One of our favorite activities is seeing how much fun our guests are having while visiting The Sands! Social media has become an important tool for us to connect with guests, not only for their feedback but also to be able to see them having fun on-property! We read each and every comment posted on Facebook, every reply and retweet on Twitter and see every photo tagged on Instagram. Thank you to all of you for sharing your feedback with us!
Our Instagram account (@thesandstc) is an especially popular platform where we see tags, posts and comments daily from guests. Whether its relaxing on Grace Bay beach, sipping a cocktail at Hemingway’s or participating in a breathtaking beach wedding – we’re thrilled to see everyone’s photos and wanted to share some of them with you!
Be sure to follow us @thesandstc and tag us in your photos – there’s no better time than now to log on and share a throwback photo from your visit to The Sands! There were so many great photos, we had to choose just a few but will continue to share more with you soon. Thank you #SandsFans!
However, what may be news to some is that the Turks and Caicos, with a population of just 33,000 people is already a member of a much larger political entity. No, it’s not the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). Thanks to the country’s current status as a British Overseas Territory, the Turks and Caicos (TCI) actually has strong ties with the European Union.
Strong Ties to the EU Thanks to the UK
Right now, thanks to their connection to the UK, citizens of the Turks and Caicos can live and work in Europe. They don’t need a visa to do so. The EU itself provides the Turks and Caicos with a number of subsidies and programs, aimed at protecting the environment and building economic capacity.
What’s more, the Turks and Caicos enjoys a free trade agreement with both the UK and the EU. There no barriers preventing the Turks and Caicos to exporting either the UK or the European Union, while the Turks and Caicos has the right to impose tariffs on EU imports.
All in all, access to the EU provides Turks and Caicos with a ton of benefits. But, thanks to the Brexit, those benefits may be in doubt. With a GDP growth of 5.94% in 2015, the Turks and Caicos is projected to experience economic growth of 4.4% in 2016, 4.3% in 2017 and 5.3% in 2018.
The Brexit could put all of that in jeopardy.
What is the Brexit?
Brexit is an abbreviation of “British exit”, which refers to the June 23, 2016 referendum by British voters to exit the European Union. The referendum roiled global markets, including currencies, causing the British pound to fall to its lowest level in decades.
In the non-binding referendum, the British public by a 52 to 48% margin voted for the UK to withdraw from the EU. Although the UK has not yet triggered Article 50 of the Treaty of European Union (Treaty of Lisbon), there is understandable concern among Caribbean countries about what implications the UK’s possible exit from the EU (Brexit) will have for their relationships with both the UK and EU.
The relationship with the EU means the Turks and Caicos enjoys de facto free trade, freedom of movement and access to subsidies and revenue transfers. The Brexit leaves all of this up in the air.
It’s unknown how the Brexit will affect this freedom of movement.
By Flickr user Rian Castillo. (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Access to Funding
Surprisingly, the European Union has provided funding for a variety of projects throughout the islands, such as visitor centres at Little Water Cay (Iguana Island) and Cheshire Hall Plantation, and the majority of the funding for the North and Middle Caicos Causeway.
The Brexit leaves the fate of this funding up in the air.
Fewer British Tourists, Fewer Pounds Being Spent in TCI
What will be the immediate effect of the Brexit? A weaker British pound is having an immediate impact:
a likely trend for American and Caribbean tourists to find Britain an attractive destination with lower prices as the pound falls
a possible decline in British visitor numbers to the Caribbean
a possible reduction in the amount spent by Brits abroad
However, inbound tourism to the Turks and Caicos has only increased over the past five years as the territory has recovered from the Great Financial Crisis. So far 2016 has been one of the busiest tourist seasons in the history of the Turks and Caicos. These booming numbers are based mainly on US and Canadian tourists, and it’s likely the boom will continue for now.
How Trade Will Be Affected
The Brexit could hurt the entire Caribbean economy, since trade with Britain, either the fifth- or sixth-largest economy in the world, depending on how you measure it, will no longer be able to trade with the EU and will itself take a large economic hit.
