Turks and Caicos are islands in the British Overseas Territory. They are hidden gems in the Caribbean and aren’t as tourist-heavy as some other destinations. Nonetheless, there are many exciting things to do in Turks and Caicos.
While the nightlife here might not be as active as on the other Caribbean islands, Turks and Caicos have a raw natural beauty that’s hard to miss. Because of their pristine beaches and beautiful greenery, these islands are ideal for a family vacation.
It’s suitable for families, honeymooners, and solo travelers. No matter what kind of traveler you are, if you have an explorer spirit, you’ll enjoy the place.
If you’re from the U.S., you don’t have to go through currency conversion because these islands accept US dollars as their currency. And while they’re a group of small islands, they have excellent wedding planners to plan and execute a destination wedding.
Let’s take a look at some of the most exciting things to do in Turks and Caicos.
Things to do in Turks and Caicos
Here are the most popular things to do in Turks and Caicos.
1. Find the best accommodation
Your vacation will start with finding the right accommodation. While there are some good hotels and resorts on these islands, not all of them will offer the same services. If you’ve been planning a vacation for long, you deserve the best accommodation.
Finding accommodation is the first thing to do in Turks and Caicos. Beaches Resort in Providenciales is an all-inclusive resort for the family. It consists of 5 majestic villages with immense architectural beauty.
You’ll notice a hint of Italian, French, and Caribbean architecture in their structure. It also has a 45,000 square feet waterpark for kids and adults. The resort has 21 restaurants, 10 pools, and a 12-mile beach.
If you’re traveling with family, this is the best place to be, since they have several activities that will keep the kids busy. There’s an Xbox Play Lounge, Sesame Street characters, and even a teen disco.
The best accommodation in the resort is Key West 4 Bedroom Villa. It’s a villa for the entire family. It is beach facing and offers a private pool. The villa comes with personal butler services.
The resort is all-inclusive, which means you pay once for the package, and all your expenses are covered in it.
2. Go beach hopping
Since these islands are rich in natural beauty, beach hopping is among the best things to do in Turks and Caicos. Let’s discuss the best beaches here.
a) Grace Bay Beach
This beach has soft white sand and clear blue waters. Take a walk on the beach and enjoy the soft sand between your toes. You can also snorkel here and check out the reefs. The waves here are soft and calm, which makes it a good choice even for kids.
b) Leeward Beach
This is a quiet beach that doesn’t have many tourists. If you’re looking for tranquility, Leeward is the perfect beach for you. There are many rocks and crabs here that will grab your attention. If you reach the early morning, you might even find the beach all to yourself.
c) Taylor Bay Beach
Enjoy the sun, sand, and scenery at Taylor Beach. The waters here are quiet and there are many shady spots all across the area. The waves are super calm so you can walk into the water for some distance. If you’re an explorer, you must visit it.
3. Go shopping
Walk on the beach all day and go shopping in the evening. It’s the perfect way to end a perfect day. Shopping is among the most popular things to do in Turks and Caicos and you’ll find many shopping centers here.
a) Regent Village
Regent Village is in Grace Bay and has many shops selling clothes, accessories, jewelry, and art. There are many duty-free shops here so make sure you carry your passport to get a good deal. You’ll also find souvenir shops selling handmade soaps, candles, and accessories. There are art shops as well.
b) Salt Mills Plaza
Salt Mills Plaza is near Regent Village so you can shop at both places in one day. There are many bright shops, art galleries, and cafes. There’s also a shelter for rescued dogs so if you’re a dog lover, you can go and play with dogs there.
There are many souvenir stores where you can find locally made things including arts, crafts, and jewelry.
c) TCI Culture Marketplace
In this marketplace, you’ll find vendors selling local products including arts and crafts, souvenirs, clothing, and accessories. There are some vendors selling imported goods as well.
You’ll find brightly colored clothing, tied and dyed shirts, beach accessories (such as hats and sunglasses), jewelry, and art pieces.
4. Taste the local flavors
The Caribbean has a different flavor in its dishes. If you’re staying at Beaches Resort, all your meals will be included in the package so you might want to eat only at the resort.
However, it’s fun to step outside once in a while and grab a bite at other eateries. Let’s discuss some tasty things to do in Turks and Caicos. Here are the prominent restaurants.
a) Caribbean Element
Caribbean Element carries the authentic Caribbean vibe. It has delicious food and excellent customer service. The place has qualified chefs and seasoned bartenders. It is abuzz with soft jazz and carries a chill ambiance. When you’re here, try their coconut curry sauce with fish or lobster.
b) Miss B’s Restaurant
This restaurant in North Caicos is an amazing place for lunch. They are famous for their snapper but there are also many other dishes you can try. When it’s time for dessert, try their key lime pie which is the best on the islands.
c) Sandbar Restaurant
It’s a cute little place that serves amazing food. While the food is available only until the afternoon, you can have drinks even when the sun sets. It serves fresh seafood and is famous for its grouper lunch. It’s on the beach so you can snorkel until the afternoon and come and have lunch here.
