I must admit that I am pretty biased when it comes to the Caribbean. I spend a lot of time in my native Puerto Rico and haven’t explored much of the region. This summer, I had the opportunity to spend Three Days in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. “Provo” as it is affectionally called, is a spectacular island with calm turquoise beaches, white powdery sand and superb service everywhere we went.
Getting There
We were a bit last minute planning our Three Days in Providenciales trip. However, I was able to snag a roundtrip ticket via Southwest Airlines for $400 from Dulles with less than a month in anticipation. We made a connection in Ft Lauderdale and thankfully everything went smoothly given that we had only three nights in Provo.
Renting a car in Turks and Caicos
I asked the question about renting a car in Turks and Caicos to several people who have spent a considerable amount of time there. They all said yes. Taxis are expensive, and I can’t picture myself just hanging out at the resort. Three days in Providenciales is quite short, so I wanted to have the freedom to explore as much as possible. The one point of caution is that in Turks and Caicos you drive on the left side of the road. I lived in Japan, so I have experience, but it always gets a little getting used to. The rental for three days was $90 which was not too shabby, and the island is so small that we barely spent money on gas!
What to do with Three Days in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
Although I was tempted to just hang out at Grace Bay at our fabulous resort, Ocean Club Resorts West, we did decide to do a few things around the island. Here are some of the highlights:
Horseback riding at Five-Mile Cay
This was one of the highlights of our trip. Carlis booked a tour via Heritage Tours which was fantastic. August is low season in Turks and Caicos with very little tourists. The upside is that the beaches are not crowded, but the downside is that many tours and restaurants are closed. We were fortunate enough to book this tour last minute. We had a spectacular time riding our horses along the sea and soaking in the sun. Highly recommend.
Sunset Boat Cruise
I am still bummed that we didn’t get to do one of these because it was low season and there were not enough people to fill a tour. I decided to add it to the list in case you have better luck than us. The hotel staff at Ocean Club Resorts West told us that it’s a lovely experience.
Snorkeling
Several tour companies take you out on a snorkeling tour, but with only three days in Providenciales, we didn’t want to take a whole day out on tour. However, we were told by our bartender at Ocean Club to check out Princess Alexandra National Park, which was just a short drive from the resort. I brought my snorkels from home and went straight into the water and checked out the colorful tropical fish relatively close to the shore. Parts of the beach are blocked off as it’s a coral rehabilitation zone, but the area around has plenty to see. I wasn’t fortunate to catch a glimpse of the sea turtles but heard they also hang out in Coral Gardens.
Beach Hopping
Another bonus of renting a car in Turks and Caicos is going to beaches that are a bit off the beaten path. One of the front desk staff recommended we check out Sopadilla Bay on the south side of the island. It’s a bit challenging to get to the water because a lot of the beach area is blocked by extravagant villas; however, we persisted! We found a tiny path to the beach, and it was magic! Crystal clear calm waters, not a soul in sight, it was perfection.
Water Sports
Grace Bay is the perfect beach for watersports such as kayaking and paddle boarding due to its calm waters and gentle currents. Ocean Club Resorts lets their guest borrow kayaks and paddle boards free of charge, so I suggest you wake up early and get your paddle on before the sun is in full effect. Summertime in the Caribbean is NO JOKE.
Where to Eat
With three days in Providenciales, there’s plenty of places to dine during your stay. Again, we were there low season; therefore several were closed. Here are some of the places we enjoyed the most:
The Deck at Seven Stars Resort: Superb service, great tapas, and generous servings. Tip: go on a Sunday for BBQ on the beach.
Retreat: I always look for local owned cafes at a new destination. Retreat is a café and yoga studio with delicious gluten-free toasts, smoothies, and lattes.
Da Conch Shack: Several people told us to go to Da Conch Shack. Now we know why. It has the most idyllic view of the sea, the most delicious conch salad, and
Solana at Ocean Club West: The cocktails and sushi at Solana are spectacular. Great views of Grace Bay (go at sunset) and friendly service. Tip: trust the bartenders! We gave them full “artistic” control over our cocktails several times and were not disappointed.
Zest at Gansevoort: Have a yummy fresh salad with a view of the sea at Zest, with cocktails of course!
Where to Stay
We stayed at the beautiful Ocean Club Resorts West on Grace Bay. My travel buddy, Carlis won a social media contest for a three-night stay and asked me to be her plus one (lucky me). The resort has fully equipped apartments which is great because you can buy snacks and wine to sip on your terrace with a view of the sea. It has an ample pool area, great wi-fi (mama needs to work), and free water sports. Although I did not travel with my family on this trip, I found it to be very family friendly. Would love to bring the Dutchman and baby Dining Traveler to this place. What I enjoyed the most was the service. Everybody there from the front desk to housekeeping staff was extremely friendly and made me feel at home.
The Verdict
Three days in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos is a short yet rewarding retreat. We took in the sunshine, we ate fresh, delicious food, and we recharged our batteries. It was the perfect midsummer getaway.
