Turks and Caicos is for beach and water lovers. The soft white sand and crystal waters truly give the rest of the Caribbean a run for their money.
Most people head to Providenciales (or Provo) to lounge and enjoy the world-renowned Grace Bay Beach. The beach is lined with boutique luxury family resorts with multiple bedroom suites, pools overlooking the ocean, kids’ clubs, and a walkable town with tons of casual and fine dining options. For active relaxers, it’s all about the watersports: snorkeling, kayaking, hobie cats, and more.
Beyond Provo, however, are a few hidden gems that are truly worth the journey if you’re up for a bit of adventure. Keep your eye on Middle Caicos for out-of-this-world scenery.
On our first scouting trip to Turks and Caicos, we were amazed by the beaches and clear blue water, and the wide variety of family hotels with multiple bedroom suites and kitchens. It’s a classic beach resort town. But what really blew us away with the night we spent in the more remote Middle Caicos, about 1 hour from Providenciales but it feels like a totally different world. This is the side of Turks and Caicos that few families explore, but we love encouraging our travelers to spend 4-5 days in Provo and 2 days experiencing something totally unique and out of the way.
Grace Bay Beach, one of the most beautiful in the world.
English is the official language of Turks and Caicos.
The U.S. dollar is widely used, but ATMs are few and far between, so bring cash. Taxi divers in particular often don’t take credit cards.
Turks and Caicos is one of the smallest Caribbean countries but with maximum amounts of coastlines with soft sands. Because of the shallow waters and reef systems, no cruise ships dock here, which keeps crowds to a minimum. With a high number of luxury resorts and a focus on fine dining, Providenciales feels a bit posh and pricey, but there are casual vibes to discover if you’re looking for them.
You can enjoy Grace Bay Beach with kids car-free. Most hotels offer free bikes to head into town. Use those and taxis to get to restaurants and planned excursions. Taxi prices can add up, though, so if you want to really explore the island though, we recommend a rental car. The island is flat and driving is relatively easy – but you do need to drive on the left. Most resorts have plenty of parking.
Most first-time travelers to Turks and Caicos will pick a resort on Grace Bay Beach in Provo — and we have our favorites. Newer resorts (and some very cool villas) are popping up on Long Bay Beach, which has its own secluded charm, and you’ll also find lots of villas away from the crowds near Sapoidlla Bay. For something totally off-the-grid, spend two nights in Middle Caicos.
Peak Season: Mid-December through April (peak demand, high prices)
Shoulder Season: Early December; May and June (still great weather, better prices)
No Go: September. Many resorts close for renovations during off-season.
Fly direct from many major U.S. airports to (PLS). From there, you’re 15 minutes to most beach resorts.
To explore a little deeper, take a 20 minute ferry from PLS to the completely remote North and Middle Caicos, or a hopper flight to a lovely resort away from it all in South Caicos.
It’s the ultimate destination for a classic family beach vacation in the Caribbean. The ease and convenience – especially when you just want to relax on a gorgeous beach – is hard to beat. Enjoy amenities like:
You could spend dozens of hours researching your trip. Or you could have a family travel expert curate your personalized itinerary. What’s stopping you?
*Please note that some of the suggested actives are affiliate links. We only recommend activities that we know and trust.
* Please note that some of these product links are affiliate links, but we only recommend products we would use on our own travels.
Here, We dropped a pin (because no one likes asking for directions)
Laura, Family of 5, Spring Break 2022
Katy, Family of 4, May 2023
Mango Tree Travel, LLC is an affiliate of Jetset World Travel and a proud member of the Virtuoso(R) Network
Copyright 2022 Mango Tree Travel, LLC • Branding and Website by Green Tie Studio
CST: 2144280-50
FL SOT DTN: 3268121
WA (UBI): 604-661-571
By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies. We use cookies to provide you with a great experience and to help our website run effectively.