Once the UK has concluded its withdrawal from the EU it will cease to be a party to any EU trade treaties, including the CARIFORUM-EC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The EPA, which was signed in 2008, provides with duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market.
Focusing on the UK will be key, say some experts. The Turks and Caicos and other Caribbean nations will have to forge closer links with businesses and private sector organisations in the UK and seek out new business opportunities.
The Caribbean diaspora living in the UK, while an important source of remittance inflows, is a still largely undertapped resource as an export market and source of foreign direct investment.
And she hints that maybe there weren’t really strong connections with the EU in the first place:
The consensus so far is that nearly 10 years after the signing of the EPA, most CARIFORUM countries have not realised the benefits expected. Simply put, market access does not guarantee market penetration. Sound market research will be needed to identify specific niches within the EU market which Caribbean goods and services providers could tap into.
What Do You Think?
Many people think that, ultimately, the Brexit will be a positive development for Britain. There are opportunities for the UK to develop new trading partnerships and initiatives, and generally plot its own course in the world. For the Turks and Caicos, the connection to the EU is currently tenuous, so perhaps the territory will benefit from this realignment.
An aerial view of Prince's Mansion, Turks Caicos. Image from Google Maps.
Recently the world discovered that Providenciales is home to a stunning Caribbean hideaway belonging to the late singer Prince. Prince’s mansion in Turks and Caicos, an oceanfront property, features 10 bedrooms and a purple driveway, and is now on sale for $12 million.
When Prince bought the gated mansion in 2010 he had the driveway painted purple, his signature colour, and it was Prince’s idyllic retreat, away from it all in the Turks and Caicos. The mansion boasts 10,000 square feet of living space, jaw-dropping views of the turquoise Caicos Bight, two private beaches and star-class amenities that would guarantee privacy and luxury when the star was away from his home base in suburban (and, in the winter, chilly) Minneapolis.
The Purple Rain singer’s former Shangri La is set on a peninsula on the south side Providenciales – itself named the world’s best island. Provo is famous for its heavenly crystal clear waters, white sand beaches and exclusive properties, like Prince’s retreat.
Ten bedrooms and 10 bathrooms are spread throughout the main villa, a two-storey guest house and a residence for staff, while amenities include a pool, tennis court, tropical gardens, walking trails and a boat dock.
The main residence features a master suite with his and hers walk-in closets, two en-suite bedrooms, a dining room and kitchen, covered terrace with a bar, gym/studio, home theatre and a grand foyer.
An attached guest wing has two bedrooms with a shared balcony, while a guest house has two additional bedrooms with Juliet balconies, a private terrace, a kitchen and dining and living area. There is also a three-bedroom house for staff.
— Boat & Yacht Charter (@BoatYachtGuru) May 11, 2016
Other Celebrity Homes in Turks and Caicos
In addition to Prince, celebrities that reportedly own property include model Christie Brinkley, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards and actor Bruce Willis.
Fashion Donna Caran’s Turks and Caicos retreat is reported to feature its own water park.
Celebrity houses! Be sure to check out Celine Dion’s personal waterpark & Donna Karan’s Turks & Caicos vacation home https://t.co/9WLw0J7DUe
It’s 2016, which means it’s an election year in the United States. Democrat or Republican, no matter who looks like they’re going to win the election, there is one question everyone seems to ask each time:
How can I immigrate to Canada?
Canada: the Ideal Version of the United States?
Even before Canada rushed to accept 25,000 Syrian refugees at the end of 2015, many American have long considered Canada to be a friendlier, more polite version of the United States to the north.
There’s free healthcare.
People say “sorry” a lot.
There’s clean air, lakes to fish in, plenty of skiing.
There’s even beaches!
A beach in Turks and Caicos? No —this is a beach in Canada. Photo by Flickr user Andrea Schaffer. License: CC BY 2.0.
Above all, Canada is considered to be a place where you can leave behind all of the mundane, day-to-day troubles of living in the United States, including dealing with elections.
As anyone who has visited our islands likely knows, there has long been discussion of Turks and Caicos becoming part of Canada. It’s a story that pops up at least once a year. Most recently one of Canada’s opposition parties debated the idea at their annual convention in April, 2016.
