10 Best Things to Do in Turks and Caicos • 10 Top Turks and Caicos Attractions

Mar 28, 2021by Sarah Peterson

The Turks and Caicos Islands are known for their pristine white sand beaches and warm azure waters.

Attractions like snorkelling and scuba diving in beautiful coral reefs, exploring national parks or coastal trails, or reaching uninhabited cays by boat are some of these Caribbean islands’ hallmarks.

Ready to go? Take the stress out of planning your vacation. We’ll share the top-rated activities around Turks and Caicos Islands on this guide.

Check out: Turks and Caicos Travel Guide • Plan Your Trip to Turks and Caicos

Top-Rated Things to Do in Turks and Caicos

Plan an amazing trip from exploring the island's marine life to experiencing annual festivals. Whether you’re going for a solo trip or having fun with your favourite people, there’s something in the list for everyone.

#1. Best Turks and Caicos Beach: Grace Bay Beach

Things to do in Turks and Caicos

Pictures capture only half of Grace Bay Beach’s real beauty, so stop by and see it for yourself. The shore has soft white sand and shimmering aquamarine waters that attracts tourists from all over the world.

The stretch of Grace Bay Beach is home to luxury resorts and restaurants so try to get a taste of the local cuisine around. Fill your day with waters-ports and wrap it up by watching the sunset by the beach or at the sunset cruise.

Category: Beach
Neighbourhood: Grace Bay Road, Grace Bay, Providenciales

Hours of operation: n/aBest for: Beach bums and sun-worshippers

Time to spend here: 2 to 4 hours or the whole day

#2. Best Hike in Turks and Caicos: Crossing Place Trail

Things to do in Turks and Caicos

Take a walk on the sandy paths of Crossing Place Trail in Middle Caicos. Wander the coastal path to see the impressive view of limestone cliffs, cave formations, blowholes, and the beautiful Mudjin Harbour, and Norbellis Coves coastline.

Don't forget to bring water and wear your sneakers. There's a secret cave a few meters away from the paved trail. You'll find a little staircase with uneven rocks and vines so it's best to visit it only when the weather is in good condition.

Category: Hike
Neighbourhood: Middle Caicos

Hours of operation: n/a

Best for: Hikers, nature lovers
Time to spend here: 1 to 3 hours

#3. Best Outdoor Activity Turks and Caicos: Rent a Boat

Try to go for a boat trip for a tranquil activity at Turks and Caicos. It's not just for tourists because even locals love them.

This is a great activity for all ages and a refreshing way to go from one island to another. Exquisite areas where you can start sailing including Little Water Cay, Half Moon Bay, and Fort George Cay are some of the must-visit islands. You can choose guided boat charters to enjoy the marine environment of Turks and Caicos.

Category: Outdoor activity, Boating
Neighbourhood: Some places to explore are Little Water Cay, Half Moon Bay, Fort George Cay

Hours of operation: n/a

Best for: Sea lovers, explorers
Time to spend here: 2 to 4 hours

#4. Best Diving Spot in Turks and Caicos: McDonald’s Arch

Things to do in Turks and Caicos

Image from: Diver Trek

The McDonald’s Arch at Grand Turk is one of the favourite scuba diving spots. The name came from the magnificent coral arch which is great to swim through.

The depth starts at 30ft (9m) then gradually slopes at around 40ft (12m) before plunging deeper to 55ft (17m).

With clear visibility, beginner divers and experts will like to try this diving site. See the beautiful arch, deep dive, and marine life are beautiful and you can watch fish activities too.

Category: Diving
Neighbourhood: Grand Turk

Hours of operation: n/a

Best for: Novice to expert divers
Time to spend here: 1-2 hours

#5. Best Restaurants in Turks and Caicos: Coco Bistro and Omar’s Beach Hut

Things to do in Turks and Caicos

Want to taste a Caribbean cuisine and fresh seafood at Turks and Caicos Islands? Visit Coco Bistro.

Located at Grace Bay, this place offers an amazing beach view and local cuisine made with fresh ingredients. From lobster tacos to mahi-mahi dishes, their scrumptious meals are perfect for dinner and late night snacks.

