I’m SO excited to share this Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Travel Guide. At the end of June 2019, Geoff and I jetted off to Providenciales, Turks & Caicos. We had both been under quite a bit of work stress and decided that a summer getaway was much needed! We are total beach people – to us that’s what is relaxing so that’s why you tend to see beach vacations on the blog! Not to mention, it’s so cold in New England for a large majority of the year that we like to spend our precious PTO in warm weather whenever possible.
We were first attracted to Providenciales, Turks & Caicos because of the affordable airfare from Boston. It wasn’t a non-stop flight, but with how affordable it was, we decided we could more than handle a short layover at JFK in New York. Second – we love a beach vacation. We’ve been to the US Virgin Islands many times (see posts here, here, and here) and wanted to see what the rest of the Caribbean had in store for us!
I highly recommend a trip to Providenciales, Turks & Caicos. I’m sharing where to stay, where to eat, and the best things to do on Turks and Caicos!
Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Travel Guide
At Water Cay – nearby island to Providenciales!
Getting to Providenciales, Turks & Caicos
Providenciales, also referred to as “Provo,” is considered the main island of Turks and Caicos, although there are about 40 small islands and cays that make up Turks and Caicos. Most people consider Providenciales, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, East Caicos, and Grand Turk to be the main islands that make up Turks and Caicos (Grand Turk is where the cruise ships typically go).
Getting to Turks & Caicos was very easy from Boston. We almost always fly JetBlue whenever possible since Geoff has Mosaic status and we did on this trip as well. We couldn’t find a direct flight so we had a two-hour layover at JFK in New York. The flight was very affordable which was one of the reasons we decided on Turks & Caicos to begin with.
At Water Cay – nearby island to Providenciales!
AND – If you haven’t already signed up for emails with Scott’s Cheap Flights, I recommend doing so. I initially saw the flight because of an email I received from them! Everything was very smooth getting there – we flew right into the Providenciales airport (PLS).
Once you arrive in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, you go through customs. The line was quite long – this probably took us about an hour so just keep that in mind. After getting through customs you can grab your bag and then wait in another much shorter line this time. After this, we went outside and waited for a van shuttle to take us to get our rental car (we rented through Avis) which is a 2-3 minute drive from the airport.
Waiting for the rental car took about an hour because there were only a couple people working. I recommend going into it knowing that it could take a while. I don’t know if this is the norm or if it just took us a bit longer on this day because they seemed short staffed. Also as a heads up, we visited at the end of June which is considered the off-season. During the winter months, I would assume this would take even longer since more people are visiting.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at Oasis at Grace Bay and were so happy with that decision. Everyone was super friendly, the grounds were gorgeous, and everything was super clean. When you arrive, they even have a cold, lemon scented washcloth waiting for you. It’s the little things! We originally booked the Luxury King Room but decided that we would probably want to keep breakfast items and drinks in the room, so we ended up canceling and then booking the Luxury One Bedroom Suite which had a full kitchen. I was so happy we went this route and it’s what I recommend.
What We Loved About the Oasis at Grace Bay (in the Luxury One Bedroom Suite):
- Full kitchen
Gas stove, microwave, dishwasher, full sized refrigerator - Washer & dryer
It was so nice to have the luxury of washing bathing suits or anything that got dirty that we wanted to wear again during the trip. Laundry detergent was also included which was a nice surprise. Travel hack: If I stay at a place that has a washer and dryer in the room, I wash all of my clothes before returning so I have virtually no clothes to wash when I get home! 🙌🏻
The walkway waking up to the Oasis at Grace Bay beach area - 5 minute walk to the beach
The Oasis at Grace Bay isn’t directly on the beach, but is directly across the street from famous Grace Bay beach. We opted to walk most days as it was less than a 5 minute walk, but the hotel also has a golf cart and can drop you off at the beach/pick you up at the beach if you’d like. The resorts on the beach are quite expensive, plus, they’re just that- all resorts. We do love resorts, but we usually prefer a boutique hotel experience. The fact that it was only across the street from the beach (if that) was great in our eyes! - Chairs/umbrellas at the beach
Oasis at Grace Bay has an entire section of the beach with chairs/umbrellas that are strictly for guests (like most, if not all hotels on Grace Bay have on the beach). We never had trouble getting chairs/umbrellas. I have to say, it felt so luxe! I’m normally used to either having my towel in the sand or lugging a not-so-comfy beach chair, so I loved this! During peak season, the chairs may full up – I can’t 100% say. If you go during peak season, I would suggest going in the morning for the first couple days to scope it out!