Canada’s federal government always shoots down the idea, but people still find the concept of Canada acquiring “its own Hawaii” fascinating.
— Yahoo Canada News (@YahooCanadaNews) May 27, 2014
For the Turks and Caicos joining Canada seems like a good idea. Citizens would have access to Canada’s large labor market, and would also benefit from increased funding for health, education and infrastructure. Ice hockey and skiing is just icing on the cake.
While there are many reasons for Turks and Caicos to not join Canada, the two nations share a common language (English), a common system of government, and are both members of the Commonwealth. Many Canadians travel to Turks and Caicos every year, and some have even made Turks and Caicos their home.
But, after years of trying, Canada and the Turks and Caicos remain two separate countries with little hope of forming any kind of union.
Why Immigrate to Canada?
Like the people of the Turks and Caicos, some Americans have never given up hope of emigrating to Canada. While Canada’s status a benevolent and non-threatening nation to the north may be a bit of a fantasy, Canada has provided a refuge for thousands of Americans during an earlier turbulent time.
Between 1965 and 1975 it’s estimated that 40,000 young American men “escaped to Canada” to avoid being drafted to fight in the Vietnam war.
On this day in 1977 President Carter granted amnesty to hundreds of thousands of men who evaded the draft during the Vietnam War
While some remained in Canada for the rest of their lives, many draft resisters (or draft dodgers, depending on your point of view) returned to the United States following President Carter’s declaration of amnesty in 1977. Some of these returnees must have brought back warm memories of Canada with them.
What’s Canada Really Like?
April in Canada. Image by Flickr user Sarah. License: CC BY 2.0.
Here are a few facts about Canada, America’s neighbor to the north:
Canada is the world’s second-largest country by area.
It’s home to more than 35 million people.
Most of these people live within 100 miles of the American border.
This last factoid means that, despite its large size, most Canadians are crammed into just a few cities, which makes buying a house expensive relative to income.
There is another important fact anyone considering moving to Canada should know:
Canadians enjoy US$30k of disposable income a year (source)
Americans enjoy US40k of disposable income a year (source)
To put it bluntly, Canadians don’t earn as much as Americans, and they’re taxed more. The “free healthcare” in Canada that Americans hear about actually costs a lot of money, and high taxes pay for it.
Why Moving to Canada May Not Be So Easy
While it’s fun to fantasize about picking up and quickly bugging out to America’s friendly but chilly doppelganger to the north, it’s time for a reality check:
Moving from the United States to Canada is more involved than just packing up your belongings and finding a new place to live.
Here are some basic pointers about moving to Canada:
Before anyone (and this includes Americans) can move to Canada, you must apply for permanent Canadian residency with the office of Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
For skilled workers, there is an “Express Entry” program that may make the immigration process faster. Everyone else has to fill out plenty of paperwork.
The process isn’t quick, easy or cheap: for example, an adult applying to remain in Canada as a permanent resident will have to pay $550 to apply for that status.
And if you think marrying a Canadian is the quick way to get in the back door, here’s some more bad news: You won’t automatically become a Canadian citizen if you marry someone who is.
To find out if you’re eligible to work or live permanently in Canada, complete the Canadian government’s online questionnaire here.
Other Reasons to Reconsider Moving to Canada
Besides the cold, there are some very important reasons to reconsider that plan to move to Canada after the election in November.
Toronto in winter. By Flickr user aka Tman. License: CC BY 2.0.
1. Canada is Cold
As everyone knows, Canada is pretty cold. If you’re unfamiliar with how cold it is in Canada, just remember that it’s colder than the Polar Vortex that has plagued the United States for the past few years — with the “wind chill” it’s typically -40F in winter in Toronto… it’s one of the reasons so many people come here to the Turks and Caicos!
2. There’s No Hulu and Netflix is Terrible
At the moment Hulu is not offered in Canada. While there is Netflix, streaming content is fairly limited in Canada, and Netflix is cracking down on VPN’s.
3. Your Favorite Stores Are Not in Canada
There’s no Trader Joe’s in Canada. Target pulled out of Canada last year. There’s no White Castle, and there is definitely no In-N-Out Burger.
