Turks and Caicos Beaches Guide
Laura Schulthies
Laura Schulthies
Vanessa Howard
Vanessa HowardTurks and Caicos consists of 40 different islands and cays. While only 9 of those islands are inhabited, Turks and Caicos beaches are world famous. These pristinely beautiful beaches are protected from ocean surges by a stunning coral reef system, which is the third largest on the planet. This also means that the waters in the Turks and Caicos remain calm and crystal clear, providing some of the best beaches in the world. Pack your sunblock and use this guide to the best beaches in the Turks and Caicos to plan your perfect getaway.
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The Best Turks And Caicos Beaches
Grace Bay Beach
Grace Bay sits on the northeastern coast of Providenciales and is by far one of the most popular beaches in the Caicos Islands. Although it’s only 3 miles long the crystal clear coastline and sugary ivory sand has earned this beach the title of paradise, as well as many other accolades, including World’s Leading Beach Destination by World Travel Awards. If you’re looking for lux accommodations, this beach is also home to many of the island’s best luxury resorts such as Seven Stars Resort and Spa. Grace Bay is also a great beach for water activities including boat tours, sunset cruises, kayaking and paddle boarding. You can easily rent snorkeling equipment, jet skis, electronic surfboards (jetboards), scuba equipment, and sailing boats at Grace Bay Beach. You can also enjoy parasailing adventures on this beautiful shoreline.
Beach Amenities: Public Restrooms Available at Rickie’s Beach Access,Public Parking at Multiple Access Points (Grande Court, Forbes Point, Central, Rickie’s),Chair and Umbrellas For Rent at Central Beach Access, Beachfront Dining at Rickie’s Flamingo Café and Multiple Resort Restaurants.
Stay Nearby! Explore Providenciales hotels on TripAdvisor
Taylor Bay Beach
Taylor Bay Beach offers hundreds of yards of shallow calm waters, making it perfect for taking a dip. White sands give way to a beautiful crescent-shaped beach with crystal clear turquoise waters. This an excellent beach for families; there are no steep drop-offs to fear and minimal current, making this an ideal beach for kids. Watch for starfish, as they are visible to swimmers in the shallows. Keep in mind that it’s it is illegal to remove or harm the starfish. This beach is often secluded because visitors find it challenging to get to the beach. Be sure that you have clear directions.
Beach Amenities: Very Little Parking – Park Off Ocean Point Drive, No Public Restrooms, No Additional Amenities.
Stay Nearby! Explore Providenciales hotels on TripAdvisor
Long Bay Beach
Long Bay Beach on the island of Providenciales is the ideal getaway for those looking for adventure. This beach is known for having the perfect conditions for kiteboarding thanks to the constant eastern trade winds and the shallow depths of the water. The powdery white sands and brilliant turquoise waters provide gorgeous scenery as the beach is also known as one of the best places to go horseback riding in Turks and Caicos. If kiteboarding and horseback riding isn’t your thing you can charter a boat to explore the La Famille Express, a Soviet-built cargo ship that ran aground during Hurricane Frances in 2004.
Beach Amenities: Paved Parking Lot Available at Shore Club, Public Access at Stubb’s Cove, No Additional Amenities Available.
Stay Nearby! Explore Providenciales hotels on TripAdvisor
Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay is a beach of sandbars and stunning turquoise lagoons thanks to its location between Water Cay and Little Water Cay. This is the top boat excursion destination in all of Turks and Caicos. Make sure to keep an eye out for the Turks and Caicos Rock Iguanas scurrying around the dunes. Keep in mind it’s illegal to feed, touch, or disturb the endangered rock iguanas, and violators face fines and potential jail time. You may also notice small lemon sharks in the crystal lagoons around Half Moon Bay.
Beach Amenities: Access By Boat Tour, Kayak, or Paddleboard Only ($10 admission fee for Half Moon Bay; $20 for Little Water Cay iguana trails, collected by Turks and Caicos National Trust). No Additional Amenities Available.
Stay Nearby! Explore Providenciales hotels on TripAdvisor
Mudjin Harbor
Mudjin Harbor in Middle Caicos is stunningly dramatic with beautiful blue surf breaking on 3 miles of brilliant white sand beach surrounded by scenic bluffs. You can explore the caves including two unique cave systems with beach access, and one featuring stairs carved into the limestone leading to a hidden beach below. Or explore offshore islands such as Dragon Cay, which is accessible via a sandbar at low tide. Give yourself several hours to explore the bluffs and the offshore islands because there are so many things to see. Or walk the historical Crossing Place Trail, a moderate 4.6 mile trail that will lead you across the amazing landscape of Middle Caicos including hills, beaches and cliffs. Be aware that this isn’t one of the best beaches for swimming due to its location. Its proximity to the nearby reefs also draws in the not aggressive or dangerous, gray reef sharks who can often be seen close to the shore.
Beach Amenities: Accessible By Paid Ferry, Drivable From North Caicos or Middle Caicos, Dog Friendly, Mudjin Bar & Grill, No Additional Amenities Available.
