Hillary McNamara
By Hillary Richard
If getting back to nature by way of serene, sparkling beaches is your idea of a perfect getaway, look no further than Providenciales. Despite being the main tourist island of the Turks and Caicos, Provo (as it's commonly called) is still relaxing and relatively undeveloped. Vehicles weren't introduced to the island until 1964; televisions followed in 1985. Even with all of its modern-day amenities, Provo's charm lies in its breathtaking natural beauty.
This 38-square-mile island has five-mile Grace Bay beach, three national parks, and three nature reserves. People who enjoy nature at all levels -- from unwinding on some of the world's top beaches to discovering life hundreds of feet below sea level -- will delight in Providenciales.
Photo Caption: A typical beach scene in Providenciales.
What: Regardless of whether you're a beginner snorkeler or an experienced diver, Providenciales can provide some of the best underwater scenery. Turks and Caicos boasts the third largest coral reef system in the world, and Provo is regularly featured as a Top 10 diving site. Coral reefs and sea life are abundant here; it's not unusual to spot conch or starfish in the clear, shallow waters off of Grace Bay. The government is so committed to preserving its underwater treasures that it has established Princess Alexandra Land and Sea National Park, a largely undersea area made up of the entire north shore and offshore waters.
Where: Grace Bay is protected by a 14-mile barrier reef. You can swim to Smith's and Bight reefs right from the beach, or book a snorkel excursion and venture further north. Numerous dive sites are within an hour's boat ride off the north shore and western shore.
Highlight: The colorful coral and plethora of sea creatures are all equally impressive. Calm waters and amazing visibility (often 100 feet or more) provide the opportunity to see the entire marine ecosystem.
More Info: Dive Provo Tours (www.diveprovo.com), Silver Deep Tours (www.silverdeep.com)
Photo Caption: Providenciales is known for its colorful reefs. Photo by Windsong Resort/Flickr.com.
What: Only eight of the 40 Turks and Caicos islands are inhabited, so your odds of finding a deserted cay are high -- particularly if you charter your own boat. It's hard to imagine these tranquil islands as anything but calm and relaxing; however, the cays off Providenciales were rampant with piracy in the 1700s. The famous pirate Nau L'Ollonois ambushed ships from French Cay. A number of now-submerged canons (originally used to protect Loyalist plantations from attacks) can still be seen off the coast of Fort George Cay. Luxury resorts and celebrity homeowners have started laying claim to some of these tranquil islands, but with the right map it's still possible to hunt for buried treasure in solitude.
Where: The most accessible cays are northwest of Providenciales and east of North Caicos. French Cay is farther away and due south of Providenciales.
How To Get There: You can easily charter your own boat and captain once on Provo. Many day tours make shell collecting stops at deserted cays.
Highlight: Fort George Cay and Little Water Cay in particular have large expanses of shallow sand bars and white sand beaches, perfect for relaxing or finding sand dollars.
Price: Most tour companies also offer private charters. With Sail Provo, a half-day private charter is $875 and a full-day is $1,500. (Both prices are for up to 12 people.) Silver Deep's Beach Cruise tour is $89 per person and includes snorkeling plus stops at Pine Cay and Fort George Cay.
More Info: Turks and Caicos Tourist Board (www.turksandcaicostourism.com), Sail Provo (www.sailprovo.com), Silver Deep Tours (www.silverdeep.com)
Photo Caption: There are a number of uninhabited islands around Providenciales, like Fort George Cay.
What: Bicycling around the various points on Providenciales' south shore is a great way to see some of the more remote sites. The back roads are mainly used by residents, so you'll have them mostly to yourselves. The hilly terrain and ocean alcoves that run from Cooper Jack Point to Juba Point make for fantastic scenery. Bring a map, because many roads simply end.
Where: Five Cays Bay, Cooper Jack Point, and Juba Point run along the southeast shore of Providenciales.
