Grace Bay Beach
No trip to the island is complete without a visit to award-winning Grace Bay's soft sand, vivid turquoise water, and expansive shoreline.
Turks & Caicos Things to Do
Choosing What to Do
There's a tremendous selection of things to do for visitors of all ages on Providenciales, the most populated island in the Turks and Caicos archipelago. From diving and snorkeling the exquisite reefs to jet skiing, stand-up paddleboarding, land and ATV tours, and exploring small idyllic cays by boat charter, adventure is easy to come by in this sunny vacation destination.
Best Things to Do
Things to Do With Kids
Private Charters
Private charters are a great way to see the best of what the archipelago has to offer, whether you have a clear vision of what you want to do or want to leave the planning up to your captain.
These exclusive trips take place on a variety of vessels, including speed boats, yachts, sailboats, and catamarans, and tend to visit the quieter beaches and islands that public charters may miss, such as Dellis Cay, West Caicos, and Fort George Cay.
Fun for All Ages
Half-Day & Full-Day Boat Tours
Half-day and full-day boat tours offer the quintessential Caribbean shared cruise—music, a fun and spacious boat, stops at beautiful snorkeling reefs and heavenly beaches, and delicious rum punch and local food served onboard.
These trips are a great and cost-effective way to spend a day on the water. Most visit the popular locations of Leeward Reef, Half Moon Bay, and the Turks and Caicos rock iguana sanctuary of Little Water Cay (Iguana Island).
More Time on the Reef
Snorkeling Charters
Booking a snorkeling cruise that visits the barrier reef is one of our top recommended things to do in Turks and Caicos. There's an entire world to discover below the surface, where turtles, small reef sharks, stingrays, colorful fish, and ancient corals co-exist.
Snorkeling cruises tend to have more of an emphasis on exploring the reef than other boat tours, which combine beach visits with a snorkeling experience. Reputable tours have professional staff onboard who can provide instruction for new snorkelers.
Sunset Cruises
Turks and Caicos sunsets are truly spectacular, and one of the best places to watch them is on the ocean. Sunset cruises in Turks and Caicos depart daily, and typically include refreshments, snacks, and a two-hour sail along the coast.
These cruises can be booked privately or as a shared cruise with other guests. Around the full moon, glowworms light up certain bays and channels, a natural phenomenon for which several charters offer dedicated tours.
Go All Out
Luxury Yacht Charters
Several companies offer charter trips aboard luxury yachts, ranging from smaller day yachts to 90-foot super yachts with elegant cabins, dining rooms, and entertainment systems.
Luxury yacht charters typically offer guests a much larger range of amenities than the standard boat charter. They can include e-foils and paddleboards, private chef lunches, and a tender boat for visiting small cays. It's possible to charter a luxury yacht here for the day, for a sunset cruise, and even for multi-day trips.
Catch the Breeze
Sailing Charters
Private and public sails are offered in the Turks and Caicos aboard several vessels, from Polynesian-style catamarans to captain-built schooners.
There's nothing quite like the peace and serenity that comes with a sailing charter. These trips are a more relaxing way to explore the unique attractions off Providenciales, from Half Moon Bay and Water Cay to the quieter Dellis Cay and Fort George Cay sandbars.
Explore the Best Beaches
Relaxing on an incredible beach is one of the top things to do in Providenciales and the Turks and Caicos as a whole, as there’s an impressive number of perfect white-sand beaches across the archipelago. These spectacular coasts are complemented by some of the most vibrant turquoise and blue waters in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean—colors you need to see to believe.
Beaches of Providenciales
The Bight Beach
The Bight Beach is the most popular snorkeling beach on Providenciales, with a system of vibrant coral heads directly offshore.
Taylor Bay
Perfect for kids, Taylor Bay boasts sparkling and knee-deep turquoise water and a quiet coastline peppered with luxury villas.
Long Bay Beach
The brilliantly turquoise Long Bay Beach is a fantastic kiteboarding location (one of the best in the Caribbean).
Leeward Beach
East of Grace Bay is Leeward Beach, a sandy white coast lined by luxury villas that offers great sunset views.
Tour the Island
Air-conditioned bus tours and taxi tours provide a comfortable and interactive way of seeing the island's main land attractions (natural, historical, and culinary) in a short amount of time.
Alternatively, you can rent a car or jeep to see the sights at your own pace.
Land Activities and Water Sports
There are more than 20 different water sports you can try on your vacation, from snorkeling to tubing, jet skiing, and even Hobie Cat sailing. Many resorts include complimentary non-powered water sports equipment for guests.
If you'd rather stay on dry land, play tennis, cycle around Grace Bay, or visit the country's award-winning golf course.
Clear Kayaking
Coast alongside juvenile turtles on a glass-bottom kayak eco-tour, or take amazing social media photos with a clear kayak photoshoot.
Island Tours & Excursions
Take an island tour to learn about the history, culture, and cuisine of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
ATV Tours
Go off-roading with an ATV or buggy tour that stops at remote beaches, marine wetlands, coastal cliffs, and popular restaurants.
Walk a Potcake
Walk an adorable rescue puppy on Grace Bay Beach from The Potcake Place. Be sure to line up early, as puppies are limited!
E-Bike Rentals
Rent an electric bike and cruise through picturesque Grace Bay to visit the popular shopping plazas, cafés, and more.
Parasailing
Get a birds-eye view of the reef, turquoise water, exquisite beach, and luxury resorts of Grace Bay with a parasailing excursion.
Jet Ski Tours & Rentals
Visit floating bars, see an abandoned shipwreck in the Caicos Banks, and explore sparkling coasts and bays with a jet ski tour.