5. Try snorkeling
You’ll find several tours and packages for snorkeling. There are half-day tours that will take you to secluded islands for snorkeling. It is a great way to check out the reefs below.
You can begin your trip on a catamaran and explore the barrier reef. Apart from the reef, you can also see colorful fishes and corals. Once you’re done snorkeling, you can spend time on an island beach and enjoy lunch and drinks.
In some tours, lunch will be provided by the snorkeling team. Turks and Caicos are on an underwater plateau at 11,000 feet above the ocean floor. The edges of the islands have miles of the beautiful barrier reef. This creates many diving sites where you can explore underwater life.
While most snorkeling tours start in the morning and last until the afternoon, some others start in the afternoon and end at sunset. Depending on your schedule, you can pick the best one. Most of them will take you to Iguana Island where you can explore the reefs easily.
6. Take a 4WD tour
Are you an ATV fan? You’ll love this tour where you ride an ATV on the roads. It’s a guided tour where a group of tourists will take ATVs and UTVs and hit the roads. These machines are top quality and you get also off-roading experience on them.
Some tour providers also have their own photographers so you can have amazing photographs of the ATV rides. Make sure you select a provider who offers refreshments at the end because the ride will take a couple of hours and you’ll be hungry by the end of it.
When going on a 4WD tour, make sure you wear a helmet and goggles because the off-roading experience can be a bit rough. However, these tours are very safe and you don’t need to be athletic or sporty to take the ride.
If you have never been on an ATV before, the guide will teach you how to ride it beforehand.
7. Try kayaking
Kayaking is a different genre of excitement in itself. There are kayaking enthusiasts who come to the Caribbean just to enjoy this sport. If you’re seeking adventure, this is among the top things to do in Turks and Caicos.
A kayak will take you on an adventure where you can see underwater creatures up close, especially in a glass bottom kayak. These are special kayaks that have transparent bottoms so you can see the creatures swimming under you.
You’ll get a guide on the trip who will show you the way as you paddle across the waters. As you paddle your way around Mangrove Cay, you’ll see stingrays, turtles, and other fishes – maybe even small sharks.
These sharks are harmless and will create memories of a lifetime. You might even find some other creatures in the Cay, such as iguanas and many types of birds.
8. Drive a golf cart
You’ll find many golf cart rentals on these islands. Instead of going around in cars, you can zip around the streets on lightweight golf carts. Most of these are 4-seater carts that let you feel the breeze on your face. If you have a bigger family, you can rent a 6-seater cart.
These carts are available on daily rental and if you’re here for long, you can even get it on weekly rental and save money. When you have a golf cart accessible to you 24/7, you can visit any nearby place at any time of the day.
It’s a fun and exciting ride for the entire family. While the gas cost will be extra, these carts don’t consume a lot, which makes them an economic ride. Most cart providers will also give you a map of the islands so you can travel easily and visit the places you want.
9. Sail on a catamaran
Get onboard a catamaran and start sailing in the waters. You can sail along Grace Bay and look for dolphins. These dolphins are easy to spot and you’ll have memories of a lifetime. Sailing on a catamaran is among the most thrilling things to do in Turks and Caicos.
You can also go snorkeling on the trip. Just let the captain know in advance and they’ll make a stop in between where you can jump and snorkel around. The crew will arrange the equipment for you.
You can ask a member of the crew if they would guide you while snorkeling. A guided adventure is super exciting as it can help you spot many underwater creatures.
At Little Water Cay, you can also spot iguanas and observe local flora. Some tours will include lunch and drinks so you can have a light lunch with amazing drinks before you return.
10. Go on a whale watching charter
Whale watching is something most people haven’t done before. It’s among the most memorable things to do in Turks and Caicos.
It’s a charter tour that generally uses a power catamaran with an elevated flybridge. This elevation helps you spot whales easily. The boat has an onboard marine biologist and a PA microphone system.
They drop a hydrophone into the water to detect whale sounds. Once a whale is located, the catamaran will navigate that way.
It will stay at a safe distance so the whales are not startled. While you can observe whales from a distance, sometimes they even approach the boat and stay there for a while. If a whale gets close, you can even take photos with it.
Looking for more things to do in Turks and Caicos
Apart from the 10 options mentioned here, there are many other things to do in Turks and Caicos. You can get a drone photoshoot as you float around on a glass bottom kayak. Or you can discover conch shells in the water. You can also go sightseeing.
Or you can also go on a food and drinks tour. And if you’re here for your wedding, you’ll find many excellent venues. There are so many things you can do here!
Here for your honeymoon? Check out the excellent options for honeymooning couples.
