# Grace Bay Beach *Providenciales, Turks and Caicos · 2 min read* Just over three miles of soft white sand on the north shore of Providenciales, with calm, clear water protected by a barrier reef. ## At a glance - Size: About 3 miles (4.8 km) - Water: Calm and shallow near shore - Access: Public access points with free parking - Best time: Year-round; peak season Dec–Apr - Best for: Families, Swimming, Snorkeling ## Overview Grace Bay is the beach that put Turks and Caicos on the map. It runs for just over three miles along the northeast coast of Providenciales, and much of it lies within Princess Alexandra National Park. The sand is fine and bright white, and the water shades from glass-clear at the shoreline to deep turquoise further out. A barrier reef about a mile offshore takes the force out of the Atlantic swell, so on most days the water is calm enough for easy swimming and paddling. Thanks to the prevailing winds, the beach is also rarely affected by sargassum seaweed. Resorts, restaurants and villas line much of the shore, but the beach itself is public, and it's long enough that you can usually find a quiet stretch just by walking a few minutes from any access point. ## When to go Grace Bay is good year-round. December to April is peak season, with the most reliable weather and the busiest beach. Hurricane season runs from June to November. Summer is hotter and quieter, and the sea is at its warmest. Early mornings are usually the calmest and quietest time on the beach. ## Things to do ### Swimming - Level: Easy - What you need: None - Where: Anywhere along the beach. The water stays shallow for a good distance out. ### Snorkeling - Level: Easy to moderate - What you need: Mask, snorkel and fins - Where: Bight Reef (Coral Gardens) at the western end is reachable from the beach. Boat trips visit the barrier reef. ### Kayaking - Level: Easy - What you need: Kayak, rented from beachfront operators - Where: Along the shoreline inside the reef on calm days. ### Paddleboarding - Level: Moderate - What you need: SUP board, rented from beachfront operators - Where: Inside the reef, ideally in the morning before the wind picks up. ## Tours & activity guides - [Scuba Diving](https://www.sastci.com/activities/scuba-diving): Barrier reef and wall diving with spur and groove reef on shelves at different levels, a short ride from the Grace Bay resorts. Turtles, eagle rays, nurse sharks and Caribbean reef sharks are all seen. - [Family & Rainy-Day Ideas](https://www.sastci.com/activities/family-and-rainy-day): Not as shallow as the south coast, but a wide shoreline with good sandcastle sand and generally calm water year-round. - [Snorkeling](https://www.sastci.com/activities/snorkeling): Turks and Caicos has reefs you can swim to straight from the sand, plus barrier reef sites a short boat ride away. Here is where to go, what you might see and the rules that protect the reef. - [Boat Trips & Island Hopping](https://www.sastci.com/activities/boat-trips): A day on the water takes you to the small cays between Providenciales and North Caicos: Iguana Island, Half Moon Bay, sandbars at low tide and a reef stop on the way. Here is where the boats go and the rules to know. ## Getting there Grace Bay is about 15 to 20 minutes by car or taxi from Providenciales International Airport. Nearly all the public beach accesses have free parking. Most are on side streets off Grace Bay Road, and Grande Court, Central, Forbes Point and Rickie's have the largest lots. There's no public bus on Providenciales, so plan on a rental car or taxi. ## Beach access & parking ### 1. Rickie's access The only public access with restrooms. It sits beside Rickie's Flamingo Cafe, the one beachfront restaurant on Grace Bay that isn't part of a resort, near Club Med. A good spot to watch the sunset. - Parking: Free lot, one of the largest on Grace Bay - At this access: Public restrooms, Takeout food and drinks next door, Craft and gift stalls - Eat nearby: [Rickie's Flamingo Café](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#rickies-flamingo-cafe) (1 min walk), [Cabana Bar & Grill](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#cabana-bar-and-grill) (1 min walk), [Opus Wine Bar and Grill](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#opus-wine-bar-and-grill) (4 min walk) ### 2. Grande Court access Flat, easy route from the car park to the sand, with only low curbs or ledges. Good for wheelchairs, strollers and beach carts. - Parking: Free lot, one of the largest on Grace Bay - Eat nearby: [Pelican Bay Restaurant](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#pelican-bay-restaurant) (1 min walk), [Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#infiniti-restaurant-raw-bar) (4 min walk), [Aziza](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#aziza) (5 min walk) ### 3. Central access The place to rent an umbrella and lounger if you aren't staying at a resort. Flat, easy route to the sand. - Parking: Free lot, one of the largest on Grace Bay - At this access: Umbrella and lounger rentals from vendors - Eat nearby: [The Deck at Seven Stars](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#the-deck-seven-stars) (2 min walk), [Seven](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#seven) (2 min walk), [The Terrace on Grace Bay](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#the-terrace-on-grace-bay) (2 min walk) ### 4. Regent Street access Off Ventura Court. One of the accesses