Turks and Caicos Travel Guide

Surfing in Turks and Caicos

There isn’t a lot of surfing to be had around here – you’ll see the odd local on Provo shoot to Northwest Point or the spot off Leeward Beach when the wind’s up, but conditions aren’t consistent (unless you count the Flow Rider machine on Grand Turk, that is).

If you prefer paddle boarding anyway, you’re in luck. From the bluer than blue bays of Provo (paddle Grace Bay and you might be joined by dolphins) to the mangroves of North and Middle Caicos (check out Bottle Creek and Lorimers Creek, home to lemon sharks, turtles, pelicans and flamingos), there’s oodles to explore. A number of companies – including TC Kiteboarding and Water Play Provo – provide the hire and guides to help you on your way.

Windsurfing & kitesurfing in Turks and Caicos

The surf scene mightn’t hold a candle to Barbados, but that definitely doesn’t count for the kitesurfing and windsurfing in T & C. Trade winds - mainly sideshore and onshore - are very consistent between November and July (and pretty amazing for the rest of the year too), and there are some spectacular spots to catch them from.

Provo is the hub of kite action here, host of the Windvibes tournament which has been running for over a decade and home to Long Bay’s shallow, lagoon-calm waters with their side-on south-easterlies. Blue Surf Shop provide gear hire, and you can book lessons with Big Blue Unlimited, TC Kiteboarding, Kitesurf TCI and KiteProvo. Most companies offer tours, taking you downwind to Five Cays beach or on a boat trip to Half Moon Bay or further afield.

The other cays and islands have some awesome launch points, including North Caicos’ mangroves, hidden bays and lagoons (check out Cedar Point, which has shallow water and offshore south-easterlies). Middle Caicos’ Bambarra Beach has super conditions for newbies, while Mudjin Harbour and Conch Bar Beach are more suited to experts.

For windsurf lessons, check out Waterplay Provo (linked with Kitesurf TCI) who run group and private classes on the north coast. Some hotels have their own equipment and instructors too. Long Bay’s conditions for learning and freestyling are nigh on perfect, while Grace Bay gives the opportunity for some wave riding off the reef.

Sailing in Turks and Caicos

Whether you’re island hopping, seeking out snorkelling spots or touring the coastline, sailing’s a superb way to explore Turks and Caicos.

Events honour the sport throughout the year, from the family-friendly Fools Regatta on Provos (laser and hobie races – in June) to the South Caicos Regatta (sailboat races, pageants and concerts – in May) and the charming Valentine’s Cup Sailing Race on Middle Caicos’ Bambarra Beach each February, where beautifully crafted model boats are raced.

Providenciales has the biggest sailing scene, home to the Turks and Caicos Sailing Association (based in Grace Bay) who run lessons, supervised sailing and regular races. This area’s also where you’ll find Waterplay Provo, with their Hobie Cat sailing lessons, and Sail Beluga and Sun Charters who provide crewed morning, afternoon, evening and all day charters.

Fishing in Turks and Caicos

Don’t forget these isles are only thirty miles from the fishing heaven that is the Bahamas, which means the angling scene is nothing short of amazing. The seabed drops dramatically about two miles offshore, and the surrounding waters teem with the likes of marlin, tuna, sailfish, swordfish, mahi mahi and whopping great wahoo. May to September is the best time of year for catches, though there’s plenty available year round. There’s no shortage of companies offering deep sea charters, especially if you’re based on Provo where you’ll find Sea Spice Fishing Charters, Hook Em Fishing Adventures and Grand Slam Fishing Charters. The reef or bottom fishing is fantastic all over the islands, where grouper, snapper, yellowtail and barracuda make regular appearances. And there’s oodles of opportunity for bone fishing too, around the Caicos Banks and the flats of Middle Caicos, North Caicos, South Caicos and the cays. Thanks to the shallow nature of the water, you can wade or fish from a guided or self-guided boat. Diving for conch and lobster is also doable if you come here in season (usually November – July for conch and August – March for lobster).

Canoeing & kayaking in Turks and Caicos

Brilliantly blue bays, fascinating limestone cliffs and mangrove-lined channels surround these islands, each as incredible as the next to explore by kayak. A lot of the beachfront hotels have kayaks for guests to use, and you can also arrange kayaking through companies like Big Blue Unlimited. If you’re based in Providenciales, the southern parts of the Frenchman’s Creek and Pigeon Pond Nature Reserve are wonderful wetlands where you can spot bonefish and conch. We can’t get enough of the Chalk Sound Lagoon, which has some of the brightest blue water we’ve paddled through – look out for jagged cliffs and caves, and rays that glide beneath your boat. On Grand Turk, Oasis Divers run tours in glass-bottomed kayaks that take you past mangroves and coves to Madison Point. Then there’s South Caicos, where you can follow the route around the Harbour and Long Beach, or set off from the top peninsular and kayak around wetlands and cays. The Ramsur Nature Reserve protects the wetlands to the south of North and Middle Caicos, and stretches over to East Caicos: on the west end in the Bottle Creek lagoon, red mangroves line a web of channels - the habitat of green turtles, lemon sharks, herons and cuckoos = paddle paradise.

Cycling & mountain biking in Turks and Caicos

You’ll have a tough time finding any mountains on these islands… The highest point is 48m, so mountain bikers looking for steep singletrack are much better off in St Lucia or the Dominican Republic. Flat, cruisey, scenic roads on the other hand, are plentiful and perfect for touring on two wheels. Our favourites can be found along the north coast of Provo, in the western end of North Caicos, around South Caicos’ salt ponds and through Cockburn Town in Grand Turk. A lot of the hotels offer bicycle hire (usually a mix of cruisers, hybrids, tandems…) and you can also book bike tours through companies like Caicos Cyclery and Big Blue Unlimited.

Walking & hiking in Turks and Caicos

It’s all about the coastal paths here, and they’re spectacular – leading to hidden coves, caves, sinkholes and other natural wonders. Providenciales has some cracking areas to walk around, like the Northwest Point Marine National Park where you can see fossils, saltwater ponds and bundles of birds including ospreys, pelicans, herons and warblers. The Bird Rock Trail on the east end of the island is an official hiking trail, leading through bushland, wetland and then to a limestone bluff looking over Bird Rock. On Grand Turk, we love the hike to the old lighthouse and its nearby coastal path, while on Middle Caicos, the Crossing Place Trail is one of the nation’s finest, featuring craggy limestone cliffs, tiddly coves and caves. There are also some gorgeous coastal routes around Highlands Bay and Valley Bay on South Caicos, and Salt Cay’s hike from Balfour Town to the Taylor Hill ruins takes you past the Little Bluff Lookout, Northeast Point and Long Bay. For guided walks, look out for local companies like Big Blue Unlimited (based on Provos).