30 Amazing Things to Do in the Turks and Caicos

Known for being “beautiful by nature,” the Turks and Caicos Islands are some of the safest and most spectacular vacation destinations in the world, making the archipelago a wonderful place for a solo female traveler to discover. And, despite what you’ve heard, you can easily visit on a budget.

I went there on my sailboat and have some tips and ideas to help you plan a successful trip.

Things to Know Before You Go

Where are the Turks and Caicos, and what are the major islands?

The islands are located in the Caribbean, southeast of the Bahamas and near the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Cuba. I visited the two more popular islands: Providenciales and Grand Turk (more details below).

When is the best time to visit?

Most people go during the winter to get away from the cold and to avoid hurricane season (June-November), but hurricane season can be one of the best times, because the wind is calmer (except when there’s a hurricane!), the crowds are smaller, and the prices are lower. I was there in June and July and had no problems with storms.

Is it expensive?

With a little planning, you can definitely do the Turks and Caicos on a budget. I did. Your biggest expense outside of plane tickets and hotel rooms will be food. A pint of yogurt costs $15 and a loaf of bread $8. Eating out cost me, on average, $25 with gratuity. Beyond that, you can make it as affordable or expensive as you wish, choosing to hang out and snorkel on the beaches for free or go on excursions.

Do I need a passport or COVID vaccine?

All visitors need a passport. If you are a US, UK, or Canadian citizen, you do not need a visa. There are no testing or vaccine requirements for the Turks and Caicos.

Other FAQs

• English is readily spoken
• Businesses accept US dollars
• Cockburn (pronounced CO-burn) Harbour is on South Caicos, Cockburn Town is on Grand Turk

Providenciales (Provo for short)

This place is not exactly “touristy.” Instead, you’ll find high-end grocery stores, top-rated restaurants, boutique shops, chic accommodations, luxury cruise ships, and the world-famous Grace Bay Beach. In other words, it’s where the affluent go to get a break from it all.

Places to Stay

Here are some recommended places to stay on Providenciales, including studios, villas, and all-inclusive resorts:

• ($) “Island’s Eye” Queen Studio (with car) – Airbnb: This cozy rental unit is perfect for solo travelers and includes one bedroom and one bathroom. You’re a little off the beaten path, but with the complimentary car, you just can’t beat the price. The unit starts at $80/night. Book here. 

• ($$) Crescent #3 Grace Bay – Airbnb: This chic rental unit is ideal for solo travelers and includes one bedroom and one bathroom. You’re just a two-minute walk from Grace Bay Beach and right among the boutique shops, restaurants and cafés. The unit starts at $165/night. Book here. 

• ($$$) Nutmeg Cottage – villa: This one-bedroom, one-bathroom villa with a kitchen is in Turtle Cove, with easy beach access and just a short walk from the shops and restaurants; it also has an ocean view. The villa starts at $307/night. Book a room here.

• ($$$) Villa del Mar – hotel: This accommodation is about a 10-minute drive from popular attractions like reefs for snorkeling and top-rated restaurants. The concierge can arrange tours and excursions, such as horseback riding and deep-sea fishing. Rooms start at $375/night. Book here. 

Things to Do

1. Sunset cruise

I enjoyed a peaceful and rejuvenating sail aboard the Lady Grace catamaran. We sailed around Grace Bay and were served sushi and light hors d’oeuvres. There is a bar and vibey evening tunes, and the crew and captain were so professional and hospitable!

2. Day sail

There are several opportunities to get out on a day sail and even snorkel at some of the reefs! I had a blast going to a nearby island and seeing the iguanas, swimming under arches on the third largest barrier reef in the world, and gliding across the water on a luxury catamaran.

3. Shop in boutique stores

A fun thing to do, even if you’re just window shopping, is to check out all the boutique shops off of Leeward Highway. While most items are pretty expensive, I managed to find a few good deals on some swimsuits and a romper.

4. Cheshire Hall Plantation

An important site in Turks and Caicos history, the Cheshire Hall Plantation was a sisal and cotton plantation where over 5,000 slaves worked. Today you can see the ruins and learn about the islands’ past.

5. Undersea Explorer tour

A step above (or should I say “below”) glass-bottom boats, the semisubmersible will take you under the waves on a tour of the reefs. You can learn more here.

Snorkeling and Free Diving

6. Caicos Barrier Reef

The third-largest barrier reef in the world is not to be missed! The underwater structures, especially given how shallow it is, made for a really adventurous snorkel under some arches and through some trenches. We saw two kinds of sharks, a trunkfish, parrot fish, and other Caribbean species. Book a tour here.

7. Smith Reef

Smith Reef is accessible via Turtle Cove Marina and also for free from the beach. It’s one of the top snorkeling destinations in the Turks and Caicos, because it’s a large reef with thriving wildlife (you’ll probably see sea turtles and rays).

8. Bight Reef (Coral Gardens)

Tucked away on and accessible via Grace Bay Beach is a thriving little reef surrounded by buoys. You can’t swim inside the buoys because the reef is protected, but there are little signs in the water that explain what you’re looking at as you view the reef from outside the ring.

Water sports

9. Clear kayak

I loved the clear kayaks! There’s a pretty cool drone photo op from Grace Bay Beach or you can go on a mangrove tour. 

10. Parasail

The wind in Provo is absolutely amazing for getting up in the air and seeing the barrier reef from above. Book the excursion here. 

