When visiting Turks and Caicos, doing your homework ahead of time will make a much more enjoyable getaway. It’s not a complicated destination, but being a prepared traveler is always beneficial.
Located just north of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, this group of islands holds the key to a fantastic Caribbean vacation. Turks and Caicos is surrounded by jaw-dropping, crystal clear water on every side. Known for having the 3rd largest barrier reef in the world, water activities, such as snorkeling and scuba diving, take precedence.
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A Literary Itinerary for Turks and Caicos
As soon as you exit the plane, you know you’re on island time. Leisurely activities beckon you to soak in the sun, sand, and surroundings. Whether your go-to is reading or writing, I’ve got you covered.
Mornings by the pool, afternoons under an umbrella, evenings at the beach – they’re perfect settings for plunging into that seaside story you’ve been wanting to read. Need a recommendation? A good friend of mine recently had her grandmother’s book published. It’s an inspiring story about her grandparents’ faithful sailing voyage from Britain to Australia.
Food and Drinks
Hemmingway’s On the Beach
Hemmingway had a knack for vacationing in all the right places. I can only imagine how inspired he became while lounging on the island. Hemmingway’s On the Beach, located next to The Sands resort, is a great option for a thematic literary meal. The restaurant sits just off Grace Bay Beach with stellar views of the water. The food is delicious, and the serve is very professional.
Lemon To Go
This café offers unique, regional pastries, like Trinidad Samosas and Jamaican patties, along with a full coffee menu. It’s also the entrance to a cute stationary shop. Who doesn’t love looking for the perfect journal and sticker?
Unicorn Bookstore
No vacation is complete without stopping in a local bookstore. This shop has quite a few children’s books as well as travel books. If you are looking for specific books on Turks and Caicos, Unicorn Bookstore is a great choice. They also have a nice variety of journals, tumblers, bags, and clothing.
Spending Money in Turks and Caicos
The U.S. dollar is the country’s currency. Credit cards are accepted most anywhere, but you will want cash for the vendors both on the beach and at the fish fry. You will also need cash for tipping.
Getting Around Turks and Caicos
Renting a car for your vacation is highly recommended. Public transportation is extremely limited. Be prepared for a very tiny car! Our carry-on luggage wouldn’t even fit in the trunk. Ultimately though, it was all we needed to be-bop around the island using very little gas and being capable of grabbing all the tiny parking spots.
The main island is small, making exploring various beach areas a breeze. When I say ‘small’, I mean you can drive from the northern shoreline to the southern shoreline in less than 15 minutes.
Things to know about driving in Turks and Caicos
-You’ll drive on the left side of the road. This makes sense since Turks and Caicos is a British overseas territory. That also means roundabouts will be taken to the left, not to the right as in the U.S.
-Both miles and kilometers are used. We saw both measurements used on speed limit signs. Crazy enough, my car’s speedometer only showed my speed in kilometers. It’s good to have a general idea of the conversion.
-There are a lot of speedbumps! Approach them with care as some are more intense than others. A little hump goes a long way in these tiny cars.
Where to Stay in Turks and Caicos
Two main factors dominate this decision: location and cost. These are always on our radar when booking our accommodation, but depending on your goal for the vacation, they can be even bigger factors here. The island is not cheap so be prepared for some hefty charges. Obviously, if you want a place right on the beach, you’ll pay more than walking or driving to the beach.
There are ways to decrease your lodging costs. Home Exchange is one of my favorite options for staying in touristy areas with very little cost. This typically takes advance planning and staying in the off season will increase availability. We have stayed all over the world using Home Exchange and we’ve been very pleased.
Airbnb, VRBO and online sites like Expedia and Booking.com will give you a variety of options depending on what you are seeking. For this last-minute trip, we stayed in a home on the east end of the main island. The home had a private pool, snorkeling gear, beach towels and a fully equipped kitchen. These are the types of things I look for when making a reservation. The less things to pack the better. We could walk to the beach in 5-10 minutes.
There are hotels all along the coast. If you are looking to snorkel from the shore at Bight Reef, look up Windsong and you’ll be almost right in front of a protected reef area.
Beaches to visit in Turks and Caicos
Beaches are everywhere and they’re all gorgeous. They are fully accessible to the public. Most have a parking lot within walking distance.
