Providenciales is a must visit Island when planning a trip to Turks and Caicos. From the world famous Grace Bay Beach, to the extensive list of available water activities and the endless restaurant options, there is truly something for everyone here.
In this blog post, we are sharing the best places to stay, the best places to eat at and the best activities to do during your time in Providenciales. This guide has options for ALL budgets. Meaning from budget-friendly to luxury, this is the ultimate trip planning guide to Providenciales in Turks and Caicos.
How To Get There:
Providenciales (Provo) houses the main International Airport (PLS) for all of Turks and Caicos. Thus, making this the easiest Island to access for all International air travelers.
Note: If you are heading to Turks and Caicos on a cruise ship, you will be landing in Grand Turks. This is the only cruise ship port in the country.
When To Visit:
The weather is warm all year round, with a daily average of 80 Degrees Fahrenheit. Their rain season is considered June to November, as the threat of hurricanes heighten in the Caribbean. However, Turks and Caicos is known to have some of the lowest rainfall in comparison to other surrounding Islands.
We visited in September and we had sunshine, warm and humid weather every day. During “rainy season” the wind can pick up, making some of the beaches get some waves, but we did not mind this at all!
How To Get Around:
A rental car is, in our opinion, the best way to get around Provo. Small economy cars through Expedia were competitively priced (We got ours for $230 CAD total for 7 days!) and offered us the freedom to explore the Island at our own pace. Know that if you are traveling from North America, you will need to learn to drive on the left side of the road. However, there are only roundabouts in the Island and slow speed limits (Island time!) meaning you can take your time and feel safe.
There is no ride share program on the Island (Uber/ Lyft). Also, taxi’s are not regulated and are privately owned, meaning the driver makes the price. If you do take a taxi, it is important to confirm a price before getting in to the vehicle.
Some resorts offer shuttles to the downtown area or popular beaches around the Island. Inquire with your concierge about options for getting around from your resort!
Where to Stay:
With an endless amount of Resorts, Airbnb’s and Villas, it can be overwhelming to choose where to stay in Provo. We had the opportunity to experience a variety of stays for all budgets, so with that, here are our recommendations!
Budget Friendly stay in provo:
Ports of Call Resort
At around $250 CAD a night, this is one of the most budget friendly options on the Island without the compromise of small luxuries. Your stay includes complimentary hot breakfast, a welcome cocktail, and spacious, clean rooms, all of which have Air Conditioning. The property has a beautiful outdoor pool and Jacuzzi tub, along with a bar which serves happy hour drinks daily. Although this property is not directly on the beach, it is a short walk across the street, or if you would like, they Resort has a shuttle that will take you directly to their private area on Grace Bay Beach. Ports of Call is within walking distance of some of the most popular restaurants and bars on Grace Bay beach as well.
This hotel is a great option for travelers looking for a budget friendly option in the heart of Grace Bay!
Mid-Range to luxury stays in Provo
Wymara Resort
Wymara Resort is located right at the end of Grace Bay Beach before private estates, making it a perfect secluded retreat! This resort offers a variety of rooms at varying prices to fit within most Mid-Range to Luxury budgets. The resort offers a massive breakfast spread included with your room price, a beautiful pool, direct access to world famous Grace Bay Beach and a variety of restaurants on the property. They also have a shuttle which can bring you to various places around Provo.
Wymara Villas
Wymara Villas is a highly luxurious stay that is a part of the Wymara family. There are 7 Villas total, all with an incredible infinity pool with absolutely stunning ocean front views. Follow what we call the “stairway to heaven” or the short series of stairs down to your direct ocean front access.
As a guest of Wymara Villas, you have access to their newly opened Sports Club which offers a steam room, sauna, game room, Tennis and Pickle Ball courts as well as a large lap pool. You will also have the option to take a complimentary shuttle to the Resort to take advantage of all of the amenities they offer as well.
Sing A Song Villas
Sing a Song Villas are privately owned, luxurious villas located on a very exclusive portion of Provo. There are 3 Villas on the property, each with their own stunning pool overlooking the property’s private white sand beach.
Villa 1 offers 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. It has a large living space with a pull out couch, and a massive chef’s kitchen.Our favorite part of this Villa is the stunning infinity pool overlooking the palm trees and the white sand beach.
Villa 2 offers 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It has a large living space with a pull out couch and a large open concept kitchen. This Villa has a large outdoor area for soaking up the sun and one of the most unique pools we have ever seen!
Villa 3 has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. There is a massive kitchen and open concept living space with a pull out couch again for extra sleeping space. This Villa has a corner infinity pool overlooking the ocean and a roof top patio perfect for sunset viewing.
Sing A Song Villas would not only be great for couples, but also for a large group of family or friends! You have the option of renting out one, two or all three of the Villas! This means you can host a large group vacation with your own private white sand beach and 3 gorgeous pools.
