Welcome to Providenciales
Our Exquisite Beaches
A jewel in the Caribbean, the island of Providenciales offers some of the most spectacular white sand beaches and ocean water in the world. Step foot on the internationally acclaimed Grace Bay Beach, the secluded Leeward Beach, or the calm Taylor Bay Beach, Sapodilla Bay Beach, and Long Bay beaches, and you’ll realize you’ve found paradise.
Several of our beaches offer vibrant reefs close to shore. These are perfect snorkeling sites to see coral, fish, stingrays, starfish, conch, and turtles. The Bight Reef (also known as Coral Gardens) and Smith’s Reef are great places to start.
Many Caribbean islands feature a great beach or two, yet a defining aspect of Provo is the high quality of all its beaches. Some coasts offer wide swaths of soft white sand, and others are framed by low limestone cliffs. Yet, the common and awe-inspiring theme is unmatched turquoise and blue ocean water. Whether you stay at a private beach house or a world-class luxury resort, the breathtaking ocean isn’t far away.
Hotels and Resorts
There’s a wide selection of places to stay at on Providenciales. All-inclusive resorts, 5-star hotels, and villas are found across the many stunning beaches on the island. You’re sure to find the perfect place to stay on your holiday. Popular resorts include Seven Stars Resort, Wymara, The Sands, Amanyara, the Grace Bay Club, the Shore Club, Point Grace, and the new Ritz-Carlton.
In addition to fronting the splendor of a pristine beach, many of the Grace Bay resorts offer a wide range of luxury and amenities. Rooms vary from one to four-bedroom suites, and many offer onsite gourmet dining. Several inland hotels have lower room rates while still being within an easy walk of the beach and restaurants.
Many resorts feature spas, which is the perfect complement to the beach. There’s a wide selection of treatments available. Some properties also offer all-inclusive vacation packages, with airfare, lodging, and dining under one deal. Packages can offer savings and a carefree vacation that starts as soon as you check-in.
Where Providenciales is Located
Quick Facts | |
Population | 23,769 (2012 Census) |
Area | 38 mi² (98 km²) |
Currency | U.S. Dollar |
Electricity | 120v U.S. Plugs |
Airport | Providenciales International Airport (PLS) |
Best Beach | Grace Bay Beach |
The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are located to the southeast of the Bahamas, and north of the Dominican Republic. Providenciales is the third largest island in the Turks and Caicos. It’s found on the western edge of the Turks and Caicos island chain. The country welcomes direct flights from many eastern US cities.
Providenciales is the most populated island in the Turks and Caicos Islands, which is a British Overseas Territory.
There are several populated islands in the country, and our capital city is Cockburn Town on the island of Grand Turk.
All-Inclusive Resorts
If you’re looking for the height of luxury and seclusion, consider one of our all-inclusive hotels. We have some exceptional choices.
The exclusive Amanyara fronts the Northwest Point Marine National Park on the remote west coast. This exclusive property offers chic open-air pavilion suites and impeccable service.
Parrot Cay, a private island that’s just a short boat ride from Provo, is home to the COMO Parrot Cay Resort. Far away from the crowds, it doesn’t get more tranquil than the suites and beachfront rooms in this exclusive paradise. Adding to the relaxation options is the full-service Shambhala Spa and Yoga Retreat.
Four all-inclusive resorts are located on Grace Bay: the family and kid-friendly Beaches Turks and Caicos and Alexandra Resort, and the adults-only Club Med Turkoise and The Windsong at the Bight Reef. Part of the Sandals family of resorts, Beaches includes five village enclaves and offers an impressive array of things to do. 21 restaurants are onsite along with the island’s only water park, a favorite for families with children.
Vacation Villas
Vacation rental villas are a great option for those seeking privacy and more space. These boutique rental homes are often found on our smaller beaches, secluded from the bustle of central Provo. A plethora of amenities are offered, from relaxing infinity pools to the use of water sports equipment, including Hobie Cat sailboats, kayaks, and paddleboards.
Looking for your own private patch of sand and sun? Several of the finer villas are ideally located on quiet and pristine beaches.
For those looking to get married right on the beach, Providenciales is a great place for weddings and honeymoons. Many local resorts offer deals, for both couples and their guests. For tips and ideas, see Great Wedding Hotels and our Honeymoon Guide.
The island features several distinct coastlines, so you’ll be able to choose between staying near great snorkeling reefs, kiteboarding beaches, hills with great ocean views, or verdant wetlands.
Professional concierge services, private chefs, and butlers are also available and can cater to any requests you may have, and are the perfect complement to stays at our finest rental properties. For guests staying at a villa, it’s a good idea to rent a car.