11. Jet-ski to La Famille Shipwreck

Located on the banks of the Turks and Caicos, the abandoned and famous shipwreck is a huge landmark in the archipelago. You can check it out via jet ski and even climb up onto it with a ladder.

12. Hobie Sail

These little sailboats are complementary if you are staying at an all-inclusive hotel, but if you’re not, you can rent one through the Turks and Caicos Islands Sailing Association, which even offers sailing lessons. If you don’t take the lessons, you’ll have to prove that you can flip the boat over if it capsizes. They hold races on Fridays. I had a blast flying over the water, getting soaked, and coming in second place!

13. Swim with JoJo the dolphin, a national treasure

JoJo has been a friendly dolphin ever since the wildlife advocate Dean Bernal met the bottlenose. You can swim with JoJo, who likes to hang out just off Grace Bay Beach, but do not touch or try to feed him!

14. Tube

This kind of tubing is very comfortable, because the tubes are shaped more like couches rather than donuts. Simply sit back and let the boat driver whip you around on some ocean swells and swing you around in circles.

Beaches and Parks

There are so many gorgeous beaches in Provo that you can even do a beach-hopping tour. Here are some of the best:

15. Taylor Bay Beach

This crescent-shaped beach on the southwest side of the island is pretty secluded and known for the amazing ripples in the sand at low tide. The water is quite shallow, and you can watch some spectacular sunsets here.

16. Grace Bay Beach

Voted the best beach in the world, it simply will not disappoint. I spent hours upon hours just sitting under a sun tent and watching the waves, splashing in the water, walking several miles of the 12-mile length, swimming around (there are swim areas), and watching the sunset. The beach is soft, the waves are gentle, and the water is clear and warm.

17. Leeward Beach

This is a gorgeous stretch of sandy shoreline not too far from Grace Bay Beach, and is where the Bight Reef is located. It’s very relaxing and considered one of the best beaches in all of Turks and Caicos.

18. Half Moon Bay

Do you want to see iguanas?! The beach in Half Moon Bay is home to a native but endangered species called the rock iguana. They build nests in the sand or rest in the shade of the bushes. I kept a respectable distance but found them to be super cute and friendly.

19. Sapodilla Bay Beach

This beach, about 10 miles from Grace Bay, is one of the safer ones in Provo. Because it’s a little off the beaten path, there are fewer excursion boats racing along the shoreline. The water is shallow, and there is not much current.

20. Princess Alexandra Nature Preserve

The Princess Alexandra Nature Preserve encompasses Water Cay and Rock Iguana Island, two places I found to be absolutely gorgeous. You can book a kayak eco-tour excursion through the mangroves and reefs.

21. Chalk Sound National Park

This is a natural lagoon dotted with rocky islands in crystal-clear water. You can see rock iguanas, stingrays, and lemon sharks. A fun way to get there is via ATV, while also learning about the settlements from your tour guide.

Grand Turk (the capital)

Grand Turk is the capital island of the Turks and Caicos and home to the cruise ship terminal. I found it to be very touristy, but it has some awesome diving. The water here was even more beautiful than Provo, actually. Also, be on the lookout for donkey doo-doo! There are donkeys everywhere!

Places to stay

• ($) JACKS room by the ocean – Airbnb: Perfect for a solo traveler, this charming room has a queen-sized bed, a private bathroom, a fridge, and beach access. It’s located in a great part of town. The room starts at $140/night. Book your stay here. 
• ($$) Osprey Beach Hotel: This top-rated accommodation has a spa and outdoor pool and is a short walk from some of the best beaches. Rooms start at $201/night. Book here.
• ($$$) Turks Head Inne: Just a few minutes’ walk from most of Grand Turk’s best attractions, this hotel also has an on-site restaurant and offers a round-trip shuttle to the airport (for a surcharge). Rooms start at $305. Book here. 

Things to Do

26. Visit the island’s landmarks

There are several landmarks and points of interest, like the Grand Turk Lighthouse, the North Creek Bird Watching Area, St. Mary’s Anglican Church, and Ridge Trail. You can check them out with a horseback-riding tour or a guided ATV tour, or by renting a golf cart.

27. See the National Museum and Heritage Site

This museum (admission is $5 at the door) has branches in Provo and Grand Turk. I went to the one in Grand Turk because I wanted to read about John Glenn’s Friendship 7 spacecraft, which landed in the vicinity of Grand Turk. It’s a must-see museum, even featuring information about the wreck of the Molasses Reef (the oldest wreck of a European ship in the Americas to have been scientifically excavated), not to be confused with the Molasses Reef in Key Largo.

28. Relax on a beach

There are so many beaches here that you only have to take a walk to find one. The ocean here truly sparkles, and because there’s quite a bit of sea glass, you’ll hear the chink-chink of the crystal-clear water as it ripples the glass against the sand, which is light pink.

29. Go scuba diving at Salt Cay

If you love scuba diving, check out Salt Cay, which is famous for its diving sites. Much of the Caribbean has damaged reefs, so it will be refreshing to see living coral and thriving wildlife at least 40 feet down.

30. Enjoy North Bay Beach on Salt Cay

This is a super scenic beach, and during the winter, you can possibly see humpback whales. The calm waters are just right for enjoying a little swim or nearby snorkel.

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There are so many beautiful ways to kick back and relax in this gorgeous piece of the earth! What are you most excited for?