Turks and Caicos Islands has drawn luxury-seeking beachcombers for decades with its alluring confectioners’-sugar sand and crystal-clear azure and turquoise waters, but post-pandemic the archipelago’s popularity has surged.
As the number of visitors has grown, so too has the variety of outdoor activities on offer. So, while it may be tempting to kick back and relax in the sun, you should make time to quench your thirst for adventure, as well. Grace Bay Resorts — pioneers in boutique luxury experiences in TCI since 1993 — operates four distinct properties on the main island of Providenciales (or Provo), all with the undergirding of its REST concept: the Rejuvenation of body and soul; Emotional attachment between staff and guests; Space for inspiration and enjoyment; and maximizing one’s Time in the islands. In keeping with TCI’s “Beautiful by Nature” slogan, outdoor living is woven into the company’s philosophy — and is integral to the guest experience.
Grace Bay Resorts’ Rock House and South Bank interact with nature in their unique ways. A 12-minute drive from the epicenter of Grace Bay Beach, Rock House provides a Mediterranean-style escape reminiscent of Capri or the Amalfi Coast, with studios and villas erected directly into a 25-foot-high limestone cliff. Each has a terrace with a pool or direct access to the 100-foot infinity pool.
The new two-, three- and five-bedroom Reserve Villas cater to multi-generational families or couples traveling together. The ocean path winds down through rock outcroppings to the shore, with nooks along the way where you can relax and enjoy a morning espresso. The resort’s fusion of limestone with its 350-foot-long private beach also creates the feeling of inhabiting a mermaid’s grotto.
Northwest Point National Park lies about 11 miles up the road for further immersion into Provo’s geological and ecological wonders. You’ll find mangrove forests, nearby reefs, an impressive ocean break and more limestone formations here. You’ll also likely spot many species of birds, including pelicans, herons and reddish egrets. If you’re lucky, you might happen upon Caribbean flamingos.
South Bank, about four miles from Grace Bay on Provo’s south side, offers a different experience and unique access to the water. Opened in November 2024 as the newest member of the Grace Bay Resorts family, South Bank features TCI’s first manmade ocean swimming lagoon, around which its “neighborhoods” of villas perch.
Everything here connects with the water, with direct access to a private marina and the resort’s boat concierge, who can arrange trips such as scuba, snorkeling, charters and eco tours. South Bank Marina is also home to the headquarters of the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund, an educational center that includes a coral bank and an in-depth view of the nation’s ecosystem. South Bank’s private lagoon is four and a half feet deep, spans five acres and features two sandy islands accessible by water or via walking bridges.
On its banks, the treatment rooms at the Spa at South Bank are positioned for optimal views. On the mini-islands, South Bank provides a bar, sun decks, yoga classes and fire pits at night. Guests can easily proceed straight from their villas to paddleboards and kayaks and explore this most sheltered cove — or continue out into the tranquil waters of Long Bay Beach, a hot spot for kiteboarding, kayaking or simply walking out into its shallow sandbar. Long Bay is also a lovely area for horseback riding, one of the most popular activities in Turks and Caicos.
For inland adventure, South Bank is also well situated. Halfway between the resort and Grace Bay lies one of Provo’s largest sinkholes. Known simply as The Hole, this vertical enclosure reminiscent of a giant well runs 60 feet deep and 50 feet across. Due to the shallowness of the brackish water at its bottom, this is not a place for cliff jumping or even swimming, but it’s a dramatic example of the karst topography that defines much of Turks and Caicos’ landscape.
Also, in the neighborhood, check out Bird Rock Trail, which winds along limestone shelves through tropical dry forests, mangroves and estuaries. It terminates at Crist Point, across a narrow strait from the tiny Bird Rock cay. Just under a mile in each direction, the hike provides a nice workout and can take around an hour or two — depending on how often you stop to spot the feathered locals. Further afield in Middle Caicos, you can explore the Conch Bar Caves and the Indian Cave. You’ll need a guide for the former, a somewhat rustic and undeveloped network of subterranean caverns, but the latter is an open chamber that’s easy to tackle on your own.
For excursions on the water, Provo-based Big Blue Collective focuses on eco tours. Its founders, Mark Parrish and Philip Shearer, are dedicated conservationists who serve on the aforementioned Reef Fund. They require guests to use biodegradable sunscreen and incorporate environmental education into their trips. Part of their philosophy is that, “When one truly loves something, one will protect it.” They offer a host of charters and unparalleled access to distant cays and reefs.
On Big Blue’s Snorkel Eco Tour, guests will likely encounter rays, sea turtles, fish and a friendly local dolphin named Jojo. The Edge of the Banks tour is an all-day affair that takes you to the borders of the Caicos banks — the outer reefs with amazing snorkeling and the possibilities of spotting reef and nurse sharks, larger schools of fish and eagle rays.
Big Blue also has a full menu of kiteboarding entrees. Beginners can sign up for private or semi-private kiteboarding lessons, while seasoned riders can do sessions, safaris and “downwinders” from North Caicos, Half Moon Bay or along the Blue Hills.
Rock House and South Bank work with Caicos Luxury Charters to provide everything from transportation to guided excursions. Signature activities include curated one-, two- or four-hour jet ski tours that will take you to shipwrecks, remote sandbars and hidden gems of your choosing. You may also opt to sample seaside and local dining on these adventures.
But to truly capture the scope of Turks and Caicos, chartering an Axopar 37 motor yacht really opens things up. These sleek outboard crafts are quick, seaworthy, equipped with sun tops and capable of navigating through shallow waters. Choose between quarter- and half-day trips around Grace Bay or full-day expeditions to West Caicos or French Cay. Likewise, sailing aboard the company’s luxury catamaran, the Lady Grace, provides an added range of options. Take a sunset sail or cap a snorkeling trip with a gourmet barbecue prepared at the stern of the boat.
Whether you explore by land or sea, adventures in Turks and Caicos reveal the islands in different lights, showing off fresh angles and perspectives, new worlds above and beneath the sea.
