The beaches of Turks & Caicos

Guides to the islands' best shores: when to go, what to do, and where to stay nearby.

Providenciales

The main island for visitors, home to the airport, most resorts and the best-known beaches.

Grace Bay Beach: Just over three miles of soft white sand on the north shore of Providenciales, with calm, clear water protected by a barrier reef.
Smith's Reef: A string of reefs just off the beach near Turtle Cove, and the best easy-to-reach snorkeling on Providenciales. You swim straight out from the sand.
Long Bay Beach: A three-mile beach on the southeast side of Providenciales with shallow water that runs a long way out. It's the island's most popular kiteboarding spot.
Leeward Beach: The quiet eastern continuation of Grace Bay, with soft white sand, few people and views across the channel to Little Water Cay.
Chalk Sound: A national park lagoon on the southwest side of Providenciales, famous for its vivid turquoise water and hundreds of tiny rocky cays.
Sapodilla Bay: A small, sheltered bay on the south coast of Providenciales with calm, shallow, warm water that's ideal for young children.
Taylor Bay: A quiet cove on the south coast of Providenciales, just west of Sapodilla Bay, with very shallow, calm water and few people.

The greenest of the islands, with long, quiet beaches. A 30-minute passenger ferry ride from Providenciales.

Whitby Beach: A quiet 1.2-mile beach on the north coast of North Caicos, with shallow turquoise water, casuarina shade and the barrier reef offshore.

The largest and least developed island, reached by ferry to North Caicos and a drive over the causeway.

Mudjin Harbour: Three miles of limestone cliffs, caves and small beaches on the north coast of Middle Caicos, with the rocky outline of Dragon Cay just offshore.
Conch Bar Beach: A rugged, uncrowded stretch of the north coast of Middle Caicos, with dunes, limestone cliffs and excellent snorkeling on calm days.
Bambarra Beach: A long, calm bay on the north coast of Middle Caicos with shallow, clear water and views out to Pelican Cay.

The capital island, with historic Cockburn Town and the cruise center. A short domestic flight from Providenciales.

Governor Beach: A wide, sheltered beach on the west coast of Grand Turk, between Cockburn Town and the cruise center, with clear, shallow water.
Pillory Beach: A quiet, sheltered beach just north of Cockburn Town on Grand Turk's west coast, with soft white sand and shallow, clear water.

A tiny, quiet island south of Grand Turk, known for its salt-raking history and winter humpback whales.

North Beach: The longest and best beach on tiny Salt Cay, with white sand, turquoise water that's usually sheltered, and small reefs close to shore.