Paddleboarding
Test your balance and explore pristine shallows, wetlands, and mangroves by paddleboarding, both a great workout and a fun activity.
Semi-Submarine Tours
Glide by turtles, spot colorful corals, and glimpse amazing sea creatures without getting wet on a semi-submarine tour of the bay reefs.
Horseback Riding
Ride horseback on white sandy beaches and into brilliant blue shallows on a private or shared beach horseback riding tour.
E-Foiling
Test out this calm-water version of surfing. E-foiling is fairly easy to learn, and is a thrilling way to explore the ocean.
Jeep and 4x4 Rentals
Rent a Jeep or 4x4 to explore roads less taken, scenic cliffs and vistas, amazing beaches, and stunning national parks.
Reef & Bottom Fishing
Try your hand at bottom fishing, where you can catch snapper, grouper, bar jacks, and other reef-dwelling species close to shore.
Sport Fishing
Fight game fish like mahi-mahi, wahoo, tuna, kingfish, and marlin on a deep-sea fishing charter off the Caicos Banks.
Golfing
Play a round of golf at the Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club, named among the top 10 golf courses in the Caribbean.
Underwater Adventures
Snorkeling on Providenciales
A vibrant and complex barrier reef system surrounds much of the Turks and Caicos Islands. This network supports distinct spur and groove reef formations, coral arches, sand chutes that create an intricate habitat for marine life. While snorkeling cruises tend to visit some of these deeper and more lush coral reefs, Providenciales is home to several shore snorkeling sites which offer beautiful reef and marine animal sightings just a short distance offshore.
Discover Snorkeling
Right Offshore
The Bight Reef
The Bight Reef (Coral Gardens) is the most popular shore snorkeling location in the Turks and Caicos and starts about 30 feet (9 m) off the Bight Beach. Parrotfish, Nassau grouper, porcupinefish, Caribbean spiny lobster, stingrays, and the odd nurse shark are possible sightings.
This reef is the best place for beginner snorkelers to try shore snorkeling, as it has a relatively shallow depth of between 5 and 20 feet (1.5 to 6 m) throughout.
Smith's Reef
Smith's Reef is a great place for spotting green turtles, southern stingrays, eagle rays, and the occasional hawksbill turtle. This beautiful snorkeling location includes several distinct reef systems that you can swim to from shore.
Smith's Reef is located near Turtle Cove, about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from Grace Bay. A little more remote than the Bight Reef, this site is best for moderate to advanced snorkelers.
Go Fishing
Providenciales is a great vacation destination for saltwater sport and recreational fishing, with prime conditions for deep-sea fishing less than 15 minutes from the dock. Numerous private fishing charters offer the opportunity to reel in reef and game fish on vessels ranging from large and luxurious sport fishing boats to smaller wahoo boats.
Some tours also allow you to try diving for Queen conch and Caribbean spiny lobster, the staple seafoods of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Turks and Caicos Fishing Charters
Bonefishing
The island's extensive inland and coastal marine flats provide the perfect environment for catching bonefish, permit, and barracuda.
Reef and Bottom Fishing
You can catch barracuda, snapper, jacks, and more on bottom fishing charters, which are great for anglers of all ages and skill levels.
Deep Sea Fishing
For big game fish, like wahoo, mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna, and sailfish, try deep-sea fishing off the Caicos Banks.
Scuba Diving
Turks and Caicos has always had a great reputation for scuba diving. You can find some of the best wall diving in the tropical Atlantic Ocean here, where the depth at many sites drops abruptly from around 50 feet (15 m) on the barrier reef to as deep as 7,000 feet (2,100 m).
A few companies also run scuba diving liveaboards, which allow you to spend several days diving remote reefs while living on a dedicated diving yacht.
Try an Island Day Trip
Providenciales is one of eight major islands that, along with over 40 cays, make up the Turks and Caicos archipelago. Several other major islands are easily accessible by ferry or domestic flight for a day trip. Each island offers its own unique attractions and features, from historical oceanfront towns to towering limestone cliffs.
Top Day Trips
North and Middle Caicos
Easily accessible from Providenciales, North and Middle Caicos are connected by road and offer miles of unique landscapes to explore.
Grand Turk
Once the center of government, Grand Turk is home to the colonial capital of Cockburn Town and the country's national museum.
South Caicos
South Caicos excels as a destination for wild and scenic landscapes, with phenomenal kayaking locations and windswept beaches.
Once the Sun Goes Down
Nightlife
Providenciales has a smaller nightlife scene than many other Caribbean vacation destinations, but it's possible to find several casinos as well as restaurants, bars, and lounges that feature live music, beach bonfires and BBQs, cultural events, and local DJ shows.
The island is also home to a few floating bars, though these are usually only open during the day. Throughout the year, special events like the Maskanoo festival at Christmas and weekly Thursday night Fish Fry supplement the typical nightlife happenings.
Events Calendar Turks and Caicos Nightlife
See the Sights
National Parks and Attractions
There's a fair amount to see on land on Providenciales, especially if you choose to rent a car or jeep. One of the top landscapes is Chalk Sound National Park, a largely landlocked lagoon with electric turquoise water and hundreds of small islands. Cheshire Hall, a 1700s-era Loyalist cotton plantation, is the island's main historical site.
Providenciales is also home to one of the archipelago's few established hiking trails—Bird Rock Trail. Located at the island's southeastern point, it weaves through tropical forest, coastal wetland, and a marsh that's great for birdwatching.
Natural and Historical Attractions