Turks & Caicos is probably one of the most gorgeous island destinations in the Caribbean, with some of the nicest beaches and the clearest waters I’ve experienced. As someone who likes to truly relax on vacation, it doesn’t get much more laid-back.
I will talk about Turks & Caicos from two perspectives: An initial visit during the shoulder season, and a honeymoon follow-up during the high season.
For both visits, our destination island was Providenciales, which is the most developed of the 12 islands containing the most luxury accommodations and 5-Star dining we typically enjoy.
ACCOMMODATION
Our hotel of choice for each visit was the Wymara Resort. There are three reasons we decided to stay there more than once:
1. During our first trip there was construction occurring which disturbed our relaxation. We tried again for our honeymoon and mainly had a better experience.
2. The beach is not overcrowded, even on its busiest days.
3. It continues to receive top marks on sites like TripAdvisor, and is typically quieter than some of the other resorts.
I will talk about Wymara more in-depth in another post, but the resort is a good one. When you drive up to it down an unassuming road, you might not think it’s anything special, but once you exit your vehicle and stand in the open-air lobby, the white and cerulean motif and symmetrical view of the pool to the ocean is breathtaking.
As I said though, more on that later.
DINING
Between the two trips to Turks & Caicos, we wined and dined at a number of the best restaurants on the island. One of the things we love is that there are no fast food places or restaurant franchises (as of this writing). This encourages you to try the local flavors with conch being a specialty. Our Honeymoon visit also happened to run concurrently with lobster season, and I took full advantage of that.
All of the following restaurants have something to offer above and beyond the ever-present seafood options, but there’s nothing like fresh fish and shellfish from the islands:
Aziza Restaurant and Lounge – Go for the hookah.
Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar – Date night ambiance beachside.
Mr. Grouper’s Restaurant – A great spot to stop for lunch.
Omar’s Beach Hut – A great spot for lunch. Slightly out of the way, but worth it for the food and beach-front views.
da Conch Shack – A favorite for lunch, but they also have a junkanoo evening on Wednesdays.
Vita / Cave Bar – Vita/Cave bar are an excellent date night spot. The ambience is unmatched with spectacular sunset views.
Marine Room – A great date night spot.
Almond Tree – A restaurant with a Spanish-inspired courtyard creating great ambience.
Coco Bistro – One of the best menus on the list. Another great date night spot, and definitely a “seen” scene.
Pink Bar – Great for beachside drinks and a bite to eat at Wymara.
Indigo – One of the top-rated restaurants. An extensive menu not limited to seafood.
PRO TIP: If you’re planning a T&C trip, to Provo in particular, do not wait until the last minute to make reservations to these restaurants, especially if you plan to visit during the high season. Do what you can through apps like OpenTable, but some of the restaurants need to be called or emailed directly. Do so early in your planning as it can take a few days to receive a response.
GETTING AROUND “PROVO”
It might surprise you that T&C does not have the traditional apps like Uber or Lyft. Travelers must use a taxi (negotiate your price) or rent a car to get around.
For our first two trips, we didn’t necessarily want the responsibility of driving and relied on taxis. Any further visits will see us renting a car given that we now have a pretty good sense of how to get around.
THINGS TO DO
There are several types of land and sea excursions in which to partake in T&C. A sampling of these activities include kayaking, riding ATVs, diving, and fishing. During our honeymoon, we did not do many of the activities as it was mainly a relax/drink/eat vibe. However, during our first visit, we did do some snorkeling in Grace Bay, which was a fun adventure!
HIGH SEASON VS. LOW SEASON IN TURKS & CAICOS
One of the big decisions to make when you visit most Caribbean islands is whether to visit during the busy high season, or the more laconic shoulder or low season. During our first visit to Providenciales, the shoulder season was almost at its end, and the hotels were gearing up for the next couple of months. This meant that prices were lower overall for hotels, excursions, and flights; there were less families; and we were able to make last-minute changes to things like restaurants and excursions. This also meant that improvements and construction were happening; pounding concrete at 7AM does not make for a restful stay.
A note about families: there was a notable uptick in children during our second visit. Unbeknownst to us, the week we visited coincided with a weeklong winter break for students in New York City — something to keep in mind when planning. We had no knowledge that Turks was a a big family destination based on our prior trip. This was even more evident at the airport when we were traveling home.
OVERALL
The island of Providenciales in Turks & Caicos is one of the better places to vacation in the Caribbean. It’s not a huge party island, nor does it promote that kind of atmosphere. However, if you’re looking for stellar food, great accommodations, and a more relaxed vibe for your stay in a place that isn’t overly commercial (yet), I can’t recommend it enough.