Turks and Caicos: Beach Hopping

The first day in Turks and Caicos took us all over the island. There are stunning beaches and vistas throughout the island, and with the use of the internet and recommendations from people around the resort, we set off to find them.

Princess Alexandria National Park

Our first stop of the day took us to Princess Alexandria National Park, which is a stretch of coastline on the north side of the island that includes a number of beaches and coral reefs. One thing we were keen on finding was a good snorkeling spot—and that we found at Bight Reef, aka, Coral Gardens.

We rented snorkeling gear for 24 hours at $20 per person from Dive Provo, hopped in the car and drove to the destination, which is right in front of the Coral Gardens Resort. We strolled down a path between the resort and an empty lot, threw on our gear and hopped into the welcoming water.

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This snorkeling was definitely impressive. The reef was dotted with different types of coral and many types of colorful fish. I could have stayed there all day, but we had other places to explore!

Grace Bay Beach

We headed back to our hotel after snorkeling to rest and retreat from the sun. For my sister and I, that just meant staying on the beach under and umbrella. For our dad, that meant hanging low inside. Grace Bay Beach is your typical gorgeous island beach with fine sand and bright blue water. There are no reefs in front of our resort, but the water is a relaxing escape from literally anything.

Sapodilla Bay

Next on our agenda was Sapodilla Bay, where Dad decided to head last minute due to the potential snorkeling there. This beach is on the south side of the island, and is lined with luxurious villas to rent. There’s a small shack you can find locals selling drinks and renting jet skis.

My sister laid on the beach while Dad and I headed to the elevated dock and cliffs, which is where the snorkeling was best. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much to see, but it was worth a shot! Dad found an overturned tin boat, which I quickly swam away from. I was not trying to get pulled into Davy Jones’ crew for life!

Chalk Sound National Park

Chalk Sound is a gorgeous natural lagoon on the southwest coast with the brightest blue waters I have ever seen. Its main draw is the the pure sight of its picturesque limestone arms that wrap around the water, making it almost land-locked, and the small cays that lay within.

The clear, shallow waters are perfect for kayaking and paddle boarding. Unfortunately, there is no designated launch spot, parking or public beaches in the park, as the coastline has been taken up by private homes. There are a few roads that lead down to the shore where you can definitely park your car and head into the water—you just have to find them. The nearest public beaches are at Sapodilla Bay and Taylor Bay.

This is just a small portion of what Providenciales has to offer, and luckily, many beaches are open to the public as long as you’re willing to find them. Have you ever been to a stunning beach you hope others can visit? Comment below!