How To Get There: The main road on Providenciales is Leeward Highway. From there, take South Dock Road to Cooper Jack Bay Road, which will lead you around Five Cays Bay, Cooper Jack Point and Cooper Jack Bight all the way to Seaview Drive. Alternatively, take Venetian Road from Leeward Highway. This will bring you from the end of Cooper Jack Bight to Juba Point along Juba Point Salina.
Highlight: You'll find numerous empty beaches along the way, so bring a swimsuit. For animal lovers, Juba Point Salina offers some great bird watching.
Price: Many hotels and resorts have bikes available for guests. Caicos Wheels rents bikes for $15 per day.
More Info: Caicos Wheels (www.caicoswheels.com)
Photo Caption: Venetian Road winds around Juba Point Salina.
If getting back to nature by way of serene, sparkling beaches is your idea of a perfect getaway, look no further than Providenciales. Despite being the main tourist island of the Turks and Caicos, Provo (as it's commonly called) is still relaxing and relatively undeveloped. Vehicles weren't introduced to the island until 1964; televisions followed in 1985. Even with all of its modern-day amenities, Provo's charm lies in its breathtaking natural beauty.
This 38-square-mile island has five-mile Grace Bay beach, three national parks, and three nature reserves. People who enjoy nature at all levels -- from unwinding on some of the world's top beaches to discovering life hundreds of feet below sea level -- will delight in Providenciales.
Photo Caption: A typical beach scene in Providenciales.
Where: Grace Bay is protected by a 14-mile barrier reef. You can swim to Smith's and Bight reefs right from the beach, or book a snorkel excursion and venture further north. Numerous dive sites are within an hour's boat ride off the north shore and western shore.
Highlight: The colorful coral and plethora of sea creatures are all equally impressive. Calm waters and amazing visibility (often 100 feet or more) provide the opportunity to see the entire marine ecosystem.
More Info: Dive Provo Tours (www.diveprovo.com), Silver Deep Tours (www.silverdeep.com)
Photo Caption: Providenciales is known for its colorful reefs. Photo by Windsong Resort/Flickr.com.
Where: The most accessible cays are northwest of Providenciales and east of North Caicos. French Cay is farther away and due south of Providenciales.
How To Get There: You can easily charter your own boat and captain once on Provo. Many day tours make shell collecting stops at deserted cays.
Highlight: Fort George Cay and Little Water Cay in particular have large expanses of shallow sand bars and white sand beaches, perfect for relaxing or finding sand dollars.
Price: Most tour companies also offer private charters. With Sail Provo, a half-day private charter is $875 and a full-day is $1,500. (Both prices are for up to 12 people.) Silver Deep's Beach Cruise tour is $89 per person and includes snorkeling plus stops at Pine Cay and Fort George Cay.
More Info: Turks and Caicos Tourist Board (www.turksandcaicostourism.com), Sail Provo (www.sailprovo.com), Silver Deep Tours (www.silverdeep.com)
Photo Caption: There are a number of uninhabited islands around Providenciales, like Fort George Cay.
Where: Five Cays Bay, Cooper Jack Point, and Juba Point run along the southeast shore of Providenciales.
How To Get There: The main road on Providenciales is Leeward Highway. From there, take South Dock Road to Cooper Jack Bay Road, which will lead you around Five Cays Bay, Cooper Jack Point and Cooper Jack Bight all the way to Seaview Drive. Alternatively, take Venetian Road from Leeward Highway. This will bring you from the end of Cooper Jack Bight to Juba Point along Juba Point Salina.
Highlight: You'll find numerous empty beaches along the way, so bring a swimsuit. For animal lovers, Juba Point Salina offers some great bird watching.
Price: Many hotels and resorts have bikes available for guests. Caicos Wheels rents bikes for $15 per day.
More Info: Caicos Wheels (www.caicoswheels.com)
Photo Caption: Venetian Road winds around Juba Point Salina.