Often found by the top of Best Beaches lists, Grace Bay Beach stretches for nearly 20 kilometers across the scenic coast of the island of Providenciales. While the powder white sands are a protected part of a national park, there are still a handful of hotels, restaurants, and bars. The shallows of its turquoise waters stretch out far from the shoreline, making it great for swimming offshore without it ever getting too deep. The waters are also wonderful for paddleboarding, windsurfing, kayaking, or some more high-octane action like waterskiing and jet skiing. It’s also a popular point for setting off for some scuba diving out in deeper waters. Some amazing snorkeling lies just to the west at Bright Reef, walkable from Grace Bay, and at nearby Smith’s Reef.
Another top spot for snorkeling, Governor’s Beach on Grand Turk’s southwestern coast can get quite busy when cruise ships are in port, as the beach is close to the docks. But on non-cruise days you can expect tranquility and amazing views, which include the grand house of the island’s governor and perhaps a flamingo or two. The spot is particularly enticing at sunset when the phenomenon of the “green flash,” with the sun shifting from a fiery orange to a blue-green hue just as it goes down.
To get far from cruisers who descend on the more-centrally located beaches, Salt Cay offers a secluded escape. The smallest of the inhabited islands in Turks and Caicos, Salt Cay lies 80 miles off the coast of Provo and is best reached via commercial airline, though there is some sporadic ferry service to Grand Turk. Those who make the journey are rewarded with pristine beaches, amazing snorkeling, diving, and even whale watching if you visit as migratory humpback whales pass between December and April. There’s also some great exploration on land, as the island has been a center of salt production for centuries, with remnants of the gates, channels, and salina walls still intact. You can also find buildings that go back centuries, such as the Brown House and Halfway House.
Set along the southern coast of Providenciales, Taylor Bay is a swimmer’s paradise as there are literally hundreds of yards of shallows in crystalline turquoise waters. It’s also great for kids as there are expansive runs of knee-deep water. And it’s almost certain you’ll spot starfish in the high-visibility bay. With powder-white sands along a crescent-shaped shore, your Instagram feed will never be the same after a visit. Getting there isn’t the easiest, as you’ll have to drive and there are some twists and turns that make getting exact directions beforehand advisable. But the limited accessibility means more seclusion and there’s a chance you can have this idyllic haven (almost) to yourself.
Dating to the late 1700s, the Cheshire Hall Plantation was once a massive cotton-producing operation, covering thousands of acres. Today you can discover the limestone remnants of its Great House, along with a dozen or so lesser buildings that now stand in ruins. Stroll a stone-lined path to see what’s left of the ancient cotton press, cistern, and kitchen, as well as a reproduction of a slave cabin, as enslaved labor is a major part of the island’s dark history. Thirty-minute guided tours give in-depth detail about the centuries of slavery that are not often spoken of in the modern-day Turks and Caicos.
If you’re looking to swim with stingrays, Gibbs Cay is your spot. A quick boat trip from Grand Turk is popular for daytrippers looking to interact with the marine creatures, who have been regularly fed and spent time around people in the shallows just off shore. But Gibbs offers more than stingrays, as it’s a great spot to go snorkeling along coral reefs that teem with tropical fish including parrotfish, butterflyfish, wrasses, and bar jacks. Landlubbers can hike around the hills of the uninhabited isle to take in stunning views across the sea, or just settle down on pristine sands and enjoy the isle along the waterline.
Set off along a historic route that follows the coast to connect the people who have lived in the North Caicos and Middle Caicos for centuries. Along the way, you’ll pass Mudjin Harbour, with a three-mile-long beach and dramatic limestone cliffs that are pocked by beach caves, and Norbellis Coves, with small beaches that just cry out for some beachcombing. Be on the lookout for the Blowing Hole, with a narrow pass under cliffs connecting a small body of water to the ocean. All along the trail, you’ll find a feast for the eyes, with stunning cliffs, scenic beaches, and verdant hillsides that seem lifted from a painting.
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