Shopping in the Turks and Caicos By Island
Discover Locally Made Gifts, Duty-Free Jewelry, and Original Art!
As a small country, the Turks and Caicos generally doesn’t have the extensive shopping options that other major tourist destinations offer, yet there’s still a great selection of unique treasures to discover.
Providenciales and Grand Turk feature the best collection of gift, art, boutique, and souvenir shops. Our smaller and less-populated islands do not have as wide an offering, but do have the essentials, groceries, and locally-made arts and crafts.
On Providenciales, Grace Bay is the center of upscale retail. The majority of shops are found in plazas, including the Regent Village, Saltmills Plaza, and Ports of Call.
Grand Turk’s shopping in mainly found at the Grand Turk Cruise Center, and at smaller sites such as the Turks and Caicos National Museum.
Luxury and Duty-Free Shopping
Luxury items such as watches, jewelry, perfumes, and leather goods can be found on both Providenciales and Grand Turk, and duty-free goods are available at the Providenciales International Airport and the Grand Turk Cruise Center.
Duty-free products are imported into the Turks and Caicos customs tax-free, and are offered to non-Turks and Caicos residents only.
In theory, this allows visitors to purchase certain goods and take them home for considerably less than buying them at home, but be aware that some countries have restrictive customs allowances for returning residents.
See Customs Allowances for information on limitations and quantities of products that you may bring back duty-free to your home country.
Conchs and Seashells
A Queen Conch is one of the most popular local souvenirs to take back home, and these impressive shells can be found on many of our beaches and for sale at shops and markets.
There are some restrictions on quantity and procedures on exporting conch shells. See Buying, Collecting, and Exporting Conchs, Shells, and Corals.
Be aware that many of the seashells for sale in the Turks and Caicos are not of local origin, especially in the case of smaller shells, starfish, and coral. Such shells are often sourced in dubious manners from Asia and Africa and should be avoided.
There are other Turks and Caicos shells offered, such as triton’s trumpets and queen’s helmet conchs, yet these are not always harvested in a legal manner.
Souvenirs Made in the Turks and Caicos
As is the case at most tourist destinations, many of the gift items in Turks and Caicos shops are re-branded imports. However, if you know what to look for, it’s possible to find some great souvenirs that are locally made, unique, and have a true connection to the islands.
In the United States and Canada, there is no duty on importing products manufactured in the Turks and Caicos. If you’re close to the maximum of your home country’s customs allowance, this fact can help you save on possible customs duty fees.
Art and Crafts
The art scene on Providenciales is quite varied. The many art galleries on Providenciales display a beautiful range of paintings, prints, sculptures, ceramics, crafts, fine art photographs, and more.
The best place in the country for browsing is the adjacent Saltmills Plaza and Regent Village in Grace Bay.
Handmade on the laid-back islands on North Caicos and Middle Caicos, the baskets, hats, model sailboats, and dolls that are distributed by the Middle Caicos Co-op are authentically Turks and Caicos. Woven and carved from materials harvested locally, many of these items are made by the older members of society using techniques passed down through generations. The Co-op is an organization that represents over sixty such artisans.
Soaps, Cosmetics, and Skincare
Several of the boutiques in the Grace Bay region and at the upscale resorts stock a range of soaps and skincare products, including soaps that are handcrafted in the Turks and Caicos.
Fashion and Jewelry
Several new brands have been making their debuts. Konk Apparel offers a unique angle to sunglasses, hats, and clothing.
Several local artisans craft jewelry, using semi-precious stones, Turks and Caicos sea glass, conch pearls and more. Another flash of color is the unique silk scarves by Sea Sage Designs.
Food and Drink
If you’re looking to take home a taste of the islands, you have a few choices. There are four local flavors of locally produced Turk’s Head Beer (lager, amber, an IPA, and lite) and Bambarra Rum.
Island Coffee Roaster’s coffee is another great choice, offering several gourmet blends (many named after the highlights of the country).
For those looking for a bit of spice in their lives, Peppa Joy hot sauces are the obvious way to go.
Conch and Shell Creations
Conch shell crafts are another option. Most items tend to be cut shell pieces that are glued together to form cups, paperweights, and spoons. Although these works can be quite interesting, they're often a bit clunky.
The Turks and Caicos History Book
Turks Islands Landfall is another excellent gift and souvenir to consider. This massive and fascinating work was written over several decades by Herbert ‘Bertie’ Sadler, and covers the known history of our islands for more than a thousand years. Learn about the Lucayans, pirates, the salt industry, agriculture and fishing, historic hurricane strikes, and the advent of the modern tourism industry.
Turks Islands Landfall can be found in some local bookstores and gift shops, and can be purchased online as well. The second edition of the book was published in 2020, and was thoroughly updated by Bertie’s daughter Marjorie with hard binding, expanded content, and more images.
