Top things to do in Providenciales

Sprinkled with tiddly cays, this inland lagoon has water so clear and turquoise it doesn’t look real – for an eyeful, head up to Picturesque Lane (which really does suit its name). Look out for the mushroom shaped islet, turtles, nurse sharks, orchids, and cacti. No motorised boats are allowed in the area, but you can kayak and paddleboard to explore the cays which is nothing short of incredible.

Started up in 2001 and based in central Provo, this is the nation’s only brewery who produce bottles, cans and kegs of Turk’s Head Lager, Turk’s Head Amber, Island Hopping Ale (IPA) and Turk’s Head Lite. Tours usually run Monday to Friday in the morning and afternoon, showing you the Brewery Hall and ending up in the Tasting Room.

There’s nowhere else like this on earth – set up in 1984, this is the only conch sea farm there is, raising Queen conch and letting you get up close to these curious creatures. You can buy conch pearls and other souvenirs at the gift shop.

In Downtown Provo, this former plantation was built using local limestone by loyalist Thomas Stubbs in the 18th century (inspired by his brother Wade, who owned the Wades’ Green Plantation in North Cacos). For a century, it was the most important building on the island, covering thousands of acres with hundreds of slaves working on it. These days only ruins remain, with some lovely footpaths winding around them and sightings of tropical flora and fauna.

This centre in the Salt Mills Plaza rescues puppies (locally known as potcakes) and looks after them until they’re adopted. Visitors can volunteer for a day or sign up to take a pup for a morning ramble along the beach to help get it used to humans.

In Long Bay, years and years of acid rain has formed a forty-foot limestone hole with a natural pool of emerald water at the bottom. It’s worth stopping off here if you’re in the area, for a glimpse of geological gorgeousness.

As south as it gets on Provo, Bird Rock gives you a glimpse of what the island was like before development – an area of coastal coppice, red mangroves, and lots of wildlife. The national trust maintains a 1.3-mile trail here through the Bird Rock Heritage Field to the water’s edge.

A real-life flipper fairy-tale: wild bottlenose dolphin JoJo met dive-fanatic, nature lover Dean in the eighties. A very rare but unbreakable connection formed between the two, which has spanned decades - they swim together often, exploring caves and reefs and getting each other out of bother. Locals will tell you how the dolphin has vied for Dean’s attention by comically pulling him away in the middle of diving classes. Over the years, JoJo’s been the face of Dean’s campaigns to create marine reserves, promote dolphin welfare and protest captivity. A national treasure, JoJo can be spotted in Grace Bay with his children, who locals have nicknamed Lemon lips and Whizzer and seem to have inherited their father’s sociable nature. Completely of their own accord, the dolphins are known to visit divers, race alongside boats and say hello to kayakers and paddle boarders. The rules are don’t touch, but instead to soak up the magic of what’s happening around you – if you’re lucky enough for a close encounter, you’ll never forget it.

Look closely on the rocks around here, and you’ll see names, dates, symbols, and pictures carved long ago by shipwrecked sailors and travellers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Though there used to be a lot more to see (most of it has been stolen or vandalised), it still gives you a taste of fascinating island history.

Explore a cave once used by pirates, interpret their rock carvings to find buried treasure and generally enjoy this spectacular and quiet part of the island. West Harbour Bluff takes a while to get to on rugged road and is isolated – so don’t go it alone – but we say the journey just adds to the adventure.

In the Bight area, the National Environmental Centre covers topics of cultural and natural interest, with a fascinating model of what the islands are like under the water.

If you’re flying over to visit Grand Turk, the museum in the capital city tells of the culture, history, and natural wonders across this island chain. Find out what life was like here in pre-Columbian times, learn the living conditions of slaves, browse 16th century maps, and read about the ships wrecked in local waters. There’s also interesting information on the nation’s animal, coral reefs and plant life.