Grace Bay Beach on Provo in Turks and Caicos

Provenciales Beach Considered One of the Best in the Caribbean

Apr 11, 2009 Kathy Hagood

Grace Bay Beach on Provenciales, also called Provo, in the Turks and Caicos is a standout among the Caribbean's best beaches. It's powdery sand is soft at each footfall.

Even the most frayed nerves can be soothed by looking out to sea and being hypnotized by Grace Bay Beach's milky aqua waters and wide band of white sand. It's no wonder Provenciales’ most famous shoreline has won numerous accolades in recent years.

Grace Bay Beach offers such a sensory feast that national publications, including Conde Nast Traveler, Caribbean Travel and Life and Forbes.com, periodically list the destination among their top picks of the world’s best beaches.

Resorts along the 12-mile-long curve of Grace Bay Beach are well maintained and landscaped with an abundance of tropical plants, adding to the beach’s get-away-from-it-all allure.

Plenty of Fun Activities on Provenciales

While many visitors spend the middle of the day on Grace Bay Beach alternating between swimming in the calm turquoise waters, reading under an umbrella and sunbathing, others opt to take out catamarans and kayaks, which are available at most oceanfront resorts.

In addition to beach fun, there's plenty to do on Provo. Sun Charters, for example, offers Provo sailing excursions and private charters aboard the 77-foot Atabeyra. Sailing around the island and into its inlets and estuaries is an excellent way to discover rarely visited coves and snorkeling sites.

In addition to taking out private charters for between two and 50 guests, the traditionally rigged cargo schooner regularly goes out for Friday night sunset cruises during daylight-saving-time months. The Atabeyra takes out evening tours out to see phosphorescent glow-worm show in the channel on the third and fourth days after the full moon.

Guests are invited to bring their own provisions aboard Atabeyra or can opt for catered lunches or dinners. A delicious lunch provided by Ocean Club Resort was served during my half-day charter.

Various marine adventures are offered by Provo’s Big Blue Unlimited. The eco-tourism company takes out divers to Provo’s abundant reef system and kayakers to the island’s mangrove-lined estuaries.

Don't Miss the Caicos Conch Farm

Those who enjoy eating fresh conch will not want to miss a trip to Caicos Conch Farm, the world’s only conch farm, while they are visiting Provo. Several resorts on the island, including Grace Bay Resort, serve fresh conch from the farm.

The farm, which is home to 5.5 million conchs in various parts of their life cycle, is helping supply the Caribbean and the United State’s growing appetite for conch. That’s important because the delicacy is being over fished in many areas the Caribbean.

Visitors are able to see and touch conch growing in various shelters and ponds at the facility. The finale of the tour is a show put on by “Sally” and “Jesse,” two mature conchs that slide out of their shells to visit with guests.

The copyright of the article Grace Bay Beach on Provo in Turks and Caicos in Latin Am/Caribbean Travel is owned by Kathy Hagood. Permission to republish Grace Bay Beach on Provo in Turks and Caicos in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Caicos Conch Farm	Grace Bay Beach	Colorful catamarans
Grace Bay Beach sunset

What do you think about this article?

---

NOTE: Because you are not a Suite101 member, your comment will be moderated before it is viewable.

post your comment

What is 6+7?

Comments

Apr 12, 2009 10:27 AM

Guest :

nice to see this post on Turks and Caicos on the web - here's the top 50 things to do in the Turks and Caicos Islands by insiders who live here http://www.discovertci.tc/top50-seedo.html

Cheers,
Val

1 Comment: