Top 3 Activities in Turks and Caicos

We just got back from Turks and Caicos and I must say I am obsessed with the water 💦 Quick tangent: I recently lost one of my favorite sunglasses at a beach in Melbourne, FL. I did not plan on getting all the way in the water, so I left my shades on. Well, by the time I decided to say forget my freshly done hair and go all in, I forgot my super light sunglasses were still on my face. I was having a blast and not thinking about them at all. Long story short (my grandma used to say that all the time), a huge wave smacked me in the face and knocked me off my feet (quite literally). Bystanders heard me gasp “My glasses!” Needless to say, they were gone. Totally unrecoverable in such cloudy water. You can imagine it went a little something like this:

Multiple times during our vacay I said to myself (okay, maybe aloud), I would’ve found my Tom Ford sunglasses in 2 seconds had they fallen off in this water! Seriously, the water was so clear that even far out on jet skis you could see straight through it. An absolute dream. Turks and Caicos’ Grace Bay Beach was voted the #1 beach in the world in 2022 by TripAdvisor’s Travelers Choice Awards. Well earned. If you’re planning to visit Turks and Caicos, you need to be on the water!

Here are my top 3 Turks and Caicos activities:

Ghost Shipwreck and Noah’s Ark Tiki Bar Guided Tour

The meeting place for this tour was on the beach behind The Shore Club, which is a beautiful resort. We enjoyed the pool area and had a drink before hitting the skis. Once we were comfortably on our shared jet ski, our tour guide (Levelle) sped off on his jet ski ahead of us. I think he sensed that we were experienced riders. If you are not, you may want to express that!

We rode the jet ski to the infamous shipwreck that is the result of a hurricane in 2004. You used to be able to jump off the ship (which I was excited to do), but now you no longer can. They removed the ladder because the rust is too dangerous.

After taking in the ship, we drove to Noah’s Ark – the tiki bar in the middle of the ocean made famous by rapper, Drake. We went on a Saturday afternoon and were pleased that it wasn’t crowded. Maybe 10 guests, including us. Levelle thought we’d be disappointed since it’s usually a major party scene, but I was thrilled. Good music, beautiful scenery, and more than enough space to take it all in. There’s also seating in the water and floating trampolines.

Noteworthy mention: We went to Bugaloos Beachside Restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner and it was great. Beautiful outdoor seating on the beach. There are a few tables in the water. We lounged here for a few hours, enjoyed a nice meal, and walked the beach.

2 Hour Champagne Sunset Cruise from Grace Bay, Providenciales (Adult Only)

This sunset sail was even nicer than we expected. The drinks were unlimited, the crew was amazing, and the sunset from the water was breathtaking. You’ll get to see some prime Turks and Caicos real estate and enjoy conch fritters and other treats. We happened to be onboard with a group of women who were there for a pickleball training and they were wildly entertaining. Overall 10 out of 10. Also, a 10 out of 10: This gorgeous swimsuit coverup I wore on the boat!

Noteworthy mention: We went to the Abandoned Bar for dinner and loved the ambiance. We ordered drinks and appetizers poolside and enjoyed the DJ. There are floats in the pool and you can actually get in anytime of day.

The Looking Glass Clear Kayak Photoshoot

Of course I couldn’t go to Turks and Caicos without taking the iconic clear kayak photo! I booked the couples option where I took solo photos first, then my husband joined – reluctantly lol. He ended up secretly enjoying it! Tariffe was our drone operator and Bitten guided our poses. The entire shoot was about 30 minutes and we have beautiful photos that will last a lifetime. At the end, they take your phone and upload all images and videos to it within minutes! After the shoot, we headed to Grace Bay Beach, rented beach chairs and an umbrella, and enjoyed the sunshine.

Random, but I’d also like to share two great breakfast spots – Lemon2Go Coffee and Las Brisas Restaurant. Lemon2Go Coffee is great for a quick breakfast sandwich and coffee or, in my case, Chai Tea. They have nice patio seating and a cute shop that has items like hats, pool floats, sunglasses, and more. We planned on going to Las Brisas for dinner, but didn’t make it. On our last morning, before dropping off the rental and heading to the airport, I realized they had breakfast so we decided to eat there. One of the best meals I had on the island – shrimp omelette, hash browns, toast, and turkey bacon with a mimosa. More than I could eat! Simple, but so good. Oh and the views! You can see all of Chalk Bay, which was the same view we got from our Airbnb nearby.

The only negative experience we had was the airport. We felt like why did no one warn us 😭 so, here I am, warning you. It’s small. It’s hot. It’s not the most efficient. We waited in line for an hour to get through customs upon arriving. This would not have been horrible if it weren’t for the heat. When it was time for our flight out, the experience worsened. One big area where all gates are housed. Barely functioning AC, again. And when your flight starts boarding, you’re walking outside in the heat to get to your airplane. Did the airport make us want to scream? Yes! Was the crystal clear waters worth it? Also, yes!

Have you been to Turks and Caicos? If so, let me know in the comments what activities you enjoyed most! If you haven’t been yet, I’m glad you found this post before your trip! Which activities are you adding to your Turks and Caicos itinerary?