- Nespresso machine
Our room had a Nespresso machine which was a really nice perk. We have one at home so being able to continue the addiction on vacation was so nice (if you have one then you get it 😂). Housekeeping replenished the espresso pods every time they cleaned the room which was so awesome. 👏🏻 - Rain shower & large bathroom
Enough said. I love me a rain shower and this one did not disappoint. - Free bicycle rentals
It was so nice to have bikes available (and bike locks) to venture out and experience the island from a different perspective. We did almost crash one day because the bike chains fell off 😂but it was fun! If you can, grab the newer looking bikes of the bunch and you shouldn’t have this issue!
- Two pools
I loved that there were two pools on the grounds of Oasis at Grace Bay to choose from. One is smaller and an oval shaped, while the other is larger and rectangular shaped. We hung out at the larger, rectangular shaped pool the most because we found it to be quieter and offered more privacy, and just felt a bit nicer than the other pool!
What We Missed:
- No Breakfast
There is no food served at Oasis at Grace Bay. We missed having even just a small continental breakfast available because we’d wake up hungry and either have to make our own breakfast or go somewhere (we found that the island of Providenciales was lacking in breakfast/brunch places a bit, however, most, if not all of the resorts offer breakfast).I’m so happy we opted for the Luxury One Bedroom Suite so that we could keep food in the fridge and make breakfast for the week. We kept eggs, bread, and fruit in the fridge and typically made avocado toast with eggs and fruit. - Depending on the location of your room, you may have more/less privacy. Our balcony overlooked the front desk which was a little bit awkward at times because we felt like we didn’t have a ton of privacy at times sitting on our balcony, but definitely not a deal breaker! At one time, a guy that worked there yelled up to say hi to Geoff and I which was funny/awkward when you’re in a bathrobe and don’t feel like being seen. 😂Again, by no means a deal breaker. We loved staying here, however, some of the rooms have more privacy than others depending on their location. I recommend requesting a room with a balcony if you’re able to!
Where We Ate
We had some great meals on Providenciales, Turks & Caicos! However… if you choose a destination based on the food/restaurants, there are other places in the Caribbean that have a better food scene (in my opinion). I hate comparing destinations because it’s truly hard to compare when places are so different but since you guys will probably ask me to compare the two, my personal experience is that the food on St. John, USVI is a bit better.
Food and drinks are very expensive on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. We had read reviews and knew this before visiting, but thought to ourselves, “We’re from Boston. Everything is expensive here so I’m sure it’s similar.” Nope. It was on another level of $$$$. A 24 pack of Corona was $69.99. I’m assuming because it’s an island and technically British it makes the import tax high, but I could be wrong. Again, I don’t want to seem negative because it was an amazing trip, but just go into it knowing that you may pay more for food/drinks than your hotel stay!
Cocovan
We ate here our first night on Turks and Caicos and this was one of my favorites of the trip. You order at a counter and order drinks at another counter which is more of a bar. Everyone was super friendly and the bartenders gave us homemade Cajun popcorn while we waited. Popcorn is my favorite snack so I was super excited 😂👏🏻. We ordered a bunch of different types of tacos and drank Coronas.
This spot is quite casual – you eat at picnic tables under lights and there’s even a cat that wanders around. Cocovan is right next to Coco Bistro which is owned by the same owners and is said to be one of the best restaurants on the island. I loved Cocovan and definitely recommend it! Sadly we didn’t have time to try Coco Bistro but I’m told it’s amazing!
Jack’s Fountain
This spot was close to our hotel (walking distance). It seemed like it was mostly known for being a bar, but there are also tables as well. The decor was really pretty here! Loved the white and blues. The food and drinks were good. I got crab cakes and fries and Geoff got fish tacos.
Infiniti Bar
The Infiniti Bar is part of the Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar which is at Grace Bay Club, a resort on Grace Bay on Turks & Caicos. I loved this bar so much! Very romantic feeling spot with beautiful decor. There were fire pits everywhere and hanging lights as well. We got drinks and appetizers here two nights of our trip. One night a man did live music and it was so memorable. He was incredible. He did traditional island reggae and also took requests – we requested Fast Car by Tracy Chapman. I highly recommend coming here!
Lemon 2 Go
We walked here and grabbed coffee one morning. It proved to be a pretty long walk from our hotel and we had wished we had biked instead. Great coffee here and they had muffins but didn’t serve any breakfast sandwiches or hot breakfast. Very cute outdoor area to sit!
