Until the 1980s, Providenciales -- also referred to as Provo -- was a tranquil, single-resort corner of the equally sleepy Turks and Caicos islands. The 38-square-mile expanse of ivory-white powder beaches and turquoise waters has since garnered a steady succession of plaudits from travel and style magazines. Provo, the busiest of the Turks and Caicos islands, is fast emerging as a luxury destination, with condominiums springing up along the coast. Divers, golfers, fishing fanatics and dedicated epicures can find opportunities to keep busy on Providenciales.
Landscape
- The island is a low-lying coral formation covered, for the most part, in dry scrub and cactus. Seen from above, the defining feature is Chalk Sound, a turquoise lake dotted with small cays in the south of the island. The lake is part of a national park and is visited frequently by birdwatchers and snorkelers. Offshore, a protective reef beloved by scuba divers and snorkelers provides the necessary shelter for the endless expanses of translucent shallows and fine coral sand. Apart from the resorts and hotels around Grace Bay, there are barely any significant settlements to speak of, apart from the town of Downtown near the airport.
Beaches
- The list of bodies that have named Grace Bay Beach as either best in the Caribbean or even best in the world includes "Conde Nast Traveler" magazine and the World Travel Awards. Grace Bay presents a 12-mile stretch of talcum powder sand with a coral reef offshore, abundant in marine life and ideal for snorkeling. The north shore of the island is also home to island’s major resorts and tourism services, while the south side -- around Sapodilla and Discovery bays -- is home to private villas for rent.
Golf and Fishing
- Provo Golf and Country Club, the island’s only 18-hole course, designed by prodigious course architect Karl Litten, has been ranked among the top ten in the Caribbean by "Caribbean Travel + Life" magazine and sets fast greens and challenging sand traps against a backdrop of palm trees and bougainvillea. The island’s proximity to deeper Atlantic waters off the Caicos Bank makes it ideal for game fishing, with tuna, wahoo and blue marlin the prized quarry of a handful of fishing charter operators based out of Turtle Cove. "Sport Fishing" magazine names Providenciales as one of the top 20 billfishing spots in the world.
Practical Information
- International flights from the U.S. and Canada arrive daily at Providenciales International Airport, from which island-hopper flights link to the other Turks and Caicos islands. As the Turks and Caicos are a British Overseas Territory, U.S. passengers require a passport for entry. Nightlife on Provo is fairly low key, with no nightclubs, one cinema and a scattering of casinos. There is, however, a lively scene around the beach shacks at Blue Hills Beach, where local rum, live music and fresh conch are on offer.