Stay Nearby! Explore Middle Caicos hotels on TripAdvisor
Leeward Beach
Those looking for seclusion will love Leeward Beach, a spectacularly beautiful shoreline with fewer crowds than the famous Grace Bay. The brilliant turquoise waters and close access points make Leeward Beach phenomenal for sunsets, especially from Stubb’s Point (also called Sunset Beach or Pelican Beach). Due to the rock jetties, there are better beaches for snorkeling in the surrounding area. However, it is the perfect beach to enjoy the Caribbean sun while sunbathing or swimming. Leeward Beach is also popular for sea kayaking, kite, and windsurfing.
Beach Amenities: No Amenities (Bathrooms, Changing Stations, Showers), Public Beach Access Points at Stubb’s Point, Pelican Point, and Leeward Going Through.
Stay Nearby! Explore Providenciales hotels on TripAdvisor
Pillory Beach
At Pillory Beach you’ll find a quiet and sheltered coastline that makes up the second-best beach on Grand Turk. On these soft white sands and tranquil clear waters, you won’t have to deal with crowds or cruise lines. The beach lies within Columbus Landfall National Park and stretches around 2 miles of varying terrain including both perfect sand bottom for swimming and rocky outcrops. If you’re interested in history, some experts believe that Christopher Columbus landed in Grand Turk at this very spot, while others believe that the famous explorer landed in the Bahamas.
Beach Amenities: Ample Public Parking, Vendors Selling Drinks and Snacks, Vendors Renting Chairs, No Additional Amenities.
Stay Nearby! Explore Grand Turk hotels on TripAdvisor
Bambarra Beach
Bambarra Beach is a beautiful long stretch of sand and one of the most popular attractions in the Middle Caicos. This beach is located on a shallow bay, so the waters here are crystal clear and calm and tend to be warmer than the surrounding beaches. An excellent place for swimming and relaxing in the sand, Bambarra Beach is also an excellent place for families. This beach also fronts the small historic settlement of Bambarra, which has stood in the area since the days of the Loyalist plantations in the late 1700s.
Beach Amenities: Picnic Tables, Covered Cabana, and Benches at Bambarra Landing parking area, Restaurants and Bar Shacks By Parking, The parking area with the tiki huts at Bambarra Landing is the main access to this beach. No Amenities Available.
Stay Nearby! Explore Middle Caicos hotels on TripAdvisor
Malcolm’s Road Beach
This remote beach on Providenciales is on the far west end of the island, about a 30-minute drive from Grace Bay. Malcolm’s Road Beach is unique because of its combination of beautiful rocky coastline and white sand beaches spanning about 1.3 miles. If you’re interested in scuba diving this is one of the closest beaches to the reef wall and the reef is easily reachable by boat. Another option is to book a boat excursion and snorkel right off the beach. You’re sure to be mesmerized by the beautiful underwater world that awaits. Keep in mind that the beach closes at sundown.
Beach Amenities: Access via 3-mile Unpaved Road from Wheeland/Blue Hills area (4WD/high-clearance SUV strongly recommended—road can be very rough), Small Paved Parking Area with Single Covered Pavilion, No Bathrooms or Running Water, No Vendors.
Stay Nearby! Explore Providenciales hotels on TripAdvisor
Governor’s Beach
The strikingly beautiful Governor’s Beach on Grand Turk has some of the clearest waters on the island. The beach gets its name from being the location of Waterloo, the Governor’s Mansion. You can find the mansion a short distance from the beach. The wide strip of white sand is great for relaxing and sunbathing. Luckily, a lush grove of native casuarina trees provides ample shade. Many cruise lines do dock nearby and this beach can become crowded at times. The Governor’s Beach is also not a great beach for snorkeling.
Beach Amenities: Ample Public Parking, Rentable Beach Chairs and Sun Loungers. No Additional Amenities.
Stay Nearby! Explore Grand Turk hotels on TripAdvisor
Whitby Beach
Whitby Beach is known as one of the nicest beaches on North Caicos. This is the largest continuous beach on the island stretching 3.5 miles along the northern Atlantic coast, and you won’t find crowds here. You’ll typically have these dazzling ivory sands and turquoise waters all to yourself. Sunbathing and relaxing are high on the list of priorities when it comes to a Whitby Beach getaway. You can also snorkel at Pelican Point, the mid-way point of Whitby Beach. It’s an interesting site for both snorkeling and swimming but be aware that this beach does tend to experience more floating seaweed than other Turks and Caicos beaches due to its Atlantic-facing exposure.
Beach Amenities: Ample Public Parking. No Additional Amenities.
Stay Nearby! Explore North Caicos hotels on TripAdvisor
Sandy Point Beach
If you’re looking for an interesting place to explore look no further than Sandy Point Beach in North Caicos. This secluded 2-mile beach offers sugary white sands and stunningly clear water. If you’re wanting to explore then head to the eastern portion of the beach where groves of thatch palms grow on top of the dunes. The sandbar and shallow channels also make Sandy Point Beach unique as the northwestern portion of the beach is next to the channel between North Caicos and Parrot Cay. This creates an incredible landscape of sandbars and stunning turquoise hued channels. Sandy Point is not the best beach for swimming. Keep in mind thatthe ferry from Providenciales no longer arrives at Sandy Point Marina, it now lands at Bellefield Landing.
Beach Amenities: Street Parking Available, 4WD Recommended Due to Sandy Access Roads, Dog Friendly, No Additional Amenities.
Stay Nearby! Explore North Caicos hotels on TripAdvisor
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