails. I would absolutely recommend their conch fritters here because they are known for having the best on the island!
Check out this gorgeous view!
Photo from TripAdvisor.com
Shark Bite was also a favorite of mine for lunch. Located in
Turtle Cove Marina, this spot has some great bar bites and fish sandwiches. Their crab cakes were AMAZING! You can casually dine outside on the patio and enjoy this great view of the marina while watching the boats go by.
Dinner
Coco Bistro is the islands most popular restaurant for dinner, but you’ll need to make a reservation about a month or two in advance. Unfortunately, we booked too late but we were able to walk next door to Cocovan which is the restaurant’s new outdoor food truck. They offer yummy lobster dishes and tacos as well as a full bar. If you dont make the cut fora reservation at Coco Bistro or want just something more causal with outdoor seating, check this place out!
Photos from Pintrest.com & Twitter.com
If you love fresh sushi,
Yoshi Sushi is the top rated sushi restaurant on the island. This was definitely one of my favorite meals on our trip. We tried some great lobster dishes including the Tempura Lobster & Lobster Fried Rice but my ultimate favorite was the volcano roll. It was honestly one of the BEST sushi dishes I’ve ever had and I LOVE my sushi! (I’m still dreaming of it by the way…)
Photo from TripAdvisor.com
Specializing in French cuisine, we enjoyed
Le Bouchon Du Village so much that we ate there twice for dinner! Their romantic outdoor ambiance sets the mood for a pleasant evening. We started with a selection of cheese and meats to pair with our wine and enjoyed their Mediterranean salad which was one of the best Ive ever had. Their menu had so many fresh seafood dishes, it was hard to choose! Their sea scallops are a must and if you’re a meat lover, their steak is absolutely delicious.
Photos from Pintrest.com & TripAdvisor.com
WHERE TO RELAX
Voted the #3 best spa in Turks & Caicos on Trip Advisor, we spent one morning at
The Palms Spa. Upon arrival, the staff were extremely attentive and gave us a tour of the locker room and meditation pool where you can relax and enjoy a variety of warm tea before and after your services. Talk about heaven on earth! My stone massage was hands down, the BEST stone massage I’ve ever had! I will definitely be back on my next vacay here.
To view the spa services offered at the Palms, click
here.
To check out other top ranted spas on the island, click
here.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
If you need more info about visiting Turks & Caicos islands, I would definitely read reviews on
Trip Advisor and I have included some other fantastic resources below.
I hope this blog post was helpful and that you enjoy your trip to Turks & Caicos!
Happy Travels!
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Where to Stay
