Best Beaches in Turks and Caicos

With over three miles of dizzyingly pretty, talc-soft white sand and clear, bright turquoise sea, you’ll struggle to find a list of the world’s most beautiful beaches that Grace Bay isn’t on. Protected by a barrier reef, the water is calm, clean, and perfect for swimming, paddle-boarding and kayaking in. Most of the island’s hotels have set up shop here, and you’ll find dozens of restaurants and activity companies too (the boat trips out to snorkel the reef are very popular). Grace Bay also Merges onto Leeward Beach one way and Bight Beach the other for fabulous beach walks.

Up on the north-eastern coast, Leeward’s an extension of legendary Grace Bay – you can walk west via Grace and Bight Beach to Turtle’s Cove, for a spectacular seven-mile beach walk. Things are a little quieter in these parts but just as pretty, with water that seems to glow a luminous turquoise in an ocean swell and soft, pale sand dotted with washed up conch shells and views out to Little Water Cay and Mangrove Cay.

Taylor’s further away from the main hotel hub – you’ll need to drive down on the south coast in Chalk Sound. It’s a charmingly small, white-sand cove, where the shallows go on for ages letting kids (and big kids) have a whale of a time. Come here at dusk a few days after a full moon you can see glow worms like tiny dots shining in the water.

Off the island’s south coast in Chalk Sound, Sapodilla is worth hunting out. If you can drag yourself away from the deliciously secluded 275m of fine white sand and still water (where tiddly sandbar islands poke out at low tide), walk up to the abandoned Marina Inn on the hill where you can spy stone carvings from shipwrecked sailors yonks ago

On the island’s northwest coast, Long Bay is kiteboarding and windsurf central – the water is shallow, lagoon-calm, and bright, bright blue, with consistent south-easterlies providing good onshore and side on conditions. Horse rides lead past palm trees, over white sand and into the sea, while one of Provo’s natural wonders (a limestone chimney called The Hole) is within easy reach if you fancy exploring.

Reachable by boat, kayak or paddleboard from Provo, Half Moon’s a 1200m x 110m sliver of beach between the desert islets of Water Cay and Little Water Cay. The sea is clear and still, and on still days when the tide’s coming in, you can see the curious phenomena of floating sand. Kiteboarders in the know head to the south side, where the wind conditions are almost perfect. The cays on either side are worth exploring – Water Cay has a spectacular white sand beach backed by rugged cliffs, while Little Water’s home to the endemic Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana, which can sometimes be seen scattering through the dunes.

Mudjin Harbour is made up of three miles of soft sand, lapped with striking azure waters. Majestic limestone cliffs soar over the beach, providing stunning views of the horizon. You’ll also find a few flank margin caves in this area.

Situated along the west coast of Grand Turk, Governor’s Beach is sheltered from southeast trade winds, resulting in pristine surroundings. This beach has incredibly soft sand with a peachy hue, groves of casuarina trees and sparkling ocean waters.

North Bay is the largest beach on Salt Cay and is surrounded by small reefs which provide amazing snorkelling conditions. In these waters you’ll come across fire coral, yellow sea fans and a variety of tropical fish. This is a serene and secluded beach, perfect for an afternoon of enjoying its aquamarine waters and fine sand in peace.

Pine Cay is a private island that oozes utter tranquillity. You can find this island in the string of cays between North Caicos and Providenciales. Its beach is made up of two miles of pristine white sand, the atmosphere here is blissfully laidback.