A Long Weekend in Turks & Caicos
Looking for a quick 3 day trip from the East Coast? Hoping to escape the city life and snow? I highly recommend a trip to the beautiful tropical island of Turks and Caicos to spend a few leisurely days in Providenciales.
Turks and Caicos is an archipelago in the Caribbean and is a British Territory. We traveled to Providenciales in the winter of 2022 and experienced a perfect combination of adventure and relaxation.
Day 1: Fly in to Providenciales Airport (TCI)
Depending on when your flight gets in, you may want to check in to your hotel or Airbnb and spend a few hours freshening up and getting settled. We stayed in an Airbnb to save on money, but if you are looking for a more luxurious experience I recommend staying at one of the resorts. The Ritz Carlton Turks and Caicos is a beautiful option.
Since we arrived in the evening, we checked in and went straight to dinner at Pelican Bay Restaurant. The restaurant has a beautiful decor at night and is close enough to the beach that you can hear the waves crashing. The menu has a typical British and American fare and is slightly on the pricier end.
Day 2: Parasailing at Grace Bay and an Evening at Club Med
I recommend starting out your day bright and early with a parasailing activity off of the famous Grace Bay beach. The operators of the trip have been running this experience for a long time and everything went off without a hitch. They pick you up at your hotel and take you out on the boat on the glistening blue water. Within 20 minutes they set you up and you’re up in the sky with the most beautiful views of the island.
You can spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying Grace Bay beach. We got a bite to eat and a few beers at the conveniently located Somewhere Cafe.
We then headed over the Club Med Hotel and bought a day pass that included unlimited drinks, food and access to their amenities. We spent time taking trapeze lessons, swimming in the heated pool and enjoying the live music and dancing. Highly recommend getting this pass as they are a great way to experience the resorts if you are not able to stay at one!
Day 3: Adventure Water Sports and Nightlife
We booked a tour to explore the island by snorkeling in the Turks and Caicos Barrier Reef. With a small group we went out to the reef, and got to see the beautiful coral and fish in a guided setting. We then visited several uninhabited cays such as Iguana and Half Moon Bay.
The experience lasts around 4 hours and, while absolutely worth it, is quite tiring, so I recommend heading back to your hotel and resting. In the afternoon you can head to the downtown area for a variety of shops, souvenir stands and dining. We had a quick snack at Thai Fortune and spent time strolling the area. After purchasing some souvenirs we went to an Italian restaurant Lupo for dinner. This was by far our favorite food of the trip!
Finally, we made our way over to the Ritz Carlton to lounge by the pool and spend the night in the Ritz Carlton Casino watching football and gambling. The casino is small but has a good variety of slots, blackjack and poker tables. They serve drinks for free while you are playing so it is a good nightcap.
Day 4 (Optional): Relaxation and Travel Day
If you are able to stay for a 4th day, I recommend spending some time at the Seven Stars hotel. The pool and beach area are absolutely beautiful and the environment is very peaceful. You can spend some time with the many water activities they have available such as surfing, paddle-boarding and kayaking.
This may be the end of your trip, but hopefully you had a relaxing and fun time in the Turks and Caicos!