Water Sports
There’s a wide offering of fun things to do on and in the stunning Turks and Caicos ocean. Activities range from wetland eco paddleboarding and kayaking, to the challenging sport of kiteboarding. Want to do something a bit more exciting? Try jet skiing, parasailing, wakeboarding, or tubing.
The Turks and Caicos has some great snorkeling and scuba diving too. At the Bight Reef (Coral Gardens) near Grace Bay and Smith’s Reef at Turtle Cove, fish, turtles, and coral reefs can be seen right off the beach. Boat tours are another option, and visit exquisite sites on the Turks and Caicos Barrier Reef, which is the second largest reef in the Atlantic.
The Turks and Caicos is a great place for sport fishing. The island is the perfect place to launch from. Deep water off the edge of the Caicos plateau, which teems with pelagic fish, is minutes from the dock.
The shallows in the Caicos Banks are one of the last bonefishing frontiers. Bonefish are plentiful, and there’s even tarpon and permit to be found. Take a fishing trip to a remote sound, or DIY at one of the central marine ponds.
Boat Charters and Excursions
On the relaxing side, a snorkeling and beach boat cruise is the ideal way to experience secluded cays and beaches. It’s also a great way to spot the unique Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana.
Grace Bay and the ocean off the Caicos Cays are home to a famous marine mammal: JoJo the Dolphin. Although a wild animal, this Atlantic bottlenose dolphin has shown a special trait: he freely interacts with humans. Often seen playing in the wake of passing boats, spotting JoJo is the highlight of any boat tour.
A combined beach cruising, snorkeling, and barbecue tour is kid-friendly, and a perfect family activity.
If you’d rather explore the wild side of the Turks and Caicos Islands, a custom boat charter can take you to the reefs and historical sites of West Caicos, the wildlife sanctuary of French Cay, or what was once the site of Fort Saint George, where cannons can still be seen in the water.
Sights and Attractions
On land, we are home to an award-winning 18-hole golf course at the Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club, beautiful wetlands and nature reserves, and the unique and highly scenic turquoise Chalk Sound Lagoon.
The breathtaking Princess Alexandra National Park found on the northeast coast of Providenciales protects the top-rated Grace Bay Beach, Leeward Beach, and several nature reserve cays near Leeward Going Through channel. It’s difficult to surpass this exquisite area as a place for day trips and boat tours.
Cheshire Hall Plantation, a Loyalist cotton plantation built in the 1700s, is the foremost historical site on the island. There are several smaller points of interest across the island, including a giant Karst Process sinkhole, old rock inscriptions, nature trails, and pristine coasts.
If you’re looking to pick up a gift or souvenir, the shopping plazas of Grace Bay are the perfect place to start. There’s jewelry, art, fashion, local food and alcohol, T-shirts, and more. For nightlife, we have floating bars, live music, casinos, beach BBQs, glowworm and sunset cruises, and more.
Island Tours and Day Trips
A day trip to one of our less-populated islands is a top activity. The islands of North Caicos and Middle Caicos neighbor Providenciales, and offer a unique perspective. Once the home of Loyalist cotton plantations, the islands today are ideal for those who love the outdoors.
There’s so much to see, including beaches, caves, and historical sites. Many of the natural sights on North and Middle Caicos feature free entry as well. Discover stunning Mudjin Harbour, Bambarra Beach, Sandy Point Beach, Hollywood Beach, and Three Marys Cays.
The former sea salt-producing islands of Grand Turk, Salt Cay, and South Caicos offer a different scene. Starting in the late 1600s, natural and shallow marine ponds were converted into salinas, where ocean water was evaporated into salt for export. No longer worked today, the salt ponds remain interesting sights.
Restaurants and Fine Dining
The culinary delights are another highlight of the island. Freshly caught seafood is of course the hallmark of the island’s fine dining, and the diverse fares of local restaurants create wonderful and unique flavors to sample. Gourmet restaurants such as BLT Steak, Coco Bistro, Seven, Caicos Café, and Infiniti are very popular.
If you’d like to try some authentic Turks and Caicos food, choose a local spot such as Mangrove Bay, Omar’s Beach Hut, Bugaloo’s Conch Crawl, or Da Conch Shack. These spots are in the old coastal settlements of Blue Hills and Five Cays, where conch, pan-cooked fish, and peas n’ rice are still the main courses.
The fresh seafood from the Turks and Caicos includes conch, lobster, grouper, snapper, mahi-mahi, wahoo, tuna, and more, all caught in some of the cleanest ocean water in the world.