This list will be focusing on the island of Providencials or “Provo” for short. I stayed here for a week with my wife and son and was blown away by the beaches. There’s not a ton to do outside of natural sights, but the natural beauty is unparalleled. The population is barely over 40k inhabitants and tourism didn’t start until the 1980’s when the proper infrastructure was constructed as foreign investment came in because multi-national hotel companies discovered the pristine beaches. Turks and Caicos is part of the British West Indies and is a British Territory. Unless you plan on not leaving an all-inclusive resort on Grace Bay you will absolutely need a rental car for this list. This list encompasses affordable things to do that don’t require paying for a tour.

1.) The most obvious and most popular beach is Grace Bay Beach. Grace Bay Beach is where most of the luxury resorts are in the main strip of downtown Provo(super small). This beach has been voted the #1 beach in the world multiple times and it absolutely lived up to they hype, it’s hard to articulate how beautiful it is. Bring your own chairs and set up wherever you like- all beaches are completely open to the public. Even though this is the most populated area of Turks and Caicos, it is not crowded at all.

For being the #1 voted beach in the world it’s not crowded

2. Taylor Bay Beach on the southwestern side of Provo below Chalk Sound. Its more of a bay than a beach. The water’s are so calm because of natural barriers from the wind. You can walk out about 200 yards into the ocean and still touch because the water is so shallow, clear, and calm. It is a secluded beach with no vendors or resorts, just really nice villas. Really great for small children because of the shallow and calm waters.

I could walk out ~200 yards and still touch

3.) Chalk Sound National Park is a beautiful turquoise lagoon on the southwestern part of Provo. These are the most turquoise beautiful waters I have ever seen. I was shocked how no tourists were there, but it is a long winding drive up chalk sound drive. There is a lot of construction and really nice villas along the drive with limited access points. If I were to ever invest in real estate abroad it would be along chalk sound drive overlooking Chalk Sound. If you drive all the way to the end of chalk sound drive there is an access point, it is not well marked and the roads aren’t well mapped online but it is a really skinny peninsula and you’ll eventually find it. If you have a SUP or a Kayak absolutely bring it here. There is no entry fee to the national park.

I really wish I had my paddleboard for Chalk Sound Lagoon

Next time I go back i’m gonna Airbnb one of the villas overlooking Chalk Sound with a group

Unmarked Access Point at the Chalk Sound National Park

4.) Rent a jet ski and go to La Famille Express Shipwreck. The shipwreck is 2 miles off the coast of Long Bay Beach. I rented a jet ski through Vitamin Sea Watersports and got my own jet ski plus a great guide, Dondre, accompanying me. It is a former soviet ship that was recommissioned by Panama and then got stuck in the shallow waters of Turks and Caicos in 2004 and has been rusting there ever since. There are a ton of shipwrecks around Turks and Caicos because of the shallow waters, but this is the best and easiest to visit. The water is choppy on the ride to and from the shipwreck, but it’s a really fun ride. Let me know if you want Dondre’s what’s app #- he is a really cool and knowledgable guide.

5.) Eat at Omar’s Beach Hut. This is a locally owned restaurant right on the ocean south of the airport. I got to meet Omar and he is a really cool guy. They have tables in the ocean where you can eat and it’s an amazing setting. There is a conch farm in the ocean where they go out with wheelbarrows load up the conch and serve it fresh. It was the best conch I’ve had.

Our Table at Omar’s. Best Conch on the island

6.) Hike to Northwest Point National Park. All the way at the northwestern end of the island there is a dirt road leading to the Northwest Point National Park. You can take the dirt road all the way to Northwest Point Condo’s in any small car and then hike the rest of the way-about 2 miles. If you have a 4X4 jeep you can take the dirt road all the way to the national park. The dirt road turns more into a sandy path after the Northwest Point Condo’s. I went for sunset and did not see any other human on the entire round trip hike, just a couple pelicans. It’s totally free, just need a rental car to get there. It’s a great vantage point for sunset and you’ll likely have the whole park to yourself- a common theme in Turks & Caicos.

Best vantage point for sunset on the island

7.) Snorkel at Coral Garden’s Reef. Right in front of Somewhere Cafe at the Bight Settlement beach is a Coral Reef that is well marked by buoys. It’s a quick swim from the beach and it is a really healthy reef with tons of marine life. Bring your own goggles and it’s free to swim right up. Hang out at Somewhere Cafe for sunset after snorkeling as they have some really good happy hour deals for sunset.

I saw sea turtles, barracudas, and tons of fish as well

8.) Eat at the Conch Shak. One of the most touristy spots in Turks & Caicos outside of Grace Bay, but for good reason. It is a beautiful setting right on the water with many palm trees and string lights. The service is great and the staff is super friendly. I have found that the people of Turks & Caicos are some of the most welcoming in all of the Caribbean- sometimes in the Caribbean I feel like there is animosity towards the wealthy tourists, but Turks & Caicos does a relatively good job at taking care of the people, preserving the nature, and promoting sustainable tourism compared to neighboring islands. The curry dish & jerk chicken were really good and fresh.

Conch shells at the beach in front of Conch Shak

9.) Go Paddle-boarding pretty generic thing to do, but if youre going to Paddle-board anywhere in the world this is possibly the best place to do it. I would prioritize an accommodation that offers free Paddle-board rentals because the waters are so calm and clear, it is a very smooth and pleasant paddle.

10.) Go conch shell hunting. If you love seashells this is a great place to go seashell hunting. Just make sure the conch shells are already dead and washed up in an area that is not actively savings the shells. For example, you are not allowed to take the conch shells in front of the conch farms at restaurants like Omar’s or Conch Shak, you will see a ton. Turks & Caicos is known for its conch and conch shells.

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