Somewhere Café & Lounge
This was one of the most memorable lunches of the trip because of the view and how nice the servers were. Somewhere Café & Lounge was about a 10 minute drive from our hotel and is located near the resort, Beaches. Great views. You can watch people snorkeling while you sip. Request to sit on the top deck and have a Corona or two. Very much a lunch spot but got the vibe that this would be fun as a night spot for drinks after dinner as well! This is driving distance from the Grace Bay beach area and is near the all-inclusive resort, Beaches.
The Banana Cheesecake Xango dessert at Coyaba – it’s like a fried cheesecake. Yum!
Coyaba
We ate here a couple times during the trip since it was right next door to our hotel (literally right next door to the larger, rectangular pool). I really liked the atmosphere here as there were very different vibes in each area of the restaurant. It was all pretty much outdoors but with a roof over the top with an open air feel. There were plants and candles everywhere and it felt very romantic. Get the grilled fish special – so delicious.
Bugaloo’s
Bugaloo’s
One of my favorite lunches of the trip. The views here are insane and you’re virtually right on the beach. We shared conch, coronas, and coconut shrimp. There are tables in the ocean if you want to enjoy a couple drinks while actually in the water. A must-stop while on Turks and Caicos!
Kalooki’s
There was one day we had a really late lunch so we just wanted a small appetizer and drinks. This place had a large drink menu. We weren’t super wowed about the menu – maybe because we just wanted appetizers. This spot can probably be missed – we weren’t in love with it!
The Deck at Seven Stars
The Deck is located at the resort Seven Stars and had a late lunch/really early dinner before going on a sunset cruise one night. It was decent but nothing special – very typical resort type food. I think I had turkey club and I forget what Geoff had. Decent – but you can skip it!
Grilled shrimp and Coronas at Da Conch Shack
The beach at Da Conch Shack
Da Conch Shack
Da Conch Shack is probably the most infamous spot on Turks and Caicos.This was actually our last meal on Turks and Caicos! You can conveniently stop here either on your way from the airport or on your way to the airport. I was surprised to find out that it isn’t actually near Grace Bay Beach. I was literally empty when we visited except for one table. Da Conch Shack is a similar vibe to Bugaloo’s – right on the beach and has delicious conch, shrimp, etc. I expected it to be more of a party spot/more energetic – maybe it is during the evening! We were there at sort of an odd hour since we were on our way to the airport in the afternoon. The pastels make it a cute spot to get a few IG worthy photos!
Mr. Grouper’s
Mr. Grouper’s is known for being a more local spot. One of the best meals I had on the island, hands down! It’s not really walkable from the Grace Bay Beach area, so this is just another reason to rent a car. Anyways, this spot can’t be missed – Get the Grilled Mahi Mahi!
Where We Wanted to Eat But Didn’t Have Time For:
–The Sandbox
–Coco Bistro
–Grace’s Cottage
What to Do on Providenciales, Turks & Caicos:
Champagne Sunset Sail With Ocean Vibes
Turks and Caicos has some of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen! And what better way to enjoy one than by sunset cruise? We booked a champagne sunset sail through Ocean Vibes for one night of our trip and I thought it was money well spent! This was not a private sunset sail, but since it was just the two of us this entire trip, we actually really enjoyed mingling with others. The tour picks you up on Grace Bay beach and drinks and appetizers are included – as well as a glass of champagne. The staff was super friendly and we really enjoyed ourselves. It’s $90 a person which we felt was completely reasonable! Bring a bit of cash so you can tip upon arriving back on shore! 🙂
Go to Water Cay For an Island Drop-Off With My Time Tours
This was our favorite part of the entire trip. I booked an island drop-off through My Time Tours and I HIGHLY recommend. They picked us up right on Grace Bay Beach in our resort’s area and took us to Water Cay (about a 10 minute boat ride). You have your pick of a few different islands and I thought Water Cay looked like the best. It was incredible and very affordable. I think it was less than $100/person.
We packed drinks and snacks in our bag and were dropped off by our captain. He gave us snorkel gear, offered to take a bunch of photos of us and couldn’t have been nicer. We were allowed to stay for as many hours as we wanted ( 🤯) and called him when we were ready to be picked up. By FAR, best part of the trip. We didn’t see a soul for most of the day and there were tons of tiny fish at our feet. I seriously dream about this day because it was so perfect.