On the other hand, Canada is home to iconic brands such as Herschel, Viberg and lululemon, so it’s not a total shopping wasteland north of the border.
There’s Always Turks and Caicos
Whatever election night in November 2016 brings, even if you can’t move to Canada, it’s important to remember one things: there’s always Turks and Caicos.
By Flickr user Daniel Ross . (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Winter is sunny and warm, and Grace Bay Beach is waiting to take your troubles away. We’d love to see you.
For guests of The Sands at Grace Bay or Providenciales visitors looking to explore the nearby Turks & Caicos Islands for a fun day trip, Caribbean Cruisin’ conveniently offers a twice-weekly 75-minute ferry service from Providenciales to South Caicos Island which departs on Friday and Sunday.
Things to do in South Caicos:
South Caicos offers world class snorkeling and diving ‘off the beach’ or a short boat ride away. There’s even an amazing 7000ft reef wall for scuba divers to explore with a few wrecks.??You can wander around the sleepy town of Cockburn Harbor and because South Caicos has a thriving fishing, conch and lobster industry, enjoy lunch or dinner in one of the local restaurants to enjoy freshly caught fish and seafood. There are many points of interest to explore including Flamingo Pond, Wades Green Loyalist Plantation, Cottage Pond and Horse Stable Beach
Other attractions for visitors in South Caicos include:
Kayaking & stand up paddle boarding through the mangroves
Bone fishing and deep sea fishing are popular as South Caicos is known as the fishing center of the Islands
Visit Long Cay to see the Iguanas
Trek along the North shore or just relax on one of the many beautiful deserted beaches.
The island also hosts the annual BIG SOUTH Regatta held in May each year.
Explore the Conch Bar caves or hike across the Crossing Place Trail
For guests of The Sands at Grace Bay looking to explore the nearby Turks & Caicos Islands for a fun day trip, Caribbean Cruisin’ conveniently offers daily ferry service from Providenciales to North Caicos and South Caicos Islands. The 25-minute ferry ride from Providenciales to North Caicos is offered several times throughout the day, every Monday through Sunday.
Three Mary’s Cay, North Caicos
Here are some fun things to do and attractions to see in North Caicos:
Things to do in North Caicos:
Snorkelers enjoy the shallow clear waters and various coral heads along the North shore. The beaches along the North shore are gently sloping and the waves are minimal as the shoreline is protected by the barrier reef, about 1 mile from the coast.
North Caicos is home to some of the following attractions:
Three Mary’s Cays Sanctuary – a breathtaking beach known for snorkeling and its serenity
Whitby Beach – a 7 mile stretch of white sand beach that is famous for its snorkeling
Protected nature reserves – home to West Indian Flamingos
Eco-Adventure tours – guided kayak, mountain bike and boat tours are a great way to explore this island
Provindenciales in Turks and Caicos is regularly recognized as one of the best islands in the world. It’s a nice place to visit, and an even nicer place to live.
Anyone who has ever visited our island can tell you why: perfect weather, friendly people and a relaxed island vibe all combine to make Providenciales a perfect place to visit.
Grace Bay Beach and the Bight Reef, near the Sands on Grace Bay
While tourism has rebounded dramatically following the economic downturn of 2007, Providenciales and the Turks and Caicos are only just starting to be considered as a retirement destination.
Over the past decade major infrastructure projects such as a revitalized airport have led to more frequent direct flights to Providencials (PLS).
And, the recovery of the global economy has meant an increase in construction projects on Providenciales aimed at boosting the islands relatively small stock of retirement villas.
If you have considered retiring on Providenciales we have created this short guide to help get you started.
Who Lives In Turks and Caicos?
The islands are home to roughly 30,000 full time residents, and welcome more than 200,000 tourist annually.
The Turks and Caicos is home to a multi-ethnic and international population. People come here from all over the Caribbean and all over the world to work in the tourism sector.
The Turks and Caicos is also a port of call for many adventurers and dreamers who have come here searching for a simpler way of life and a chance to experience the Caribbean of days gone by.
