IN AND AROUND THE WATER
Turks and Caicos offers travelers some of the best Scuba diving and snorkeling in the region. Tourists can get off the beaten path and into another world below water where they can explore the reefs and the abundance of sea life.
If guests are not keen on getting into the water, whale watching is the next best thing. Every year between January and March, thousands of migrating humpback whales travel through the Columbus Passage, the body of water that separates Grand Turk and South Caicos. It’s not uncommon for guests to stand on the beach and watch these gentle giants play just beyond the reef.
For those fishing enthusiasts, there are several charter companies that offer world-class fishing expeditions throughout Turks and Caicos. Whether it’s trolling, deep-sea fishing or even bone-fishing, there are experiences for all skill levels. There is so much to do around the water: kite surfing, sailboarding, even horse riding by the ocean.
THE SHOPPING
In addition to the various shops and boutiques in the adjacent Shops of Ports of Call Plaza, the hotel is centrally located near many other Grace Bay areas:
Shopping – Grace Bay:
- Ambience: Designer clothes and accessories.
- Anna’s Art Gallery: Prints, painting, sculpture and jewellery buy local artists.
- Bamboo Gallery: Haitian paintings and metalwork.
- Blue: Surfwear, beachwear, underwater equipment and tours.
- Grace Bay Pharmacy: TCI’s leading family pharmacy.
- Jais (Duty-Free): Premium brand watches, jewellery, fragrances and accessories.
- L’Oasis Boutique: French designer clothing and swimwear.
- Treasures S & S Gifts: Tropical clothing, souvenirs and hair braiding.
Shopping – Other:
- Art Provo: Art, jewellery and fine porcelain by international artists.
- Caicos Wear & Gear: Resort wear, cotton shirts, t-shirts, jewellery and souvenirs.
- Discount Liquors: Wine, beer, liquors.
- Greensleeves: Jewelry, island-made gifts and framing.
- Nell’s Gift Shop: Souvenirs, books, magazines, candy, etc.
- Royal Jewels: Jewelry, diamonds, perfume, designer watches, leather goods and cameras.
- The Goldsmith: Souvenirs, jewellery, perfumes, watches, leather goods, cigars and electronics.
- IGA Supermarket (across the street from Ports Of Call Resort)
- Turks and Caicos National Trust: Locally made crafts such as woven straw and grass baskets, conch shell art, books and clothing.
- Turquoise Duty-Free: Liquors, wine, gifts, Cuban and Dominican cigars.
A variety of Canadian banks with branches on the island include:
- Scotiabank
- RBC Royal Bank of Canada
- CIBC Bank
Miscellaneous: The Island has a full-service Hospital for medical emergencies and first aid needs. It is operated by InterHealth Canada.
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Turks and Caicos offers visitors an island teeming with unique cultural experiences and one of the best ways to experience this is to get out to one of the island’s many festivals or events.
Island Fish Fry: Every Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., over a dozen local vendors, entertainers and cultural acts band together for the Island Fish Fry to an evening of “all things TCI.”
The event began in late January 2013 and has been increasing in popularity every week. Various seafood dishes, including crab and rice, lobster mac and cheese and local island corn off the grill are served. Local restaurants at the event include:
- Froggie’s on da Beach
- Hole in the Wall
- Middle Caicos Café
- Bugaloo’s Conch Crawl
A new band takes the stage every week with rotations by local favorites and cultural acts are spread throughout the evening. “Henry the Conch,” the event’s mascot, also makes an appearance. The Island Fish Fry is quickly becoming the place to be on Thursday nights.
Race for the Conch – Eco-Sea Swim: This event features 1 mile and 2.4 miles swim races as well as a 100-metre children’s swim. Registration is open to both novices or experienced competitors and the top finishers win a locally made conch trophy.
Half Marathons: This event runs early January each year.
Arts and Crafts Expo: Once a year in December, Turks and Caicos Friends of the Arts Foundation (TCFAF) an arts and crafts expo where local artists, crafts folk and vendors come together to display their work at Turtle Cove Marina. The money raised helps TCFAF to continue its programs, which brings encouragement, education and entertainment to local children and the community. The expo is full of beautiful artwork, photographs, kids clothes and dolls, baskets, bags, fans and iPad cases. Local food from Middle Caicos Café, local hot sauce from Sakaja and Turks and Caicos roasted coffee are also available.
Big South Regatta: This event runs at the end of May each year in South Caicos and will teach you all about Turks and Caicos culture, heritage, and country. This 4-day regatta gives you the opportunity to see sail boat and speed boat races, little miss regatta and miss regatta, love entertainment, maypole dance, horse and donkey rides and much more!
Windvibes Annual Kiteboarding Festival: The wide array of events will encompass many of the Turks and Caicos’s sports including kiteboarding, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, volleyball and swimming with the Race for the Conch. Less competitive events will include log throwing, a flipper race, potato sack race, limbo, and kite pumping competitions. You don’t need to be a kiteboarder to get involved!
GOLF
Royal Turks Golf and Country Club: This Country Club is known as one of the best, yet most challenging golf courses in the Caribbean. Set on a relaxing, vibrant green oasis surrounded by flora and fauna, the front nine features water on six holes, while the tight back nine has another four ‘lake holes.’
The club’s facilities include a pro-shop, premium TaylorMade club rentals, warm-up driving nets, practice chipping and putting areas and a tennis court. To help make travelling easier, Provo Golf Club has teamed up with TaylorMade Golf to offer superior rental clubs.
Royal Turks Golf and Country Club has been awarded a four-star rating from Golf Digest Magazine and the Top 10 courses for Golf in the Caribbean by Travel & Leisure.