Providenciales

History

The original settlers of these islands were the Taino and Lucayan Indians. They forged a rich history of seafaring, salt raking, and farming. The Indians introduced words such as ‘canoe’ and ‘Caicos’ which are derived from the Arawak language.

Christopher Columbus set foot on the capital island of Grand Turk during his discovery voyage in 1492.

After some back and forth, the islands were taken back under British rule as a colony.

Things to See

There are so many amazing places to explore in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. To see more about individual attractions, click here to skip to that section.

Getting Around

As most of you that have followed me for some time now know, I like independent traveling. I always rent a car so I can go where I please when I please.

This can be a bit of a challenge when traveling amongst the islands. If you are on Providenciales and want to visit North or Middle Caicos, you must take a passenger ferry over to the north, then rent a separate car there to use on both the north and middle islands.

Then, if you are wanting to check out Grand Turk, you will need to hop on a flight.

To visit Salt Cay, you can either take a ferry from Grand Turk or a flight from Providenciales.

Not impossible, just a lot of work. And yes, despite the work, I still recommend renting cars and having freedom at your fingertips. Or, rather, at the tip of your toes.

Weather / Best Time to Visit

This chain of islands is always a good location to visit. Temperatures range from 80 to 88 degrees daily. The rainy season runs from late August to early December.

The best weather and cheapest flights can be found between the months of February and May.

Recommendations

Where to Stay in Providenciales

Booking.com is a great place to find a wonderful place to stay in Providenciales. Here are a few of my favorites:

Luxury Option:

The Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos

Grace Bay Road, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands

Mid-Range:

The Tides, Grace Bay

Princess Drive, TKCA 1ZZ Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands

Zenza Boutique Hotel

1 Bridge Road, TKCA 1ZZ Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands

Cheap Stay:

Lovely 2-bedroom Apartment in Venetian Road

47 Downwind Drive, TKCA 1ZZ Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands

Where to Eat in Providenciales

Las Brisas

Chalk Sound Dr, TKCA 1ZZ, Turks & Caicos Islands

Da Conch Shack

Blue Hills Rd, TKCA 1ZZ, Turks & Caicos Islands

The Terrace

One Season Grace Bay Unit B3 Grace Bay Road, Grace Bay TKCA 1ZZ, Turks & Caicos Islands

The Deck at Seven Stars Resort

Grace Bay Rd, Grace Bay TKCA 1ZZ, Turks & Caicos Islands

Fun Facts about Providenciales

More than half the coastline, over 230 miles of beach, has super soft sand
Technically, the islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean and not the Caribbean
The ocean water has bathtub-like temperatures, around 82 to 84 degrees. Even in the winter, the water is around 75 degrees.
Although the Turks and Caicos Islands are one of the smallest countries in the Caribbean, they have nearly 400 kilometers of coastline and 40 different islands.
There are no lakes or rivers in the Turks and Caicos
When the NASA Friendship 7 mission ended, it was off the Turks and Caicos Islands that John Glenn splashed down in his capsule.
While the islands are considered British territory, they use the U.S. dollar.