13 Best Sights in Turks and Caicos Islands

As you drive out to the end of South Dock Road, on your right you will catch glimpses of the beautiful Chalk Sound; the water here is luminescent. The best places to stop for pictures are on Chalk Sound Drive. You can enjoy lunch overlooking the park at Las Brisas Restaurant or drive to the very end of the road and take a walk along the shoreline where there are few homes. No matter how many times you see it, it will always manage to take your breath away.

The pond is home to approximately 2,000 resident flamingos. These spectacular pink birds come and go during the day, so if you miss them on your drive down the island, be sure to double-check at the end of the day. Bring binoculars to get a better look; they feed quite a ways out, and you're not allowed to hike closer.

The world-famous sweeping stretch of ivory-white, powder-soft sand on Provo's north shore is simply breathtaking. Protected within the Princess Alexandra National Park, it's home to migrating starfish, as well as many schools of tiny fishes. The majority of Provo's beachfront resorts are along this shore, and it's the primary reason Turks and Caicos is a world-class destination. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

The Bight Beach blends right into Grace Bay Beach as the western extension of Provo's Princess Alexandra National Park; visitors generally think of the two beaches as one and the same. Unlike its world-famous counterpart, Bight Beach has off-the-beach snorkeling where the fringing reef comes in to touch the shore. The Provo Sailing Academy gives lessons to residents some Sundays. The beach also holds the Annual Fools Regatta in June, which everyone can enjoy. Both are held at the far western end in the Children's Park. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free). Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

Abandoned salinas (natural salt pans) make up the center of this island, the largest receiving its water directly from an underground cave system that is connected directly to the ocean through this "boiling" hole. Don’t expect anything too dramatic, other than a sense of what the industry once was. Multiple hurricanes have clogged the connection to the ocean.

The best natural harbor in the Caicos chain hosts the Big South Regatta each May. It began as a sailing regatta where all the families with traditional Caicos sloops would come over from Middle and North to race, but sloops are now being replaced with conch boats hosting 85-hp motors for a rip-roaring race.

This is one of the most stunning beaches you'll ever see, but you'll need to tread carefully; the road is a little rough in spots, and there have been reports of break-ins at the parking area. Don't bring any valuables with you, and never go alone. Also pack your own food and drinks because there are no facilities for miles around. However, if you're looking for a great diving experience, Malcolm's Road Beach offers one of the best as it is located near the wall, which is an underwater plateau covered with beautiful marine life. Even if you're not a diver, the water in this area is so clear, it's amazing how much you can see just from the shoreline. Amenities: parking (free). Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

Pelican Beach is a gorgeous stretch of beach that blends right into Grace Bay Beach at its eastern extension, within Princess Alexandra National Park. There is little distinction between where one beach ends and the other begins—some people refer to a small stretch in between as Leeward Beach. Because of a cut in the reef, you may find wonderful shells here—but remember that you are within the national park, so they must be left behind for others to see long after you have gone home. This end of the bay is slightly quieter than the rest, as there is much less development here. Enjoy. Amenities: parking (free). Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

One of the best of the many secluded beaches around Provo is this peaceful quarter-mile cove protected by Sapodilla Hill. The soft strand here is lapped by calm waves, while yachts and small boats rock with the gentle motion. During low tide, little sandbar "islands" form—they're great for a beach chair and make the waters easily accessible to young children. Amenities: parking (free). Best for: sunbathing.

On this hilltop overlooking the beauty of Sapodilla Bay, you might find what is left of several rock carvings. It is thought that sailors carved the names and dates into the rocks while they watched over their ships from a high vantage point, perhaps while the hulls were being cleaned or repairs were being made. The details are uncertain, but they have been dated back to the mid-1700s to mid-1800s. You will see replicas displayed at Provo’s International Airport.

Perfect for familes, Taylor Bay is shallow for hundreds of feet. The beach also offers gorgeous views of the villas that hang over the shoreline on one side of the bay with natural coastline on the other. As it has had many amazing reviews over the years, don’t expect to have this one all to yourself. There is even the odd tour that pulls up. Amenities: none. Best for: sunbathing; wading.

Three small rocky cays within swimming distance of Whitby Beach give you some of the best secluded snorkeling in all of the Turks and Caicos. You will often find ospreys nesting there, too. This is a wildlife protection area, so don't feed the fish, touch any of the corals, or disturb the birds.

This is about as isolated as it gets on Provo. West Bay has long stretches of beaches to walk and possibly not see another person for hours. You might see large red starfish in the water here, or if you walk out to Bonefish Point you may spot small reef sharks and the odd ray hunting in the shallows. Amenities: none. Best for: exploring; solitude; swimming; walking.