Where To Eat:
When traveling, we try to locate some of the local’s favorite spots as we know that the food will be great! We also try and visit some popular places for tourists as they are usually worth the hype. However, there are so many great restaurants to choose from in Providenciales that it can be a little overwhelming. This is a list of our absolute favorites that we think you cannot miss!
The Terrace on Grace Bay $$
This restaurant is located just a short walk from Grace Bay beach near Seven Stars Resort. This reasonably priced restaurant offers a large patio and the option for indoor seating. Their menu is filled with bar food like chicken wings, nachos and burgers! They also offer a variety of drinks that range from locally brewed beer to classic cocktails. This is the perfect restaurant for lunch or a late afternoon bite to eat!
Omar’s Beach Hut $$:
Located in Five Cays, this hidden gem is just a short 8 minute drive from Grace Bay Beach. Located right on the beach, this colorful open air restaurant is serving up some delicious food and drinks. We ordered the Crack Conch and the Lobster Pasta. These were honestly some of our favorite dishes that we had on the Island! You absolutely need to visit this spot.
Mr. Groupers $$:
Located near the Beaches property near Grace Bay Beach, this local favorite is also a hidden gem for tourists. The atmosphere is magical with string lights throughout with indoor and outdoor seating areas. Certain nights of the week they have live local musicians playing. The food was absolutely delicious, the portions were large and one of the most reasonably priced restaurants in Provo. We ordered the Conch Fritters, Coconut Shrimp, Garlic Shrimp and Coconut Grouper with their homemade Mac and Cheese. All of these dishes were tasty and we would definitely recommend this spot.
Mango Reef Restaurant $$:
With a little “googling” we found this great restaurant located right on a Marina for lunch! This was a popular spot with locals and tourists alike. The drinks were the cheapest that we found in Provo ($5 Beer, $6 Cocktails) and the food was the most reasonably priced out of all the restaurants that we visited. We had the Lobster Quesadilla and the Chicken Tacos. Both of these dishes were great and we would absolutely recommend this spot.
Da Conch Shack $$:
This epic spot was recommended to us by some local friends! Located right on the beach, this brightly colored restaurant is serving up some great seafood, with their specialty being Conch! We highly recommend that you make a visit to this spot for lunch.
Somewhere Cafe and Bar $$:
Somewhere Cafe and Bar was another place recommended to us by some locals. We visited Provo during their “off” season in September so unfortunately this spot was closed. We have heard great things about it however and were looking forward to visiting.
A Place We DO NOT Recommend:
Infiniti Bar. We have seen this place on many different travel blogs and the atmosphere looked incredible so this was the first place that we went to for dinner. However, the food came out with hair in it and with flies all over the food. This obviously has been an ongoing problem as they brought out fans to keep flies away at every table! The food was ridiculously over-priced and sub-par at best. We highly recommend skipping this place and visiting one of the others on our list.
Things To Do and See:
Relax at the Beach
Grace Bay Beach is the most popular beach on the Island as it is has frequented “Top 10 Beaches in The World” lists many times. Grace Bay Beach is made up of white powdery sand, goes on for miles and continues into the clear, bright blue Caribbean waters. Most of the Island’s resorts are located on this beach, and if they aren’t, many Resorts and Villas offer shuttles to this beach! You cannot miss experiencing this spot.
Try Local Cuisine – Conch!
Provo is home to one of the only Conch farms in the world, which means this is the perfect place to try it! Every restaurant the we visited had multiple Conch dishes on their menu. There are many ways to eat it, salad, fritters, “crack” conch (deep fried). All of the dishes we tried were great, but our favorite was definitely the Conch fritters at Mr Groupers!
Thursday Night Fish Fry
Every Thursday night at around 6pm, locals and tourists flock to Bight Park for their world famous Fish Fry! This experience is completely free to enter and there are craft and souvenir booths to explore and live music to enjoy.
Pro tip: If you are staying at Wymara Resort, Bight Park is directly next door! Meaning you can walk over in seconds.
Take a Boat Tour
There are so many different places to see when taking a boat tour in Provo! La Famille Express shipwreck is popular among many tour companies as a spot to jump into the ocean. There are also various Island hopping tours available to the uninhabited islands surrounding Provo. You can also do Scuba Diving and Snorkeling tours to discover some of the beautiful barrier reefs that surround the islands. Some companies offer Scuba Diving Certification Courses for those that want to learn!
Final Thoughts
Turks and Caicos is a true Caribbean paradise. From the beautiful soft sand of Grace Bay Beach, to the turquoise clear ocean waters and tall palm trees, this is the ultimate relaxation destination! From budget friendly stays, to beautiful Resorts and Luxury Villas, there are truly places for everyone to stay no matter what the budget! Turks and Caicos is the perfect tropical getaway and we highly recommend adding Provo to your travel bucket-list.