Our captain actually told us that we were the last day of them still offering island drop-offs, but it wouldn’t hurt to give them an email/call and see if they’re willing to accommodate! Even if you can’t book with My Time Tours, consider doing an island drop-off or a boat trip to Water Cay with another company. Sooooo fun and so beautiful!!! We wished that we had done a clear kayak tour with them as well – definitely consider checking it out!
Go to Grace Bay Beach
Grace Bay Beach is the beach that most of the resorts are on on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. It’s very long and is a stunning beach! All of the resorts that are near Grace Bay Beach have their own section of the beach with chairs which is really nice – you never feel like you need to battle for chairs or battle any crowds – at least when we were there at the end of June!
Grilled fish at the Fish Fry
Fish Fry
The fish fry happens every Thursday at Bight Park and is a must when visiting Turks and Caicos. Hundreds of people (locals and tourists alike) gather in Bight Park to try yummy food from a variety of vendors with live music and drinks. This was one of the highlights of our trip and one of the best meals we had. You’ll need to drive to the Fish Fry from the Grace Bay Beach area – and a quick heads up, the parking fills up quickly! Don’t get there too late after it starts or you’ll be stuck parking far away.
One of the days we got to the Leeward area beaches and it kept pouring and pouring. I actually think that’s how I broke my old DSLR camera 😢. But eventually it subsided and look at this little guy that swam by! 🐢Seriously one of the most incredible moments.
Explore Leeward Beach
I’m hesitant to share this because everyone deserves their privacy, but we explored on our trip and it PAID OFF. Leeward Beach is a bit off the hidden path from the resorts – Leeward is an area where some of the most incredible, luxurious villas are on the island. We found a beach here and then walked around the rocks – sort of around the corner from the beach and then found that the beach continued into the horizon and we were the only souls there. It’s GORGEOUS – and is the beachfront to many incredible villas (the background of the 3rd photo in Kylie Jenner’s post is this beach – that villa was being worked on while we were there!).
You’re allowed to be there but obviously can’t be going up into the grass/the areas where the villas are. If you keep walking down the beach it’s actually where Kylie Jenner continues to stay when she’s on Turks and Caicos which I discovered based on photos I took/photos she was posting. Don’t say I told you 😉. If you made it this far, then congrats, because I wrote in my phone how to get to this beach (which thank goodness I did, because I would never remember now!). Go to Leeward Residential (a housing community), then go down Sandpiper Avenue, Nightjar Road, and then you’ll find the entrance to the first beach on Tranquility Lane. To get to this beach above, you’ll need to walk all the way around the rocks that are on the right side of the first beach. Happy adventuring! 😁
Good to Know for Visiting Providenciales, Turks & Caicos
- The Turks and Caicos islands are British territory so you drive on the left side of the road here. We felt very comfortable – I even drove a couple times 😂. It was very easy compared to St. John which has extreme hills (read about St. John here). The biggest thing to point out is that there are no traffic lights on Providenciales. They have round abouts instead. I felt very safe driving so you shouldn’t have too much trouble!
- While it is a British territory, their main currency is the American dollar. Makes it very easy for travelers from the United States!
- You do need a passport to visit so make sure to keep that in mind.
- I recommend a rental car. We loved being able to go to beaches or restaurants that were a bit off the beaten path because we had a rental car. We also biked to these beaches one day but it was quite a hike and it’s really hot there. The rental car made it super easy and wasn’t too expensive compared to what I’ve paid for a rental car in other cities.
- Providenciales, Turks and Caicos was VERY expensive in regards to food and drinks and this is coming from someone who lives in Boston and is pretty used to paying for expensive things. A 24 pack of Corona was $69.99 at the grocery store, no joke. 🙈 Cocktails at most restaurants were between $16-30 per cocktail. I actually think I gasped when we went to a dinner where they were $25 a piece. 😱😂
- As a whole, I found Providenciales to feel very luxe (which I liked!). I’ve been to St. John, USVI 6 times and if I wear to compare the two I would say that Turks & Caicos feels a bit more luxe (drink wine on the beach from a real wine glass vibes) while St. John has a bit more adventurous and laid back vibe (think snorkeling and drinking Coronas).
- Because it’s luxe, it felt very much like a couples spot – but I’m not saying you shouldn’t bring your kids if you want to. Just overall, it felt more like an adult island! We did see some kids, but as a whole, it was mostly couples!
Have you guys ever been to Turks & Caicos? Is it on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments!
