Peter Crawford Smith

Providenciales
What makes Providenciales (Provo) in Turks and Caicos Islands an outstanding tourist destination? It's 230 miles of snow white sandy beaches and the crystal clear turquoise waters. There are many choices of beachfront in Provo and here are some of the best beaches for swimming and snorkeling.

Grace Bay Beach: Where most of the resorts are located is world famous for its beauty.

Emerald Point: Located at the eastern end of Grace Bay...this location will be home to some luxury residences.

The Bight Beach and Reef: Excellent swimming and snorkeling on this extension of Grace Bay beach that runs from the bottom of Pratt's Road along to Coral Gardens at the end of Penns Road. The beach area now is host to new developments. Watermark, The West Bay Club, Toscana Grace Bay and Windsong Resort are all currently being built and selling in preconstruction stage. This part of the beach in Provo is now sharing the excellent reputation of the better known part of Grace Bay. Condo development in this area is limited to no higher than 5 storeys in the resort buildings.

Smiths Reef: This is located near Turtle Cove and is a wonderful source of marine life to view while swimming and snorkeling.

Long Bay Beach:On the south western side of Providenciales is a 3 mile beach. Although a little breezier than the north side beaches it is secluded and is attracting the building ofmany luxury private homes in the area. Long Bay has many accesses from Long Bay Hills Road for public swimming but still has many areas that are secluded and private.

Malcolm Beach: Located on the north western side of Providenciales, this is a little more remote as access is more difficult It is an amazing beach to explore and wander along often in perfect privacy. Amanyara Resort is a short distance from this Malcolm Beach area.

Sapodilla Bay has its own beach on the south of Providenciales. Taylor Bay, which is one harbour over, has a small beach. Both of these beaches have shallow water and both are picturesque and good sites for taking photos of the yachts and sailboats which are often anchored in these harbours.

Grand Turk
Grand Turk has beaches covering almost 90 percent of the shoreline. Governor's Beach, which is located in the southern part of Grand Turk, is about one half a mile of incredible sandy beach and is quite possibly one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The more accessible and popular beaches are on the western, leeward side of the island where one can see in the winter season whales passing by. You can also find secluded beaches on the eastern side and these are suitable for a day of beachcombing and long walks.

Middle Caicos:
Although Middle Caicos has no barrier reef to block the surf, sea and marine life take refuge around the rocks of Dragon Cay which offers an interesting location for snorkeling. Middle is an island with dramatic rocky bluffs and about 15 miles of shoreline with caverns where artifacts can be found from the days when the Lucayan Indians took refuge there. Mudgjan Harbour is lined with towering cliffs and has about two miles of beautiful white sandy beaches. Bamberra Beach, farther away from the airport access in the middle of the shoreline, has a beautiful beach with only a few homes where cassurina trees dot the shoreline. Further along still at the eastern end of Middle Caicos shorelline is Long Beach. Long Beach is a little breezier and very secluded.