Hey travelers! Thanks for checking out our guide on the best things to do in Turks and Caicos. We are Paulie and Bri – a travel couple who both grew up in small towns in Connecticut, not even 15 minutes away from each other.
Our paths first crossed on an online dating app when Paulie’s pick-up line was to go on a three week cruise. Nothing happened from that until we decided to meet up almost a year later! From the day we met, we were constantly telling each other about past travel experiences, our dreams and ambitions, and we started seeing how closely aligned we both were.
We are passionate about the arts and creativity and believe that the 9-5 corporate lifestyle wasn’t for us, and we would do everything in our power to ensure we live our dream – which is to travel and see the world together.
Our Amazing Week in Turks and Caicos
Our trip to Turks and Caicos was inspired by hearing so many beautiful things about these islands. From the blue water, to the white sands, we wanted to see this paradise for ourselves. Also, one of our goals is to start trying underwater photography and the desire to see more secluded areas of the islands (like Middle Caicos and North Caicos) was a big priority for us.
We spent five days in an Airbnb in Turks and Caicos and spent one night in Middle Caicos at the Dragon Cay Resort. Every day we went to a different beach and found some amazing spots to watch the sunrise and set! We did a ton of snorkeling in the water and ate at some great local restaurants.
Turks and Caicos has to be on everyone’s bucket list. No matter what you choose to do on the islands or where you stay – there is something for everyone. And it’s one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen!
The water was the clearest blue we had ever seen and the weather was perfect. If we had to describe Turks and Caicos, we would say imagine taking the beach screensaver on everyone’s computer you always see and that is Turks! The soft sand and clear water will take your breath away.
Favorite Place: Grace Bay Beach near Pelican Bight
Our favorite place that we visited in Turks and Caicos was the very first beach we went to. After traveling for a full day to get to the island we put a random beach in our GPS and just drove to the spot. We ended up at a dead end street and the directions took us the complete wrong way.
So we turned around and drove with no directions and ended up at the most beautiful beach that we went to on our trip. It was nestled between villas and condos and we parked on the side of the road. We wanted to get a glimpse of what to expect for the next week so badly that we literally just chose any sight of the beach and parked and walked around!
We went back to that beach almost everyday to take photos for sunset, sunrise or to relax and swim. Even after we explored other beaches in Turks, this was our favorite one. If you’re looking for this spot it was on Grace Bay Beach near Pelican Bight off Nightjar Road. It’s a must-visit!
10 Best Things To Do in Turks and Caicos
- Visit Grace Bay Beach: The number one beach in the world – it’s amazing! Discover a long stretch of soft sand and blue waters.
- Swim at Taylor Bay Beach: This beach is located away from the hotels with shallow but gorgeous waters. A nice little beach getaway!
- Take the Ferry to North and Middle Caicos: Must-see desolate and untouched areas. They are known as the “Garden Islands” of Turks.
- Jet Ski to La Famille Express Shipwreck: Adventure seekers will love this experience. This shipwreck is situated near Providenciales island.
- Check out Mudjin Harbor: For incredible views of a rocky coastline and hidden caves to explore – stretching over 4.8km of beach and coastline.
- Have Dinner at Coco Bistro: Set amidst the largest palm grove on the island of Providenciales, this was the best food we had during our trip.
- Explore Leeward Beach: Amazing views of the shipwreck from the shore and a pristine sandy beach to explore in Providenciales.
- Enjoy Lunch at Omar’s Beach Hut: Seats in the water, incredible food and reasonably well priced too. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
- Go Flamingo Watching on North Caicos at Flamingo Pond: It’s a great experience to see flamingos in the wild. Highly recommended!
- Snorkel at the Bright Reef or Smiths Reef: Both of these snorkeling spots are brimming with tropical fish and turtles (with no crowds).
People, Culture & Food of Turks and Caicos
Since we stayed in an Airbnb we were lucky enough to meet our hosts and neighbors. Everyone here is friendly, welcoming and helpful! Many of the things we did in Turks was due to recommendations we got from locals.
They love to hear about you and your stories – where you come from, what brings you here, etc. The food is another wonderful aspect about this British overseas territory. You absolutely have to try the Conch Fritters or anything with Conch. It’s their specialty local fare and you can’t go wrong trying it anywhere. We even had it at the airport before we left to go home.
As mentioned, the best restaurant we went to was Coco Bistro. If we had not gone there on our last night we probably wouldn’t have eaten anywhere else. Their food and service blows every restaurant in Turks and Caicos out of the water. Coco Bistro was just incredible!
Where to Stay in Turks and Caicos
If you want to stay in an Airbnb, the one we stayed in was exceptionally clean, local to everything you need and it was just enough without the bells and whistles. Here is the link: Venetian Gardens – Island “Blues”. Any of the B&B’s hosted by Michael are fantastic. He is a really down to earth local who can give you tons of helpful tips and tricks about Turks and Caicos.
For something more than just a clean place to sleep, we recommend three places: Grace Bay Club, Beaches and Dragon Cay Resort. Dragon Cay is on Middle Caicos and is actually the only resort on this island. We highly recommend this resort for at least one or two nights during your stay – it’s incredible! If we could have stayed longer we would have!
Lastly, if it’s within your budget, there are tons of villas and beach rentals all over the islands. They were a bit out of our budget but they looked amazing! Accommodation in Turks will ultimately depend on your budget.
Best Memory from our Trip to Turks
Our best memory from the trip was walking outside of our resort on Middle Caicos and seeing the Milky Way with our naked eye. It was surprising that we could see the stars at all because in the past we have driven big distances to see the stars and it’s one of our favorite things to do together.
It was an amazing moment to spend together when we walked out on the porch and looked up to see a clear sky filled with bright stars! Moments like these will stay with us forever and they make Turks and Caicos so special.
Need to Know Before you Go
- There are tons of different beautiful beaches to see in Turks and Caicos. If you are staying at a resort, it’s well worth the effort to get outside of your hotel and go see as many different beaches as you can. Each beach offers a different landscape and a unique experience.
- The beaches are a little bit confusing and hard to get to, so we highly suggest doing the research beforehand to find where to park and how to get there (especially while you have phone service). Map it out before you go because you will get confused and might lose cell service.
- It’s possible to travel on a budget in Turks but be prepared to spend most of your budget on food. In general, food is expensive and even the usual budget for a trip to the groceries won’t get you much. It costs $10 for a box of cereal, $8 for milk and $15 for a watermelon! Restaurants, on the other hand, aren’t as bad and are probably your best bet. Stick to local restaurants to stay within your budget.
- Visittci.com was so helpful! We found everything we needed here.
