Grace Bay Beach
No trip to Providenciales 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 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, 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 on Providenciales, a natural phenomenon for which several charters offer dedicated tours.
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.
Walk a Potcake
Potcakes are the local breed of island dog in the Turks and Caicos. As cute as they are friendly, these animals charm many tourists who choose to adopt them and take them home.
Local rescue charity the Potcake Place has about a dozen puppies at any given time that you can sign up to walk on Grace Bay Beach during your vacation. Be sure to line up early—spots book up quickly.
Land Activities and Water Sports
There are more than 20 different water sports you can try on your vacation to Providenciales, 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, you can play tennis, cycle around Grace Bay, or visit the country's award-winning golf course in Leeward.
Paddleboarding
Test your balance and explore pristine shallows, wetlands, and mangroves by paddleboarding, both a great workout and a fun activity.
Parasailing
Get a birds-eye view of the reef, turquoise water, exquisite beach, and luxury resorts of Grace Bay with a parasailing excursion.
Clear Kayaking
Coast alongside juvenile turtles on a glass-bottom kayak eco-tour, or take amazing social media photos with a clear kayak photoshoot.
E-Biking
Rent an electric bike and cruise through picturesque Grace Bay to visit the popular shopping plazas, cafés, and more.
Jet Ski Tours and Rentals
Visit floating bars, see an abandoned shipwreck in the Caicos Banks, and explore sparkling coasts and bays with a jet ski tour.
ATV Tours
Go off-roading on Providenciales with an ATV or buggy tour that stops at remote beaches, marine wetlands, coastal cliffs, and popular restaurants.
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 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.
Snorkeling
Right Offshore
The Bight Reef
The Bight Reef is the most popular shore snorkeling location in the Turks and Caicos islands, and starts about 30 feet (9 m) off the beautiful Bight Beach. It consists of a protected conservation area surrounded by buoys, around which you can snorkel and spot parrotfish, Nassau grouper, porcupinefish, Caribbean spiny lobster, stingrays, and the odd nurse shark.
This reef is the best place for beginner snorkelers to try shore snorkeling, given 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 brown 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.
Fishing
Diving for Conch and Lobster
Bonefishing
The island's extensive inland and coastal marine flats provide the perfect environment for catching bonefish, tarpon, 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 and more than 40 cays that 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.
Day Trip Guide
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.
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 in the country 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, and offers a glimpse into life on the archipelago 250 years ago.
Providenciales is also home to one of the few established hiking trails in the archipelago—Bird Rock Trail. Located at the eastern point of Providenciales, this site weaves through tropical forest, coastal wetland, and a marsh that's great for birdwatching.
Natural and Historical Attractions
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, culture events, and local DJ shows.
Providenciales is also home to a few floating bars, though these are usually only open during the day. Throughout the year, special events like the island's Maskanoo festival at Christmas and the weekly Thursday night Fish Fry supplement the typical nightlife happenings.
Events Calendar Turks and Caicos Nightlife