Still, there is a strong and proud local culture here of “Belongers.”
The majority of the “Belonger” population are descendents of Africans who were brought to the Caribbean with Bermudians in the 1700’s to work on the salt pans and later with Loyalists to work on cotton plantations.
But thanks to the charm and beauty of the Turks and Caicos Islands there is also a growing number of “expatriate” residents of North American, European and Asian descent who discovered the magic of
Why Relocate to Turks and Caicos?
Providenciales and Grace Bay Beach are routinely ranked as the world’s best places to visit.
Anyone who ever comes here raves about the sublime beauty of Grace Bay Beach’s powdery white sand and crystal-clear water.
By Flickr user Daniel Ross . (CC BY-SA 2.0)
However, Providenciales is more than a place to visit. There is a rich island culture here. There is also delicious food at some of the most sophisticated restaurants in the Caribbean.
If you like sailing, scuba diving or fishing, there are also 40 islands and cays to explore all across the shallow Caicos Bank.
And the weather is sunny and warm for almost the entire year.
The average temperature ranges between 85 and 90 degrees (29-32 degrees celsius) from June to October, sometimes reaching the mid 90’s in August and early September.
By Flickr user Daniel Ross. (CC BY-SA 2.0)
From November to May the average temperature averages an even more pleasant 80 to 84 degrees (27-29 degrees Celsius).
A constant trade wind keeps the climate at a very comfortable level.
Where else would you want to spend the rest of your days?
Where Are the Turks and Caicos?
The Turks and Caicos Islands is an archipelago of 40 cays and islets located about an hour by air from Miami, and about 3 hours by air from New York.
The Turks and Caicos sit atop the Caicos Bank. It’s a massive underwater seamount rising up from the deeps of the ocean floor. Just offshore to the north of the Caicos islands run barrier reefs. To the south lies the shallow waters of the Caicos Bank.
Its 40 islands and cays are perfect for exploring.
By Flickr user Rian Castillo. (CC BY-SA 2.0)
While Grand Turk in the east, across the Caicos Channel, is the capital of the territory, Providenciales on the western end is the most populated of all the islands. The main airport is located on Providenciales, as well as many of the resorts and real estate developments.
Besides world-class restaurants and fine dining, Providenciales is also home to convenient, well-stocked shops such as the Graceway grocery chain.
Providenciales
While Providenciales is home to major luxury resorts, the island still retains much of the atmosphere of the old Caribbean.
The main urban center of the island is the Bight Settlement. Besides being close to shopping and services, the Bight is also the location of the Bight Reef, a coral reef within wading distance from the shore of Grace Bay.
Like the Bight, the settlement of Blue Hills is built around a supply of fresh water. Both the Bight and Blue Hills give a real feeling of Caribbean villages. In the Down Town section, near the airport there are retail shops, business offices and banks.
Chalk Sound. By Flickr user Tim Sackton. (CC BY-SA 2.0)
On the southwestern end of Providenciales, about ten minutes by car from Down Town, lies Chalk Sound. It’s a large lake with striking turquoise water and an array of small cays.
For shopping, many locals depend on IGA’s Graceway chain of supermarkets. Grace Bay, the main tourist area of Providenciales, features Graceway Gourmet, an upscale grocery store with fine, natural and organic foods.
Photo by Tobias Linman, Flickr
Windward or Leeward on Providenciales?
Generally speaking, when people talk about Providenciales they refer to “windward side” or “leeward side.” Leeward stretches along the northeast coast of Providenciales.
The placid waters of beautiful Grace Bay Beach is on Leeward. The water is so calm on Grace Bay Beach because it is in the “lee” of the wind, and is protected from the easterly trade winds that come in off the Atlantic.
Leeward end is also the location of shallow mangrove swamps. It’s the perfect place to go kayaking or paddle-boarding.
Long Bay Beach. By Flickr user Jussi Ollila. (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The opposite side of the island receives constant trade winds year-round. Thanks to these winds, Long Bay Beach on Providenciales is known as one of the best kite surfing locations on the island.
Long Bay Beach is also famous for its pony rides. It’s one of the wilder and less-developed corners of Providenciales.