For a more laid-back island vibe but equally stunning ocean view, head to Omar’s Beach Hut. Daily caught fish makes their menu amazing and you need to try their lobster roll, conch fritters, curry dish, and other fantastic food on the island.

Category: Restaurant
Neighbourhood: Coco Bistro is at Grace Bay Road and Omar’s Beach Hut can be found on Five Cays, Providenciales

Hours of operation: Coco Bistro: Tuesday-Sunday: 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM. Omar’s Beach Hut:

Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday: 11AM to 9PM, Thursday: 11 AM to 6 PM

Best for: Any type of traveler
Time to spend here: 1-2 hours

#6. Top Attraction in Turks and Caicos: Chalk Sound National Park

Things to do in Turks and Caicos

When it comes to natural lagoons, Chalk Sound National Park is a sight to see. The shallow brilliant blue waters with hundreds of scattered rocky islands is a protected wildlife sanctuary. The lagoon is algae-free so you can see the bottom easily while kayaking or paddle boating.

Kayak in the area to see rock iguanas swimming. They are still abundant in the islets. Motorboats and other powered watercrafts are prohibited at Chalk Sound so it’s excellent for a tranquil time for yourself or with your partner.

Category: Attraction, Lagoon
Neighbourhood: Chalk Sound Drive, Providenciales

Hours of operation: n/a

Best for: Sea lovers
Time to spend here: 2 to 3 hours

#7. Most Popular Museum: Turks and Caicos National Museum

Things to do in Turks and Caicos

Pay a visit to the Turks and Caicos National Museum, one of the oldest buildings in Grand Turk. Check out the primary exhibit which showcases the Molasses Reef Wreck from the 1500s.

The museum also features an exhibit about indigenous peoples' artifacts including the Lucayan duho seat (a ceremonial seat for the chief of the Lucayans), canoe paddle, pottery, bone tools, and more.

Category: Museum
Neighbourhood: Cockburn Town, Grand Turk

Hours of operation: Monday to Thursday 9AM-2PM

Best for: History buffs, art lovers
Time to spend here: 1 hour or more

#8. Must-See Landmark: Grand Turk Lighthouse

The Grand Turk Lighthouse is the only lighthouse in Turks and Caicos Islands. In 1852, the lighthouse was built due to a number of shipwrecks that have occurred due to poor lighting in the area.

The lighthouse is no longer operational, but tourists can tour the grounds, go to the gift shop, or look at the scenic coastline.

Category: Landmark
Neighbourhood: Lighthouse Road, Grand Turk

Hours of operation: n/a

Best for: Families with kids
Time to spend here: 30 minutes to an hour

#9. Best Cultural Experience: Maskanoo

See the real colours of Turks and Caicos at Maskanoo, an annual festival held in Providenciales on the 26th of December also known as Boxing Day.

The festival showcases a parade where masquerade elements are mixed with Bahamian Junkanoo. Attendees can watch parades and fireworks, listen to local music, taste Turks and Caicos food and have more activities for all ages!

Category: Cultural experience
Neighbourhood: Providenciales

Hours of operation: 4PM-9PM

Best for: First-time visitors, families, groups
Time to spend here: 2 hours or the whole evening

#10. Best Snorkeling Spot: Bight Reef

Things to do in Turks and Caicos

Start your underwater adventure at Bight Reef also known as Coral Gardens. It’s a wonderful snorkelling reef, accessible, and has a diverse marine life. The only one main ridge of coral at Bight Reef extends at 350ft (107 m) out from the beach.

Spot some green turtles, hawksbill turtles, southern brown stingrays, eagle ray. Go fish sighting and admire the colourful species like parrotfish, bar jacks, Nassau groupers, queen angelfish and damselfish. These are just some of the abundant sea creatures you will find here.

Category: Snorkelling

Neighbourhood: Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales

Hours of operation: n/a

Best for: Snorkelers

Time to spend here: 1 to 2 hours.

Sarah Peterson

@sarah

Sarah Peterson

@sarah

Sarah Peterson is the co-founder and head of marketing at FLIGHTFŪD. She's a travel health expert and after having visited 20+ countries as a digital nomad and flying every 4-6 weeks for business, she became passionate about empowering others to protect their bodies on the go.