Dreaming of warm, turquoise water; miles of powdery white sand; and fabulous beach resorts? Turks and Caicos, a cluster of tropical islands in the Caribbean, delivers the perfect beach vacation. Arguably, the best beach in Turks and Caicos is beautiful Grace Bay on the island of Providenciales, better known as Provo. Twelve uninterrupted miles of pristine beach, dotted with tasteful beach resorts await you at Grace Bay.
Turks and Caicos: Grace Bay Beach Activities
Most visitors to Turks and Caicos spend their days lounging on this spectacular beach. It's a quiet, relaxing place with no noisy Sea-Doos and pesky beach vendors. Swimming is easy in the warm, calm water and there are no rocks, sea grass, or debris; just a velvety smooth sand bottom. Nothing beats walking on a portion of Grace Bay's 12 mile stretch of sugary sand. Best of all, if you stroll beyond the main resort strip, you'll have the place to yourself.
There's some good snorkeling areas located right off the beach at the Coral Gardens Resort. For certified scuba divers, Turks and Caicos offers world class diving and it's easy to arrange excursions at most of the beach resorts. Two reputable dive operators are Provo Turtle Divers and Flamingo Divers. Additional activities such as sailing, parasailing, kite-surfing,and paddle-boarding are also available at Grace Bay.
Turks and Caicos: Grace Bay Beach Resorts
The beaches of the Turks and Caicos tend to attract a high-end clientele. So, if you can splurge, there are some luxurious options such as The Tuscany or The Villa Renaissance. At a slightly lower price, The Royal West Indies Resort and The Sands are both great places. The Sibonne, an older property on a glorious stretch of beach, advertises the least expensive rooms on Grace Bay.
For families with young children, Beaches Turks and Caicos offers a multitude of activities and child-minding services. For large groups or families, rental houses are usually the best value compared to the beach resorts. A good example is the Aquamarine Beach House. When considering a rental house, it is worth checking Vacation Rental by Owners (VRBO) who represent some lovely properties as well as privately owned suites located within many of the Grace Bay beach resorts.
Turks and Caicos: When to Go
Turks and Caicos is blessed with a dry, sunny climate with average temperatures of 25C / 77F in winter and 32C / 90F in summer. Gentle trade winds make even the hottest days bearable. The little rain that Turks and Caicos receives falls mostly in the summer months, but there are plenty of sunny days as well.
High season in Turks and Caicos is from December through April. For those wishing to visit during Christmas, Spring Break, or Easter, make sure you book well in advance and expect to pay a premium. For better deals and flexibility, consider visiting from May through November.
Turks and Caicos: How to Get There / Getting Around
Turks and Caicos is easy to get to with many direct flights from major U.S. cities. Canadians can fly directly to Turks and Caicos from Toronto several times a week on West Jet and Air Canada. The Turks and Caicos International Airport, located in Provo, is a short 15 minute cab ride from the Grace Bay Beach resorts.
Taxis are generally quite expensive, so many people tend to rent a car if they want to explore more of the island. However, if you plan to just "hang-out" at the beach, simply select a centrally located Grace Bay resort, to avoid this extra expense. Walking, even after dark, is quite safe around Grace Bay and there are many restaurants and shops conveniently located in and around Regent Village.
Turks and Caicos: Useful Visitor Information
There are many good websites about the Turks and Caicos. One of my favorites is www.wherewhenhow.com . It offers an excellent set of maps including a detailed map of Grace Bay with highlights such as hotels, restaurants, and shopping.
Find our for yourself why Turks and Caicos was voted TripAdvisor's #1 beach destination in the world.
Caroline Helbig - Passionate about travel, outdoor adventure, and health and fitness, her work has appeared in numerous print and on-line publications.
Join the Conversation