with a good balance of parking and beach quality. - Parking: Free parking - Eat nearby: [Blu Bar & Lounge](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#blu-bar-and-lounge) (1 min walk), [Thai Orchid](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#thai-orchid) (1 min walk), [The Vix Bar & Grill](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#the-vix) (1 min walk) ### 5. Forbes Point access Off Manor Street, near The Sands resort. Flat, easy route to the sand, and one of the better spots on Grace Bay for sunset. - Parking: Free lot, one of the largest on Grace Bay - Eat nearby: [Hemingway's](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#hemingways) (1 min walk), [Grace's Cottage](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#graces-cottage) (4 min walk), [Bay Bistro](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#bay-bistro) (5 min walk) ### 6. Rotary Park access Off Sibonne Road toward the western end of the beach. Flat, easy route to the sand for wheelchairs and strollers. - Parking: Free parking - Eat nearby: [Bay Bistro](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#bay-bistro) (1 min walk), [Barbetta House](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#barbetta-house) (3 min walk), [Hemingway's](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#hemingways) (5 min walk) ### 7. Coral Gardens access (Bight Reef) Strictly this is on the Bight Beach, just west of Grace Bay. The footpath comes out right at the start of Bight Reef, the only reef in the area you can swim to from the sand. Turn off Lower Bight Road by the Coral Gardens Resort sign. Stay outside the ring of buoys, which protects fragile coral. - Parking: Free parking along Penn's Road - At this access: Reef information signs - Eat nearby: [Somewhere Café & Lounge](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#somewhere-cafe-and-lounge) (1 min walk), [JoJo's Café](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#jojos-cafe) (2 min walk), [Panda Restaurant](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#panda-restaurant) (8 min walk) ## Facilities - Restrooms: Limited. Public restrooms at the Rickie's access only. Beachfront restaurants have restrooms, but some keep them for customers. - Parking: Yes. Free parking at almost every public access. Grande Court, Central, Forbes Point and Rickie's have the biggest lots. - Rentals: Yes. Vendors rent umbrellas and loungers at the Central access. Most resorts keep their loungers for guests. - Food & drink: Yes. Plenty of beachfront restaurants and bars, mostly at resorts. Takeout is easy to get at the Rickie's access. - Accessibility: Limited. The Rotary Park, Forbes Point, Grande Court and Central accesses are nearly level from car park to sand, with only low curbs or ledges. Beyond that it's soft sand. - Sunset view: Yes. You can watch the sunset across the bay, though the sun goes down behind the higher ground of Blue Hills rather than into open sea. Forbes Point and Rickie's are good spots. - Public restrooms at the Rickie's access; otherwise use the beachfront restaurants - Umbrella and lounger rentals at the Central access - Restaurants and bars along the whole beach - No lifeguards ## Where to eat near Grace Bay Beach - [Noori](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#noori): Casual · Sushi and lounge fare, 1 min walk - [Ritual Coffee Culture](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#ritual-coffee-culture): Café · Coffee and grab-and-go, 1 min walk - [BLT Steak](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#blt-steak): Fine dining · Steakhouse, 1 min walk - [Coralli](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#coralli): Casual · Mediterranean and Caribbean, waterfront, 2 min walk - [Casa Nonna](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#casa-nonna): Fine dining · Italian, waterfront, 2 min walk - [Seven](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grace-bay#seven): Fine dining · Contemporary seafood and Caribbean, 2 min walk ## Safety - There are no lifeguards. Swim within your limits and keep a close eye on children. - Watch for boats. There's a speed limit for powerboats near shore, but it isn't always followed, so stay close to the beach when swimming or snorkeling. - Don't touch or stand on coral, and don't feed or handle marine life. - The sun is strong all year. Bring shade and use reef-safe sunscreen. ## Local tip For snorkeling without a boat, head to the western end of the beach and swim out to Bight Reef (Coral Gardens). Go on a calm morning, when the water is at its clearest. [Open Grace Bay Beach in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Grace%20Bay%20Beach%2C%20Providenciales%2C%20Turks%20and%20Caicos%20Islands) ## Photo credits - Turquoise water and white sand at Grace Bay Beach under a clear blue sky: [Coolcaesar](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grace_Bay_Beach_Facing_North.jpg), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) - Long stretch of Grace Bay Beach with low-rise resorts along the shoreline: [Csouthard](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grace_Bay_-_panoramio_(1).jpg), [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) - Orange sunset over the sand and water at Grace Bay: [Jason Boldero](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sunset_in_Grace_Bay,_Turks_and_Caicos_Islands.jpg), [CC BY 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)