Amazing Food
If you travel to the Turks and Caicos today you’ll be able to choose from almost every cuisine on earth.
This is because, as the islands have become more popular as a tourist destination, people have been attracted from all over the world to live and work here.
The island of Providenciales in particular offers everything from sushi and high-end fusion cuisine to Indian and Chinese food.
Conch fritters, the quintessential Turks and Caicos dish.
Of course, everyone who travels to the Turks and Caicos will want to eat seafood, which includes local delicacies such as mahi mahi, tuna, rock lobster and the ever-present conch.
Drought-resistant maize (a kind of corn) does well in the semi-arid conditions of the Turks and Caicos.
As a result, hominy grits are a popular part of traditional local cuisine.
By Flickr user Tim Sackton. (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Traditional dishes include conch and hominy, cod fish cakes and corn bread. Steamed conch, stewed conch, and stewed fish and grits.
Crab and rice, which features the blue crab common to the islands, is also a local comfort food.
How Easy is It to Travel Here?
There are direct flights between Providenciales Airport (PLS) and many cities throughout North America and Canada, including New York, Atlanta, Miami, Toronto and Montreal.
New InterCaribbean air service also up and running
InterCaribbean Airways has also introduced new flights from their home base on Providenciales, connecting Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to Antigua and Barbuda. Read more.
What About the Government?
The Turks & Caicos Islands is a British Overseas Territory. A Governor is appointed by the Queen and presides over an Executive Council formed by an elected local self-government.
Government offices are located in Grand Turk, with branches on other islands. The legal system is based on English Common Law.
The Islands’ currency is US Dollars. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Travellers Cheques are widely accepted on Providenciales. Banks will accept all forms of currency for conversion.
Immigration and Visas
For tourist stays up to 30 days, U.S. citizens need a passport, naturalization certificate, or original certified birth certificate as well as photo identification, onward or return tickets, and sufficient funds for their stay.
By Flickr user Daniel Ross . (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Working in Turks and Caicos
A work permit entitles a person to work for one employer which applies for and endorses the employee. Spouses and children can be endorsed on work permits for skilled workers. Learn more.
Temporary Residence Permits (TRP)
A TRP can be obtained by the Immigration department for those interested in residing in the islands without the right to work for a limited period of time, generally up to one-year.
Changeover from a TPR to a work permit is not permitted. Children up to age 18 and spouses can be endorsed on a TRP. Learn more.
Stamp duty ranges from 6.5-percent to 10-percent. This is a one-time land transfer tax, based on price and location of the property. There are no capital gains or estate taxes on real estate.
Exploring the Turks and Caicos
Forty islands and cays offer almost unlimited opportunities for exploring for long-term residents. If you love sailing you can visit isolated cays where once pirates roamed. Or you can take day trips to sparsely populated Middle Caicos and North Caicos. Explore further out into the Caicos Bight and reach South Caicos.
Everywhere around you will be surrounded by the shallow crystal-clear waters that have made the Turks and Caicos so famous.
Much of the northern coastline is protected by a long barrier reef, which drops a thousand meters down to the bottom of the Atlantic. The currents and upflows of nutrients make the reefs of the Turks and Caicos perfect for diving.
What’s Healthcare Like on Providenciales?
Providenciales is home to a state-of-the art medical center, Chesire Hall.
Health services provided at the center includes emergency care, dental, dialysis, internal medicine, surgical, orthopedic, obstetric and endoscopic procedures, physiotherapy and diagnostic imaging.
Fay to day healthcare and emergency services are handled by private clinics. There is also a hospital, Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, which many of the services that one would find in the USA or Canada.
If you are not a resident of the Turks and Caicos and do not have an employer, you must sign up for private medical insurance before coming to the island.
A Truly Beautiful Place
Chalk Sound. By Flickr user Tim Sackton. (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The Turks and Caicos is a safe, pleasant and utterly beautiful place to visit or come to live. While it may not be easy to set up residency, many people do successfully plan long-term stays here. If you have any questions about moving to Turks and Caicos, please leave us a comment below.
