43 Best Sights in Turks and Caicos Islands

As you drive out to the end of South Dock Road, on your right you will catch glimpses of the beautiful Chalk Sound; the water here is luminescent. The best places to stop for pictures are on Chalk Sound Drive. You can enjoy lunch overlooking the park at Las Brisas Restaurant or drive to the very end of the road and take a walk along the shoreline where there are few homes. No matter how many times you see it, it will always manage to take your breath away.

These limestone caves make up one of the largest cave systems in the Caribbean, with good examples of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as small—and slightly eerie—underground bodies of water. Archaeologists have discovered Lucayan artifacts in the caves and the surrounding area; these natives to the island would have used the caves to weather the storm season. Currently, the caves are inhabited by five species of bats—some of which are endangered and bring scientists here annually to study them—but they don't bother visitors. Half-hour tours are available through TCI's National Trust. Guides provide flashlights and a sense of humor. It's best to wear sturdy shoes, as the ground is rocky and damp in places. If you don’t have much time, Indian Cave is a smaller version that's worth exploring. Watch for the sign on your left after leaving the causeway. It’s only a few steps off the road, parallel with Dragon Cay Resort.

The pond is home to approximately 2,000 resident flamingos. These spectacular pink birds come and go during the day, so if you miss them on your drive down the island, be sure to double-check at the end of the day. Bring binoculars to get a better look; they feed quite a ways out, and you're not allowed to hike closer.

The world-famous sweeping stretch of ivory-white, powder-soft sand on Provo's north shore is simply breathtaking. Protected within the Princess Alexandra National Park, it's home to migrating starfish, as well as many schools of tiny fishes. The majority of Provo's beachfront resorts are along this shore, and it's the primary reason Turks and Caicos is a world-class destination. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

Only minutes from Provo's eastern tip, Half Moon Bay is one of the most gorgeous beaches in the country. This natural ribbon of sand linking two uninhabited cays is only inches above the sparkling turquoise waters. There are small limestone cliffs to explore on either end where rock iguanas sun themselves, as well as small, sandy coves. Most of the island's tour companies run excursions here or simply offer a beach drop-off. As an alternative, rent a kayak from Big Blue Collective and venture over independently. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

You can hike the trails on the cliffs overlooking Mudjin Harbour and then dip down a hidden staircase to your own private cove if you're looking for total privacy. The main beach, accessible from Dragon Cay Resort, is the beginning of miles that you can stroll. The point of land that joins it to Dragon Cay at low tide is often littered with sea glass. Shallow tidepools between the cay and beach also provide endless entertainment when the wave action is minimal. But as this is Mudjin Harbour, a bit of bodysurfing can be had, because a break in the reef allows larger waves to make it to shore. Kids love it, and it's relatively safe, as there is little rip on most days. Just remember that there's no lifeguard on duty. Shade can be found in the giant, cavelike overhang at the base of the path down to the water, perfect for getting out of the sun. Of course, there’s always the possibility of spending a bit of time in the spectacularly placed restaurant overlooking the harbor; great food, drinks, and viewing are provided. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; walking.

This beach is the best reason to visit Salt Cay; it might be the finest beach in the Turks and Caicos. Part of the beauty lies not just in the soft, powdery sand and beautiful blue waters, but also in its isolation; it's very likely that you will have this lovely beach all to yourself. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; swimming; walking.

It's said that Columbus made his New World landfall here, just north of Cockburn Town on the protected west shore. And why not? This is the prettiest beach on Grand Turk; it also has great off-the-beach snorkeling. As you enjoy the powdery white sand, you may be visited by one of the many donkeys that pass by. Amenities: parking (free); toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

The Bight Beach blends right into Grace Bay Beach as the western extension of Provo's Princess Alexandra National Park; visitors generally think of the two beaches as one and the same. Unlike its world-famous counterpart, Bight Beach has off-the-beach snorkeling where the fringing reef comes in to touch the shore. The Provo Sailing Academy gives lessons to residents some Sundays. The beach also holds the Annual Fools Regatta in June, which everyone can enjoy. Both are held at the far western end in the Children's Park. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free). Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

In one of the island's oldest stone buildings, the National Museum houses several interactive exhibits, as well as a super little gift shop with books and local handicrafts. The complete collection of preserved artifacts raised from the noteworthy Molasses Reef Wreck is here. Dating back to the early 1500s, it's the earliest European shipwreck yet excavated in the New World. There is also a natural-history exhibit including artifacts left by the Taíno (or Lucayans), the earliest migrants to settle in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The museum also has a 3D coral reef exhibit that complements its presentation on the history of diving. Another gallery is dedicated to Grand Turk's involvement in the Space Race. John Glenn made landfall here after being the first American to orbit Earth. Locals are quite put out that the movie Hidden Figures inaccurately portrayed the landing as having taken place in the Bahamas just north of Turks and Caicos. A fascinating display is a collection of “messages in a bottle” that have washed ashore from all over the world. This is the perfect spot to start your walking tour of the historic waterfront.

You wander down the shaded laneway, bordered by walls made from the rocks once found in the fields of this cotton plantation established by Loyalist Wade Stubbs in 1789. The walls of the great house still stand, albeit with foliage now growing on the inside. Giant iron cauldrons, once used to prepare meals for enslaved people, rest in the yard. There are also partial remains of the kitchen, the overseer’s house, slave quarters, and several storage buildings. A lookout tower provides views for miles. TCI National Trust offers visits and 30-minute tours from Monday to Saturday, 10:30–3:30.

As with all Middle Caicos beaches, Bambarra seems to stretch on forever, shaded by casuarina trees and littered with refuse from the sea. Visiting Bambarra Beach means no amenities, but enjoying a picnic lunch here provides a lifetime memory. Water is shallow, with coral heads nearby so that snorkeling is possible. Stroll on the beach or out to a nearby cay. Watch for rays and juvenile sharks as they patrol the shoreline. Probably the only time you will see others here is when a community gathering takes place; each Valentine’s Day, Bambarra Beach hosts the Middle Caicos Model Sailboat Race, which features hand-carved boats painted in bright colors as well as local music and a number of food and beverage stalls. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; walking.

The beaches of Bell Sound on the Caicos Bank side of South Caicos will take your breath away; lagoon-like waters are warm and shallow, perfect for lollygagging. Expect the beach to be au naturel. Amenities: none. Best for: walking.

Accessible by boat through the on-island tour operators, this tiny, totally uninhabited island is 7 miles (11 km) south of Salt Cay; it's also known for its long, unspoiled stretches of open sand. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; swimming.

Abandoned salinas (natural salt pans) make up the center of this island, the largest receiving its water directly from an underground cave system that is connected directly to the ocean through this "boiling" hole. Don’t expect anything too dramatic, other than a sense of what the industry once was. Multiple hurricanes have clogged the connection to the ocean.

The Casablanca Casino has brought slots, blackjack, American roulette, poker, and craps to Provo. Because it's open daily until 2 am, you can come late and make it your last stop for the night. There are complimentary drinks while playing, and you can get a free shuttle ride by contacting the casino.

Just east of downtown Provo are the eerie remains of an 18th-century cotton plantation owned by the Loyalist Thomas Stubbs. A trail weaves through the ruins, where guided interpretive tours tell the story of the island's doomed cotton industry and about the plantation itself. A variety of local plants are also identified. Contact the Turks & Caicos National Trust to visit; there’s a $10 fee that goes toward preserving the nation’s heritage. If this piques your interest, a visit to the North Caicos Wades Green plantation or the Turks and Caicos National Museum in Grand Turk will provide more of the story.

The best natural harbor in the Caicos chain hosts the Big South Regatta each May. It began as a sailing regatta where all the families with traditional Caicos sloops would come over from Middle and North to race, but sloops are now being replaced with conch boats hosting 85-hp motors for a rip-roaring race.

A short distance from the North Caicos ferry terminal and en route to where the flamingos rest is Cottage Pond. Watch on the right side of the road, as the sign can be hidden in the foliage. The roadway deteriorates the closer you get, so just park and walk the rest of the way. At the end you'll find this lovely, quiet freshwater pond where slaves would come to wash clothes. Today, there's always an assortment of ducks swimming, with ferns as their backdrop. Local lore has it that the pond has no bottom and a mermaid was once spotted swimming there.

To the north of South Caicos, uninhabited East Caicos has an exquisite 17-mile (27-km) beach on its north coast. The island was once a cattle range and the site of a major sisal-growing industry. Today, it's home to wild donkeys and is accessible only by boat, most easily from Middle Caicos but also from South Caicos. Visiting is best in the summer months when the winds die down, making boat access more comfortable. From South, the man to take you there is Captain Tim Hamilton with his son, Tamal, of T&V Tours. His service is excellent, and he knows the waters like no other. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

Directly in front of the official British governor's residence, known as Waterloo, is a long stretch of beach framed by tall casuarina trees that provide plenty of natural shade. The beach can be a bit crowded on days when cruise ships are in port. There are a couple of picnic tables where you can enjoy a picnic lunch, and there is a decent snorkeling spot just offshore. Amenities: none. Best for: swimming; walking.

