Providenciales Archives - Caffeinated Excursions https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/tag/providenciales/ Blog of a Traveling Coffee Addict Sat, 10 Aug 2024 17:56:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://i0.wp.com/caffeinatedexcursions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/wp-1555570621336.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Providenciales Archives - Caffeinated Excursions https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/tag/providenciales/ 32 32 141833777 Providenciales: Your Home Base For Island Hopping https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/providenciales-your-home-base-for-island-hopping/ https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/providenciales-your-home-base-for-island-hopping/#respond Sun, 04 Mar 2018 18:00:00 +0000 http://caffeinatedexcursions.com/?p=2205 The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are perfect for island-hopping (see 5 reasons why). But regardless of your travel plans, you’ll probably spend some time on the island of Providenciales, home to the country’s main international airport. As the center of tourism, Provo (as it’s informally called) has the most development...

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Providenciales: Your Home Base For Island Hopping

Published March 4, 2018

The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are perfect for island-hopping (see 5 reasons why). But regardless of your travel plans, you’ll probably spend some time on the island of Providenciales, home to the country’s main international airport. As the center of tourism, Provo (as it’s informally called) has the most development and commercialization. However, there are numerous opportunities to get away from the resorts clustered in Grace Bay and see some really beautiful hidden spots. You’ll need to reserve a rental car before you arrive in order to get around (I recommend Grace Bay Car Rentals). If you do decide to island-hop, one or two nights on Provo is sufficient to get a sense of the spirit of the island.

Read on to discover the touristy spots I liked, some amazing tucked-away areas, and where to stay without splurging on lodging.

Touristy Stuff

Most of the tourism infrastructure is centered around Grace Bay, which has a long white-sand beach and dozens of high-end resorts. Spend an hour or so walking along the beach just to say you’ve been, but I honestly didn’t think it deserved the hype it gets. There’s public parking at this location if you’re coming by car.

If you’re looking for a good breakfast in the area, you can to go to Caicos Bakery. When I arrived, the nicest lady with a strong French accent helped me pick out exactly what I wanted. And man, the pastries were good! It looked like they had coffee, but I decided to try the Lemon2Go Coffee Shop instead, which was a bit expensive but their iced latte was very refreshing.

One restaurant I went to that clearly catered to vacationers but was still quite good was Las Brisas. They are located at the Neptune Villas overlooking Chalk Sound, which in my opinion is a much more beautiful area than Grace Bay. I just had a burger, fries, and a drink, but they were all delicious. The nearby Sapodilla Bay Beach is also worth a visit.

The color of the water is one of my favorite parts about Providenciales.
Sapodilla Bay Beach.

This restaurant is also a short walk from one of my favorite hidden spots, which brings me to…

The Road Less Traveled

My absolute favorite spot on Provo is literally off the beaten path; you’ll have to climb up a hill through brush on a trail that barely exists anymore, and the sign marking the trail head was lying flat on the ground when I went, but the views from the top are absolutely worth it. I’m talking about Sapodilla Bay Hill, which offers 360-degree views of Chalk Sound to the north, Sapodilla Bay to the west, and the open ocean to the south.

Another interesting place is Blue Hills Road. It only takes a few minutes to drive along, but it felt like a local stretch of homes, businesses, churches, and other buildings relatively untouched by tourism.

If you’re looking for local cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere, consider da Conch Shack. Like the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands are famous for conch, so don’t leave without trying some! This place has a lot of outdoor seating and is a few miles away from the main hotel strip, so it wasn’t crowded at all for dinner the day I went.

There are also a bunch of hole-in-the-wall places scattered across Provo. For lunch one day I ended up eating a grilled fish combo at a mom and pop restaurant a few blocks from the airport. Visit one or two if you’re feeling adventurous and looking for something closer to a homecooked meal!

Where to StaY

As I mention in my other post, the Turks and Caicos Islands aren’t really a cheap destination. With that said, there are still some options if you’re trying to avoid the high prices of beachfront resorts. First and foremost, check Airbnb. I couldn’t find anything for less than about $100 per night, but you might be able to find a better deal.

If you have an island hopping “layover” in Provo (e.g., you arrive in the late afternoon and leave for another island early the next morning) and you don’t want to rent a car, you might stay at the Sunset Ridge Hotel. It’s a bare-bones hotel that’s literally a two or three-minute walk from the check-in area at the airport. You might have to walk a bit to find food, but there are some restaurants further down Airport Road to the east. It still cost me $175 for one night, so consider the cost of a rental car when making your decision.

These are just a few ideas for a stay on Providenciales! It’s a beautiful island and one that most visitors to the Turks and Caicos will at least pass through. Be sure to check out some of its more remote corners! And if you’re going to come here, you might as well make the short journey to another island as well! My recommendation is Grand Turk (read more here).

