Bad Weather Activities in Turks and Caicos
The Turks and Caicos is typically blessed with exquisite sunny days and warm balmy temperatures. While it has one of the lowest average number of rainy days of any Caribbean country, there are times when the rain clouds and winds roll in. If it's a choppy day on Grace Bay Beach, consider these other activities and attractions on and around Providenciales.
Keep in mind that the weather forecast usually predicts more rain than what you'll actually experience—it's rarely raining across an entire island or for the whole day. If you're planning a water sport such as snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, diving, or paddleboarding, it’s better to look at the wind forecast, since breezy days often see choppier water conditions. Wind speeds under 15 mph (24 km/h) are best for most water activities.
Another consideration is wind direction. Like most islands, Providenciales has a windy side and a sheltered side. If the weather is sunny but Grace Bay is rough, try the south and west coast beaches, such as Sapodilla Bay, Taylor Bay, Turtle Tail Beach, and Malcolm’s Road Beach. For more ideas of where to go, see Top 10 Beaches in the Turks and Caicos and Top Things to Do.
Day Trip to Another Island
Providenciales is the main island for tourism in the Turks and Caicos. However, there are many other islands to see, all of which are quieter and less developed. Discovering the natural and historical sights on a day trip to another island is a great way to spend an overcast day.
It’s fun and easy to visit North Caicos and Middle Caicos or Grand Turk for a day. Simply reserve your ferry or flight, book a rental car, and decide which sights you want to explore.
North Caicos and Middle Caicos are generally the top choice for a day trip for several reasons: the ferry ride is short and easy to catch, both islands are connected by a road causeway, there are several car rental companies to choose from, and there’s a wide selection of beaches and attractions across the two islands.
If the weather isn't great and you’re visiting a less-populated island solely for its beaches, consider postponing your trip until weather conditions improve.
Visit Cheshire Hall Plantation
While Grand Turk, Salt Cay, and South Caicos were the centers of sea salt production in the islands, the larger and more verdant Caicos Islands (which includes Providenciales) supported a different industry—cotton planting.
In the 1700s, Loyalist Americans built expansive plantations in the Caicos Islands. At the height of the cotton industry, there were dozens of elaborate farms, with names such as Belleview, Lorimers, and St. James.
Today, only three plantation sites are open for tourism: Cheshire Hall on Providenciales, Wade’s Green on North Caicos, and Haulover on Middle Caicos. All of these sites only have ruins now, but it’s interesting to tour the grounds and see the remains of the great houses, kitchens, field walls, slave quarters, and warehouses.
The average tour of Cheshire Hall takes an hour or less.
Go Shopping
Providenciales offers a great selection of art galleries and gift shops. Many of these are centered around several plazas in the Grace Bay region.
You’ll find a plethora of unique handmade crafts and original paintings. If you’re simply looking for a great T-shirt, there are hundreds of designs to browse through.
On the culinary side of the shopping spectrum are authentic Turks and Caicos salt, locally roasted coffee, Bambarra rum, and Salt Cay candies.
If you’re looking for an authentic Turks and Caicos gift, some great ideas are the handmade jewelry and crafts that are created from local conch shells and beach sand and the exquisite fine art prints at the Brilliant Studios Gallery, located at the Saltmills Plaza in Grace Bay.
Drive Around Providenciales
There are several scenic drives you can take on Providenciales to see natural sights, pretty coasts, and extravagant island villas.
Venetian Road and Turtle Tail is a paved route that winds through marine ponds and coastal bluffs. The view from the hilltops, which you can access via several side roads, over the brilliant Caicos Banks is breathtaking.
Chalk Sound Drive is another great drive. You’ll see the vibrantly turquoise water and small islands of Chalk Sound National Park and many beautiful villas. Sapodilla Bay Beach is an easy stop to make along the drive. If you’d like to grab a bite to eat, Las Brisas on the picturesque lagoon is an ideal place.
Blue Hills Road, which fronts the oldest settlement on Providenciales, is reminiscent of some of the southern Caribbean islands. It offers coconut palms, colorful buildings, and small handmade fishing boats.
Before renting a car, read Driving in the Turks and Caicos and Providenciales Maps.
Tour the Turk's Head Brewery
If you love craft beer, the Turk’s Head Brewery tour is an interesting and tasty way to spend a rainy afternoon. The tour takes you into the heart of the microbrewery's operations before leading you back to the brewery's taproom bar.
The taproom is a great place to sample the various flavors, which include its unique and locally made brews and seasonal specials as well as beers you can only get at the brewery. Not only is the beer delicious, but the brewery's front shop is the cheapest place in the country to buy beer. The brewery is indoors—the perfect spot to hide out while it’s raining.
Explore a Museum or Exhibit
There are a handful of small museums and exhibits you can explore on a rainy day in Providenciales that highlight the culture, history, and natural features of the Turks and Caicos.
The National Museum and Heritage Site is a satellite branch of the larger Turks and Caicos National Museum on Grand Turk. It has a small yet interesting exhibit of Lucayan and nautical artifacts, as well as a botanical garden of indigenous plants, an outdoor replica of a post plantation-era home, and a Caicos Sloop.
If you've heard the Junkanoo bands at the Fish Fry or Da Conch Shack, you might want to check out the Junkanoo Museum. This small, two-room museum near the airport is full of colorful junkanoo costumes, instruments, and memorabilia. Tours are guided and feature demonstrations of different instruments and costumes.
Located in the Bight, the National Environmental Centre on Providenciales has an indoor exhibition hall with a small selection of natural and cultural displays. Entrance is free, and the centre is right by the Bight Beach—a beautiful spot to swim if the weather is clearing up.
Check Out the Smaller Attractions
The Hole in Long Bay Hills is an amazing site to visit, though you'll need to be careful around its edge. This natural feature was formed by the Karst process of dissolution, and was previously a large cave before the ceiling collapsed. If you’re interested in caves, you'll want to also visit the Conch Bar Caves, one of the largest dry cave systems in the Caribbean, on the island of Middle Caicos. Middle Caicos is also home to the Ocean Hole, the widest blue hole in the world.
Another interesting feature on Providenciales is the Sapodilla Hill rock carvings. These inscriptions can be found on a small bluff overlooking Chalk Sound, Sapodilla Bay, and South Dock. The carvings were left in large rocks and the limestone bedding by the sailors and travelers of past centuries, and include dates, ship names, and outlines of vessels and buildings. Unfortunately, vandalism and abuse have greatly diminished these historical artifacts, but there are still some to see. Be careful not to step on any of the inscriptions. It is illegal to graffiti them.
Walk a Potcake Puppy
Potcake dogs are an adorable icon of the Turks and Caicos, and a favorite tourist activity is taking a rescue puppy for a socialization walk. Potcake Place, a non-profit organization located in Saltmills Plaza, rescues stray dogs and finds them good homes.
Potcakes are a breed of friendly island dog and are common on the populated islands in the Turks and Caicos. They are friendly, loyal, mid-sized dogs that come in a range of colors, including white, tan, brown, and black.
On a first come, first served basis, tourists are given a potcake puppy to walk on Grace Bay Beach for a few hours in the morning. There’s a limited number of puppies and lineups are common, so get there early.