-Grace Bay Beach
-Smith’s Reef
-Long Bay Beach
-Sapodilla Bay
-Sunset Beach
Fun things to budget for in Turks and Caicos
The beach, along with offshore snorkeling, may be all that you need for entertainment. But, if you’re looking for something extra, Turks and Caicos does not disappoint.
Go Snorkeling
With a basic set of snorkeling gear, you can experience some phenomenal wildlife. Dory and all her friends live just off of the shoreline in the various reefs. You do not even need flippers although there are places along the beach where they can be rented.
Smith’s Reef (Beach Access East) was a favorite spot for us. There are several areas of coral, one being near the beach access from the parking lot.
Bight Reef is a protected area to snorkel around. By staying just outside the large orange buoys, you can enjoy viewing the tropical fish and colorful coral. Underwater, there are cement posts with plaques located around the circumference. Reading these as you swim will give you a better understanding of the conservation efforts that are being enacted.
If you want to experience snorkeling on a larger scale, you will need to book a charter tour to get further out into the gulf.
Cruise in a Sports Car Boat
I did a double take when I saw the first one. These vessels look so much like a sports car sitting on the water. It’s crazy! With room for two, they’re both a thrill and an Instagram worthy experience. During our visit, these boats were being rented on the south side of the island. Jet skis were also available. A bonus is the tiki bar that sits out in the water. A 5-minute boat ride will get there. You can cruise right up to the floating bar, tie up, and enjoy your favorite drink.
Kayak Through the Mangroves
We booked a personal tour, and we were so thankful that we went that route instead of kayaking with a group. The mangroves have channels to go through while viewing wildlife. The groups made things very congested, and it scared off a lot of the animals. Our native guide was amazing. He had respect for the environment and had a wealth of knowledge about the mangrove habitat and the island in general. We saw way more turtles than we imagined, baby sharks, and a variety of birds and fish. Note that kayaking tours are tide dependent, so you’ll want to book in advance as not every day is an option.
Island Fish Fry
Type Mr. Grouper’s into your GPS and head to where all the action is every Thursday evening. You will know you’re getting close by the slew of cars parked ON the sidewalk. Live music, food vendors, souvenir vendors and the famous Junkanoo band are what people come for week after week. The dress attire is something like ‘Sunday best at the beach’. With or without alcohol, I recommend standing in line for the pineapple drinks. So much fun! We found that if there’s a long line, they’re serving something extra special.
Restaurants with Personality
With an island vibe in their favor, these restaurants embraced the setting, added their own flair, and produced a unique atmosphere that makes visitors feel welcome. Conch is what the island is known for. It’s prepared in every way imaginable, hot or cold. If you haven’t tried it before, just remember: When in Turks and Caicos…
Cocovan
The food is served out of an Airstream. The atmosphere is top notch for an evening meal.
Shay Café & Lounge
Located in a modern complex, the ambiance isn’t anything over the top but it has a full breakfast menu along with specialty coffees.
What to Pack for Turks and Caicos
It’s an island vibe all the way. Sundresses, shorts, and sandals will be your staples. Here are a few items I wish I would have taken with me.
Sunscreen (pack smaller bottles if not checking a bag)
Aloe (same as sunscreen)
Inflatables (Even for adults, it’s nice to have something to float around on)
Snorkeling gear (not all places will provide it and new = sanitary)
Linen beach towels (these don’t hold onto the sand as much as typical beach towels and they’re lighter)
Underwater camera (the water is so clear pictures will actually turn out)
Waterproof camera case (super important if you are kayaking)
Binoculars (mainly for birding, especially the flamingos!)
Turks and Caicos
There’s no doubt about it, Turks and Caicos is absolutely gorgeous! The island has great shopping, stunning coastlines and friendly locals. All that adds up to a great vacation destination. Our trip was short, yet we knew heading to the airport we would be back. The next time we hope to venture east and view the flamingos, explore the caves, and check out the remote islands. We also plan to take that sports car boat out for a spin and go on a guided snorkeling excursion to the massive reef area.
If you’ve been to Turks and Caicos, let me know what you recommend by messaging me on Instagram @bountiful_blessings_travel or on Facebook at Bountiful Blessings Travel.