GoCaribbean.About.com recently featured a “Cool Caribbean Beach Gear For Your Spring Getaway” article highlighting some great beach gear product recommendations that we loved! Here are 3 products featured in the article that our guests may enjoy bringing to use during their stay at The Sands at Grace Bay in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos:
Polk AudioSwimmer Duo – this Bluetooth speaker is perfect for hanging along one of our pool or beach chairs. It has a dirt, shock and water proof case. You can also use it in your hotel room by attaching it to a mirror with the suction cup that comes included in your purchase. It charges quickly and the battery lasts up to 8 hours.
Polk Audio
Adidas Climacool Voyager – These quick-drying, lightweight hiking shoes have a drainage system to help keep water out when you’re on wet trails. They would be great for strolls along our Grace Bay Beach as well as handy to take along on boat rides during your Turks & Caicos trip.
Adidas
Fivesse Beach Backpack – This beach bag is great for enjoying a day along our Grace Bay Beach, for biking around Providenciales or for bringing on a fun day excursion in the Turks & Caicos Islands. It has a water resistant interior, removable water-resistant bags for sunscreen or snacks, an outside towel holder, and plenty of pockets including one pocket for seashells!
Fivesse
Thanks to all our guests who participated in our March #SandsSelfie photos – the photos you submitted on our Facebook & Instagram pages were simply outstanding and we loved seeing all your smiling faces! The results of our March #SandsSelfie Turks & Caicos photo contest are finally in – and we’re excited to announce the winning photo submission that will be awarded a gift certificate for a 3-Night Stay in a luxurious one-bedroom oceanview suite at The Sands:
Here’s the Winning #SandsSelfie photo that was posted onto our Facebook wall by Erin Katsman-Lesynski:
This photo captures one of the many reasons why families continue to come stay with us at our top-rated Providenciales resort and why we were named a “2015 Family Favorite Hotel” by Family Vacation Critic. Not only are we situated on Provo’s world-famous Grace Bay Beach (recently named #1 beach in the world by TripAdvisor), but we offer a plethora of family friendly free amenities for guests to have even more fun under the sun during their Turks & Caicos trip including watersports equipment, snorkeling gear, bicycles, 3 swimming pools and more – in addition to offering affordable rates for spacious studio and suite accommodations that are complete with all the comforts of home.
Congratulations and thank you for sharing this terrific family photo with us, Erin!
We encourage all our guests to continue to share their #SandsSelfie photos with us through our resort’s Facebook Page, Instagram and Pinterest pages. We now have convenient Sands at Grace Bay “Selfie frames” that you can use for even more photo taking fun – and the frames are also a great way to capture your incredible memories during your stay with us.
Still haven’t planned your summer vacation? We’re offering a 4th Night Free special offer for spring and summer travel beginning this May and it’s valid on ALL room categories – so hurry to book your summer stay for LESS! Contact us today or make your reservations online.
The Turks and Caicos Islands lie in the Atlantic Ocean to the east of the Bahamas, and about forty minutes by plane from Miami and the North American mainland.
The archipelago of 40 cays and islets sits on a sea mount rising up from the Atlantic Ocean. Each cay is unique and provides a glimpse of life in the Caribbean in times gone by.
Image from Wikipedia
If you can ever drag yourself away from beautiful Grace Bay Beach, an entire world is awaiting you here to explore in the Turks and Caicos.
Here are some easy day trips from The Sands at Grace Bay.
Caving on Middle Caicos
This adventure begins with a scenic boat ride from Provo to North Caicos—you can most easily get to the caves of Middle Caicos from North Caicos—where you’ll stop along the way to snorkel on the barrier reef.
Middle Caicos itself is home to just 300 full-time residents. It’s a wonderful day trip by boat from Provo.
North Caicos
After landing on North Caicos you will set off to explore the conch bar caves and venture deep inside the earth with your native guide to view stalactites and stalagmites, bats, white owls and incredible limestone formations.
North Caicos. Image by Flickr user kanu101. License: 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
North Caicos itself is largely undeveloped. Visiting the island offers a look at Turks and Caicos the way it used to be. The trip to North Caicos can and makes for an interesting day trip from Providenciales.