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Check out my guide featuring Providenciales, including why it's the perfect place to establish as a 'home base' for island hopping throughout the Turks and Caicos! #providenciales #provo #tci #turksandcaicos #turksandcaicosislands #provotci #gracebay #chalksound #sapodillabay #sapodillabaybeach #sapodillabayhill ##providencialesturksandcaicos #turksandcaicostourism #caribbeantravel #islandhopping Check out my guide featuring Providenciales, including why it's the perfect place to establish as a 'home base' for island hopping throughout the Turks and Caicos! #providenciales #provo #tci #turksandcaicos #turksandcaicosislands #provotci #gracebay #chalksound #sapodillabay #sapodillabaybeach #sapodillabayhill ##providencialesturksandcaicos #turksandcaicostourism #caribbeantravel #islandhopping

This post was published on Mar 4, 2018

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Upcoming Trips

  1. Bangkok (Sept)
  2. Istanbul (Sept)

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]]> https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/providenciales-your-home-base-for-island-hopping/feed/ 0 2205 5 Reasons To Go Island Hopping In The Turks And Caicos https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/island-hopping-turks-and-caicos/ https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/island-hopping-turks-and-caicos/#comments Sat, 03 Mar 2018 18:00:00 +0000 http://caffeinatedexcursions.com/?p=498 Despite its reputation as a laid-back Caribbean paradise, the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) is a perfect destination for travelers seeking adventure! Comprised of two tiny island chains southeast of the Bahamas, this British Overseas Territory is easy to get to from the US and perfect for island hopping...

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5 Reasons To Go Island Hopping In The Turks And Caicos

Published March 3, 2018

Despite its reputation as a laid-back Caribbean paradise, the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) is a perfect destination for travelers seeking adventure! Comprised of two tiny island chains southeast of the Bahamas, this British Overseas Territory is easy to get to from the US and perfect for island hopping. Flights from one end of the country to the other are only 30 minutes long, and each island has its own unique spirit. Once you land, you can rent a car, golf cart, or bike depending on the island and start exploring right away.

I flew in on American Airlines (direct from Charlotte) and flew home on Delta (with a layover in Atlanta) for about $330 round-trip. All major US carriers fly to the international airport on Providenciales (PLS), so shop around and don’t settle for outrageous airfare! Once you’re there, you can island hop using InterCaribbean Airways or Caicos Express Airways. I spent four nights in the TCI and in that time I visited three islands: Providenciales, Grand Turk, and South Caicos.

So why forego the comfort of a resort? After all, you’re going to have to do more planning as an island hopper. The short answer is that visiting the remote islands is a different experience than staying in Grace Bay, the area of Providenciales (often called ‘Provo‘) where most resorts are clustered. So without further ado, here are five reasons why you should definitely go island hopping in the Turks and Caicos!

1. It's easy to explore on your own terms (with a little preparation)

The TCI is great for on-the-go adventures because each island is small enough that it can be seen in one or two days. They’re also very close to one another, so flights between the islands are short and sweet! Unfortunately, the islands lack public transportation, so you’ll have to arrange rental vehicles (and be sure to book beforehand). Luckily, I’ll tell you what worked for me on each island.

Provo

You’ll want to rent a car, as the island is about 13 miles long from east to west. You’ll drive on the left side of the road like in the UK, but you may receive an American-style rental (with steering wheel on the left) or a British-style car (steering wheel on the right). This might sound scary, but I found that driving a British car was much more intuitive than I thought it would be. I had good experiences with Grace Bay Car Rentals, which cost about $65 per day. They conveniently offer airport pickup and drop-off.

Grand Turk

Most tourists here rent golf carts since the island is only 7 miles from north to south and 2 miles wide. Roads are a little rougher here than on Provo, but are still navigable. Golf carts won’t protect against rain and I experienced some technical difficulties with mine (I was given a partial refund for the trouble). I booked through my Airbnb host and was told the standard rate on the island is about $80 per day.

South Caicos

The hotel where I stayed (East Bay Resort) offered complimentary bicycle rentals. Although South Caicos is fully accessible by bike, prepare to be exhausted by the end of the day! The bicycles weren’t in pristine condition and you may have to ride on a dirt road or two. Paved roads also have some potholes, so be careful.

Once you’ve booked all your vehicles, you’re ready to go exploring! My favorite spot was Sapodilla Hill on Provo. You’ll start at what appears to be a wooded hillside, but if you duck under branches and follow what looks like the remnants of a forgotten foot trail, you will find yourself on a very overgrown path. Keep working your way up the hill for 360-degree views of the surrounding Chalk Sound, Sapodilla Bay, and the open ocean to the south.

From Sapodilla Hill looking towards Chalk Sound (right) and Sapodilla Bay Beach (left).

Two other cool areas were the northwestern peninsula on Grand Turk and the northern peninsula on South Caicos. Both areas were very relaxing and almost completely devoid of human activity. Blue Hills Road in Provo was also a scenic beachfront drive that had some interesting architecture. As long as you’re willing to venture away from the touristy spots, you shouldn’t have any trouble making your own discoveries!

Wilderness on the north end of Grand Turk.
An empty, winding road on the island of South Caicos.
A view from Blue Hills Road in Providenciales.