More than 150 years ago, the main structure of the lighthouse was prefabricated in the United Kingdom and then transported to the island; once erected, it helped prevent ships from wrecking on the northern reefs for more than 100 years. It was originally designed to burn whale oil as its light source. You can use this landmark as a starting point for a breezy cliff-top walk by following the donkey trails to the deserted eastern beach. The cruise-ship world has made its mark here, so you'll find the location's solitude can be interrupted by the zipline course constructed there. 

Don't be put off by the overgrown roundabout, because if you carry on to the left you'll find yourself at a wide swooping bay. There are miles to stroll, trees for shade, and only the odd photographer to meet along the way. The water is crystal clear and shallow, and the entire bay is a protected haven. This is where the boats would moor, bringing goods in to the nearby plantation and taking out what they wished to sell. If you cross over the rise where the unfinished home sits, you will find an unprotected coastline, a beachcomber’s delight. There's a wonderful little path that winds through the indigenous underbrush bordered by low rock walls that will lead you to the ruins. The walk out and back takes about 30 minutes. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; walking.

This stone prison was built in the 1830s to incarcerate men and women who had committed mostly petty crimes. As time passed, the prison expanded, housing even modern-day drug runners until it closed in the 1990s. Tours are self-guided, and there's not much to see from outside the tall limestone walls—but check it out if you happen to pass through the area.

This stone prison was built in the 1830s to incarcerate men and women who had committed mostly petty crimes. As time passed, the prison expanded, housing even modern-day drug runners until it closed in the 1990s. Tours are self-guided, and there's not much to see from outside the tall limestone walls—but check it out if you happen to pass through the area.

Horse Stable Beach is the main beach for annual events and beach parties for the resident population of North Caicos. Get-togethers spring up occasionally at the North Caicos Community Centre that sits along the beach, making you quite lucky if you happen to be around for one; visitors are always welcome. Stop by if you're a beachcomber, as you'll find shells and sun-bleached coral as well as many other items washed in from the sea off of passing ships. The sand is soft and strolling is a delight. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; walking.

This settlement includes a small school and a number of churches, as well as tropical fruit trees that produce limes, papayas, and the more exotic custard apples. Nearby are the well-preserved ruins—old cauldrons, main house structure, and other outbuildings—of Wade's Green Plantation. The fully intact ruins of a historic Baptist church sits roadside just past the modern Church of God of Prophecy as you enter the village. Kew's heartbeat is still present, and visiting will give you a better understanding of the daily life of the islanders before development; it's wonderful to see the more traditional lifestyle coexisting with the present day. Contact the National Trust to make special arrangements to view the plantation. It is usually open weekdays 10:30 to 3:30 pm.

Due south of South Caicos is Little Ambergris Cay, an uninhabited cay about 14 miles (23 km) beyond the Fish Cays, with excellent bonefishing on the second-largest sandbar in the world. Amenties: none. Best for: solitude.

On the southeastern end of the island, visitors will find this a lovely stretch to stroll. It’s not much of a place to swim, as the water is shallow and shells litter the floor. This is where you can pick up a conch shell to take home, as it is not part of the country’s park system. It's ungroomed, so you’ll find many along the shore. Long Bay is also where some will have their dreams of riding horseback fulfilled. The guides with Provo Ponies will also let them swim. Kitesurfers have also made this their mecca. On any one Saturday, there may be up to a hundred kiters enjoying the shallower waters and warm trade winds to advance their skills. If you’re not a participant, come out and enjoy the show. You can watch world-class boarders daily. It might spark some interest so that you find yourself checking in with one of the several instructors giving lessons out on Long Bay. Amenities: parking (free). Best for: kitesurfing; walking; windsurfing.

Otherwise known as East Side, Long Beach is more difficult to get to, but it is the perfect spot for individuals wishing to explore. Without the reef as protection, much washes ashore; search for seashells on the seashore or examine decades of flotsam and jetsam that litters the beach, including old bottles and weathered ships' planking. You will be sure to find total solitude on this side of the island. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; walking.