However, now that you’re on North Caicos, continuing to travel on to Middle Caicos is well-worth the effort. A narrow sandy causeway connects the two islands. While it is possible to walk the trail to reach Middle Caicos, it would take far too long.
Image by Flickr user Ali West
Instead, rent or arrange transport to take you to Middle Caicos and its caves.
Mudjin Harbor, Middle Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands. Image by Flickr user Tim Sackton. License: 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
The caves of Middle Caicos are located close to Mudjin Harbour. The limestone bluffs offer some truly unforgettable views of spectacular seascapes here.
Middle Caicos. Image by Flicker user Ali West. License: 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
Besides awe-inspiring views Mudjin Harbour features some truly gorgeous beaches.
Dragon Cay, a small limestone cay, is accessible from the beach at low tide.
Image by Flickr user Tim Sackton. Mudjin Harbor, Middle Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands. License: 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
But even if the tide does not cooperate, the beach at Mudjin Harbour provides a unique place to splash in the sea and relax on the beautiful white sand.
Middle Caicos Caves
The Turks and Caicos are famous for having the largest above-ground cave network in the entire Caribbean and a private tour is just the way to explore it. Some of the most striking caves are found on Middle Caicos.
Image by Ali West. License: 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
The caves, since they’re above ground, can be explored easily by anyone (with the proper footwear), and offer an interesting glimpse at the natural history and cultural heritage of the Caribbean.
Only recently rediscovered, the caves were once the home of Lucayan Indians, and it’s thought they sheltered in the caves during hurricanes. The Village Caves and the Conch Bar are the most frequently visited caves on Middle Caicos.
Located to the southeast of Middle Caicos, South Caicos is not a day trip. Instead South Caicos is a destination in its own right. It can be accessed by water taxi, but it’s far easier to fly there.
Image by Flickr user spezz. License: 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
South Caicos is a private island. There is accommodation there, but the island is best known for being the location of summer homes and villas of movie stars.
Image by Flickr user Brian Brake. License: 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
Most of the activities on South Caicos involve the water: windsurfing, kiteboarding, snorkeling and scuba diving and even some fishing.
Image by Flickr user Brian Brake. License: 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
South Caicos is surrounded by shallow shoals and flats—perfect for bonefishing. Airboats are available to take anglers out to the best bonefishing spots.
Exploring Providenciales
Even if you don’t have time to do a day trip to explore more of the Turks and Caicos, our very own island of Providenciales.
Leeward Beach, Provo
Leeward Beach, on the northeast end of Provo, provides a secluded, spectacular beach to explore.
Image by Flickr user Christine Jackowski. License: 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
Leeward is a fantastic place to watch the sunset. Leeward is also close to Mangrove Cay, a nature reserve.
Image by Flickr user Daniel Ross. License: 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
Mangrove Cay provides an excellent place to explore by kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP).
SUP is a popular activity in the Turks and Caicos. Our own stretch of Grace Bay Beach on the leeward side of Providenciales is perfect for it.
Providenciale’s Iguana Island (aka Little Water Cay)
Just off the northeast, leeward tip of Providenciales Little Water Cay, better known as “Iguana Island.”
The cay is a wildlife preserve for iguanas. It can be reached by water taxi from Blue Haven Marina in Leeward and is the perfect family day trip in Turks and Caicos.
Image by Flickr user Andy Atzert. License: 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
Little Water Cay is indeed inhabited by a colony of friendly iguanas. They are herbivores (the iguanas eat plants) and are quite friendly and sociable.
Tim Sackton. The Turks and Caicos rock iguana (Cyclura carinata). License: 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
Get Help Planning a Day Trip in Turks and Caicos
If taking a day trip with your family to explore the Turks and Caicos sounds interesting, here are three trips put on by Caicos Dream Tours that pick you up right in front of The Sands at Grace Bay and fantastic exploration in some of the Turks and Caicos’ must-see spots.
Plan Your Excursion
The excursions may be conveniently booked by guests of The Sands at Grace Bay at our Tour Desk, located by our main swimming pool. Learn more here.