2. Try conch in its many forms (and other delicious cuisine)

Conch is a true delicacy that you have to try during your trip! It can be found on menus in almost every restaurant and comes in many varieties: cracked conch, steamed conch, conch fritters, and conch salad. My favorite is cracked conch, which reminds me of calamari. A great place to go on Provo is da Conch Shack, which has a combo on their menu consisting of cracked conch, fritters, and a really good dipping sauce. As always, you can’t go wrong with a side of peas and rice!

Conch combo (left) and fries with black bean and chili sauce (right) at da Conch Shack.

The steamed conch I had at the Dolphin Grill in South Caicos was also a delicious and hearty meal. If you’re looking for something fresh and light, go with a conch salad, which is usually prepared with diced tomatoes, onions, and cucumber.

Steamed conch from the Dolphin Grill on South Caicos.
More cracked conch ordered from the Salt Raker Inn on Grand Turk.
If you're tired of conch, try a Cuban burger from Las Brisas restaurant on Chalk Sound, Providenciales.

3. The scenery is amazing (especially from a plane window)

As I’m sure you can tell by now, there’s beautiful places to discover all over the islands. Turn a corner and you’re bound to stumble upon a beach that looks like it belongs in a travel magazine. But I think the most breathtaking views are actually seen from the air. If you take a domestic flight on InterCaribbean or Caicos Express, you will take a small propeller plane like this:

You may even get to see the cockpit if you take a smaller plane, which seats about 15 to 20 passengers.

These planes fly at low elevations compared to commercial jetliners, so you’ll have some really incredible views of the geography of the islands as you fly over them.

Take a look at a map of the TCI, and you’ll see that when flying from Provo to any other island, you’ll want to sit in a window seat on the left side of the plane for the best views of the islands. When you fly back, sit on the right. Since InterCaribbean has open seating, you should be able to get your pick as long as you’re in the front of the line to board!

One of the most striking things I noticed was the stark contrast between the turquoise color of the shallow waters surrounding the islands and the rich, navy blue of the deeper open ocean. This is especially apparent if you fly to Grand Turk, but can be seen even if you fly within the Caicos Islands.

4. Wild animals abound on the more remote islands

If you’re an animal lover, this is a prime reason to check out an island other than Provo! While on Grand Turk and South Caicos, I saw wild donkeys, horses, cows, dogs, cats, lizards, fish, and tropical birds. Donkeys that roam the islands are a remnant of the bustling salt industry of centuries past. They are not afraid of humans or aggressive, although if you get too close to take a picture, they will trot away.

5. The sunsets are gorgeous!

This is pretty self-explanatory, but check when the sun sets and position yourself on a western-facing beach 10 or 15 minutes before that. Relax, take it all in, and cool down after a long day.

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So there you have it! Hopefully I’ve enticed you to at least consider the Turks and Caicos Islands for your next getaway. If you’re looking for more information about each island, click one of the links below to learn more:

Additional Information

Here are a few other tidbits of knowledge that might make your trip smoother.

  • The currency of the Turks and Caicos Islands is the US dollar. Cash is good to have on hand especially if you want to check out some mom and pop shops, but resorts and touristy areas will accept credit cards.
  • I recommend withdrawing extra cash from an ATM on Providenciales before flying to smaller islands. Read more about ATMs here.
  • As a budget traveler, I have to warn you that traveling the islands is expensive. Rental vehicles are a must, and budget accommodation is hard to find. Expect to pay at least $60 a day for a vehicle, and at least $100 a night for lodging (even at Airbnbs). Overall, I think the total cost of my trip for 5 days was about $1800.
  • Residents of Caribbean countries tend to be devout, so most businesses will be closed on Sundays (some restaurants may open for lunch after church). Take care of shopping and errands on Saturday to avoid conflicts.
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The Turks and Caicos Islands are perfect for an island-hopping getaway! Check out my post to see why, and learn some tips for making it a smooth journey! #turksandcaicos #tci #turksandcaicosislands #providenciales #provo #grandturk #southcaicos #islandhopping #islandvacation #visitturksandcaicos #visittci #islandhoppingguide #travelblog #travelblogs #turksandcaicosislandsguide #travelblogger #travelbloggers #caribbean #caribbeantravel #caribbeantravelguide The Turks and Caicos Islands are perfect for an island-hopping getaway! Check out my post to see why, and learn some tips for making it a smooth journey! #turksandcaicos #tci #turksandcaicosislands #providenciales #provo #grandturk #southcaicos #islandhopping #islandvacation #visitturksandcaicos #visittci #islandhoppingguide #travelblog #travelblogs #turksandcaicosislandsguide #travelblogger #travelbloggers #caribbean #caribbeantravel #caribbeantravelguide

This post was published on Mar 3, 2018

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Upcoming Trips

  1. Bangkok (Sept)
  2. Istanbul (Sept)

Support the Blog!

The post 5 Reasons To Go Island Hopping In The Turks And Caicos appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

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