Taylor Bay

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos · 2 min read

A quiet cove on the south coast of Providenciales, just west of Sapodilla Bay, with very shallow, calm water and few people.

At a glance

  • Size: About 2,000 ft (600 m) of beach
  • Water: Very shallow, calm and clear
  • Access: Short path from Ocean Point Drive
  • Best time: Year-round; low tide shows the sand ripples
  • Best for: Families, Quiet, Swimming

Overview

Taylor Bay is a scenic cove on the south coast of Providenciales, in the Chalk Sound area just west of Sapodilla Bay. The small Ocean Point peninsula shelters it from the usual southeast trade winds, so the water is almost always calm.

The bay is very shallow. You can wade a long way out before the water reaches your waist, and there are typically no currents or underpulls. That makes it one of the safest beaches in the country for families with young children.

Taylor Bay is also much quieter than its neighbor. There are no vendors and no resorts, only a handful of beachfront villas. At low tide, wide patches of sand with rippled patterns are left exposed across the bay.

When to go

Taylor Bay is good year-round, since the Ocean Point peninsula shelters it from the trade winds.

It rarely gets crowded, though December to April is the busiest season.

Come at low tide to see the rippled sandbars. Biting midges can be out in the mornings and evenings, so bring insect repellent if you visit near sunrise or sunset.

Things to do

Wading and swimming

  • Level: Easy
  • What you need: None
  • Where: Anywhere in the bay. The water stays shallow a long way out.

Time with little ones

  • Level: Easy
  • What you need: Beach toys and shade
  • Where: The calm, shallow water right off the beach.

Low-tide walks

  • Level: Easy
  • What you need: Water shoes
  • Where: Across the exposed sand flats and ripples when the tide is out.

Sunset

  • Level: Easy
  • What you need: Insect repellent
  • Where: From the beach. The low sun and exposed sand ripples make for good photos.

Tours & activity guides

  • Family & Rainy-Day Ideas: Shallow, typically calm and usually a little warmer than the north coast beaches. A top pick for young children, near Chalk Sound National Park.
  • Boat Trips & Island Hopping: 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.
  • Kayaking & Paddleboarding: Paddle through shallow mangrove channels, across the turquoise lagoon at Chalk Sound or out to quiet cays. Turks and Caicos has calm, clear water for every level, and plenty of wildlife to spot along the way.

Getting there

Taylor Bay is on the south coast in the Chalk Sound area, about a 15-minute drive from the airport.

From South Dock Road, turn onto Chalk Sound Drive and continue 0.8 miles (1.3 km) to Ocean Point Drive. The small parking area is on your right after about 1,000 ft (300 m), and a 440 ft (134 m) path leads to the beach.

You'll need a rental car or taxi.

Beach access & parking

1. Ocean Point Drive access

From South Dock Road, take Chalk Sound Drive for 0.8 miles (1.3 km), passing the Las Brisas turn, then turn left onto Ocean Point Drive. The parking area is on the right after about 1,000 ft (300 m). A dirt path of about 440 ft (134 m) leads to the beach. The route was gated in the past but is open now.

  • Parking: Small grass area for about eight cars

Facilities

  • Restrooms: No. No facilities of any kind on the beach.
  • Parking: Limited. Room for about eight cars at the Ocean Point Drive access.
  • Rentals: No. No vendors. Bring your own gear.
  • Food & drink: No. No bars, restaurants or shops, so pack a cooler.
  • Shade: No. No shade on the beach. Bring an umbrella.
  • Sunset view: Yes. Faces roughly west over shallow, calm water. Bring insect repellent, since biting midges come out in the evening.
  • Small parking area for about eight cars
  • No restrooms, vendors or shade, so bring your own
  • A few beachfront vacation villas
  • No lifeguards

Where to eat near Taylor Bay

Safety

  • There are no lifeguards. Keep a close eye on children, even in shallow water.
  • Biting midges (no-see-ums) are most active in the mornings and evenings. Bring insect repellent.
  • There's little shade on the beach, so bring an umbrella and reef-safe sunscreen.
  • Parking is very limited. Please don't block the road or private driveways.

Local tip

Don't come for snorkeling. The low cliffs at the ends of the bay have a few small fish and soft corals, but not much else. Come for the calm, shallow water and the quiet.

Open Taylor Bay in Google Maps

Photo credits

  • Shallow, calm water at Taylor Bay on Providenciales, with people wading far from shore under a cloudy sky: Tim Sackton, CC BY-SA 2.0