Turks and Caicos | What to do in Turks and Caicos

What to do in Turks and Caicos

The gin-clear waters that surround the Turks and Caicos offer an exciting playground for adventurous honeymoon couples.

Scuba diving

Discover one of the ten best dive sites in the world. The Turks and Caicos Islands are surrounded by one of the most extensive coral reef systems worldwide, occupying a 900km² shelf that rises directly from the ocean floor.

Where the shallow turquoise waters of the Caicos bank intersect with the outer coral reefs, the ocean terrain drops drastically from 10m to 1.8km, at times beyond vertical, with many cliff walls having inverted cut profiles.

With more than 50 named dive sites, warm waters, pristine reefs, abundant tropical marine life, quality diving services and easy conditions (diving can be just a five-minute boat ride offshore to the 1800m vertical wall), the Turks and Caicos are consistently ranked as one of the world’s premier diving locations.

A marine reserve protects the reefs, and mooring buoys are set at all dive sites to avoid damage to the coral from anchors.

Discover dramatic wall dives and historic wrecks and do some night diving. The best diving spots include:

• the Wall, where the western reef plunges vertically to 2134m;
• French Cay, a sheltered, negatively angled undercut wall resulting in especially large coral and sponges;
• Sandbore Channel, home to vertical drop-offs and giant stingrays, eagle rays and reef sharks; and
• West Caicos, with 9km of protected leeward side walls just 90m from shore.

Numerous dive centres offer full facilities, including Advanced Nitrox, Trimix and Re-breather courses. A full range of diving courses is available, from beginner to advance level and including all PADI courses – from the PADI Advanced Open Water Course to Divemaster and Nitrox certification.

Read more about diving Turks and Caicos…

Snorkelling

Blessed with warm, clear waters and coral gardens just a short swim from shore, the islands offer great snorkelling opportunities, all the way from the Caicos Cays, North Caicos, Middle Caicos and South Caicos to Grand Turk and Salt Cay.

Try the prime snorkelling trails at Grace Bay, which lie in the Princess Alexandra National Park. See a landscape of fan corals, purple gorgonians and sea cucumbers teeming with parrotfish and trumpet fish, among others, at Smith's Reef, near Turtle Cove Marina.

At Bight Reef (in front of the Reef Residences) snorkel the trail above colourful coral, multi-hued fish and friendly turtles. On North Caicos, head to the marine sanctuary at Three Mary Cays, and on Middle Caicos, check out Mudjin Harbour near Dragon Cay.

Several water sports operators offer snorkelling excursions and most beach resorts offer free snorkelling gear.

Fishing

Go bone fishing, hook up a deep-sea charter for wahoo, tuna, kingfish, marlin and shark or stay close to shore and try to catch snapper, grouper or barracuda. Whatever fishing you choose, the Turks and Caicos offer several reputable operators to help you feed your passion.

Golf

Tee-off from the par-72, 18-hole Karl Litton-designed course at the Provo Golf and Country Club at Grace Bay, a challenging course that meanders through rocky outcrops and manicured fairways with lovely bay views.

Island hopping in the Turks and Caicos

North Caicos Island

Discover a choice of unspoiled white-sand beaches that stretch for kilometres along the north shore, including Whitby Beach, Pumpkin Bluff Beach and Horse Stable Beach.

Several of the beaches offer resort facilities and all offer uncrowded white sand and extensive shallows that are perfect for snorkelling.

North Caicos is also renowned for bird watching, with a huge flamingo colony, rare whistling ducks and ospreys. You can also see iguanas and various other wildlife at the island's nature reserve.

West Caicos Island

Enjoy good fishing and scuba diving in deep water close to shore.

Little Water Cay

This small cay is known for its variety of birdlife.

Pine Cay

Mainly inhabited by tropical birds and iguanas, Pine Cay is part of the Cays National Underwater Park, which boasts a rich variety of corals and multi-hued fish, as well as one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean.

Middle Caicos Island

(or Grand Caicos) – This mainly undeveloped island boasts a beautiful northern coastline indented with idyllic coves and bays edged by gorgeous white-sand beaches. A hiking trail (revealed at low tide) links Middle Caicos and North Caicos.

East Caicos Island

The splendid 27km-long beach that stretches along the northern coast of this uninhabited island is a favourite nesting ground for turtles. A series of caves with evidence of early petroglyphs lies to the northwest near Jacksonville.

South Caicos Island

Explore the quaint town of Cockburn Harbour, which sits on a small ridge at the southwestern point of the island. South Caicos offers several great beaches to explore, with superb snorkelling, scuba diving, sailing and sports fishing.

Grand Turk Island

Explore the historical and cultural heart of the Turks and Caicos.

Stroll past early 19th century whitewashed buildings along Front Street, pop into the fascinating Turks and Caicos National Museum to learn more about the island’s history then climb up to the lighthouse overlooking North Creek.

Discover shimmering white-sand beaches along the eastern shore and crystal clear waters that are perfect for diving and fishing.

Salt Cay

Discover one of the most atmospheric of all the Salt Islands, featuring unspoiled beaches, still-productive salt ponds and a large, dominant white house that was built in the 1830s.

See relics of the now defunct whaling industry and, in winter during February, March and April, spot gigantic North Atlantic humpback whales migrating through the offshore channel en route to their breeding grounds at Mouchoir Bank.

Latest update Turks and Caicos honeymoon destination: 8 May, 2022