Providenciales Travel & Vacation Guide

On top of selling bikes and offering repair services, Caicos Cyclery also gives you the opportunity to pedal through the main spots of the island. The "Java Cruise" is a short and relaxed ride that can be done during the morning or evening, the "North and Middle Caicos Bike Adventure" features island hopping between middle and North Caicos, while the Iron Man Road Bike Ride features a 42-mile long track that will put your endurance to the test.

If you feel up to some big game fishing, M & J's Charters will give you the opportunity to do just that. The trained crew will guide you towards the best spots to catch barracuda, mahi-mahi, snapper and even swordfish and white marlin. The tour includes sandwiches to carry you through the day, as well as a beach BBQ at the end.

Regarded by some as one of the best beaches in the world, Grace Bay Beach is three miles long and features pristine-white sand together with seaweed- and pollution-free waters. If you're looking for more activities other than shoreline walks and admiring the nearby coral reefs, you can book a parasailing flight to enjoy a different viewing angle.

The oldest stable of the island, Provo Ponies offers both group and private horseback riding tours through Long Bay Beach. You'll be able to wade through the waters with the provided steed; trotting and cantering will be available, if conditions allow it, on the two rides that are scheduled every day.

Even though it stretches to the east from Grace Bay Beach, Leeward Beach is less crowded than its neighbouring counterpart, allowing you to find the perfect spot for relaxing on its shoreline. Walking here grants you the opportunity to enjoy the view of the many local resorts, but also to visit the Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana sanctuary. Other activities include water sports like wakeboarding and kayaking.

With its shallow and calm waters, Sapodilla Bay Beach makes for a fine destination for families with children. Nearby attractions include Chalk Sound and its rocky islands, as well as Sapodilla Bay Hill Rock Carvings, featuring inscriptions that date back to the 1700s.

Providenciales is filled with good snorkelling spots, but the best ones are arguably Bight Reef and Smith's Reef, both located in the central region of the island. You have good chances of spotting green turtles, southern brown stingrays and even nurse sharks. If you want to see nocturnal sea creatures like squid and octopus, you're free to do some night snorkelling (provided that you have the equipment for it).

Producing four different variations of the local Turk's Head Beer, this brewery offers tours detailing how their signature ale is made, finishing off with a tasting course where you'll be able to try them all out. The gift shop here sells not only bottles that you can bring home, but also articles like t-shirts and other souvenirs.

Whether you're an experienced gambler or a newcomer, at Casablanca Casino you'll be able to join local players for games of poker, blackjack and roulette. On their website you can find the rules applying to the six different games that they have, and you can also join their monthly events, like raffles and promotion parties.

Coconut grove acts as both a restaurant and lounge bar, where you can couple small bites like shrimp rolls, conch finger food with fries and curry chicken with a drink of your choice. Open mic nights are held every Monday and Wednesday, and they host local DJs as well; special offers on beverages are available during these events.

Danny Buoy's is an Irish pub that is packed with events for every day of the week: karaoke nights are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 8.30pm to 00.30am, you can enjoy country music every Friday starting from 8.30pm while DJs are hosted here on Saturdays, performing from 10pm to 2am. Their drink specials change daily, and their happy hour lasts from 5pm to 7pm every day.

The Sharkbite Bar & Grill sits right beside the waters of Turtle Cove, a view that can be enjoyed from their outdoor seating area. You can order typical Caribbean seafood like grilled snapper, lobster and conch fritters to accompany you through their daily happy hour going from 5pm to 7pm. The local Bar Band plays live music every Friday, or – alternatively – you can enjoy sports on their televisions or pay a visit to their mini gambling parlour.

Alverna is one of the oldest souvenir shops on the island, stocking items that are locally produced but also some imported from nearby Haiti. It is located in Dolphin Drive, and some of the articles that you can find here are souvenirs made of metal and painted, wood carvings and jewellery made of conch shells.

This boutique has a lot of different articles for sale, most handcrafted by local artists: house decor such as paintings and prints adorn its walls, but also souvenirs, gifts, jewellery and wooden sculptures can be found on the shelves. If you have found an item that would be hard to transport back home on your own, delivery can be arranged.

This jewellery store fuses Dominican style with local materials. Larimar, water pearls and sea glass are all used to craft many of the articles that can be purchased here, including bracelets, necklaces and bracelets. They are further divided into collections, such as stamped pieces reporting the Grace Bay coordinates and seashells made with silver.

Graceway IGA is the biggest supermarket in the Turks and Caicos, making it a fine option if you want to have the widest selection of groceries for your shopping. Pre-made food platters are also available, and the bakery can make customised cakes if you happen to be celebrating a special occasion.

Saltmills Plaza comes with a wide selection of stores, art galleries and boutiques. You can find the jewellery store The Wellington Collection, The Blue Surf Shop for your water sports needs and Caicos Cyclery, offering tours as well as repair services for your bike. You can also have a meal at one of the restaurants located here, like Yoshi's Sushi.

At Unicorn you'll find not only books, but also toys, gifts and magazines. It may be a small family-run business, but they take pride in the fact that they cater to every guest's needs: if you can't find what you're looking for, you can have it ordered for you (although you'll need to be staying between another 10 and 14 days to pick up your order).

Even though weather in Providenciales is mild year-round, there are some factors to take into consideration when deciding on the period of your stay. The hurricane season lasts from June to September, and that's when some of the local establishments choose to close, but those who decide to stay open usually offer lower rates, especially on accommodation. Be sure to check the forecasts, and it it's a good idea to have your schedule and tickets allow for some degree of flexibility, just in case. The months going from December to April feature the highest prices and the largest amount of visitors, marking the start of the dry season. April and May on the other hand have the lowest amount of visitors with not particularly high chances of rainfall, if you want to pick a sweet spot between the high and low seasons.

You must have a valid passport with you to enter Turks and Caicos. Upon arrival, you will need to fill out an immigration form. Moreover, the head of each family will also be required to complete a customs form (C105). If you are travelling with people that are not family-related, each one of them will have to fill out the form. Some countries are exempt from needing a visa in order to enter the Turks and Caicos islands. The updated list can be found at the following website: www.gov.tc/bordercontrol/products-and-services/visa If the name of your country does not appear on that list, you will need a visa. However, if you have either a US Tourist or Resident Visa (including a H-1B work visa or green card), a UK Tourist or Resident Visa, or a Canadian Tourist or Resident Visa, you will not need a visa. For further information on how to obtain a visa, you can call the Ministry of Border Control and Labour of Turks and Caicos at +1 649 946 2801

The Providenciales International Airport (PLS) is the only airport on the island featuring flights by international companies, mainly coming from North America but also from the United Kingdom, Canada, Cuba, Bahamas and Jamaica. There will be immigration and customs landing cards to fill out after your landing, then you'll be able to rent a car or take a taxi to get to your accommodation location. The airport also offers flights to the other islands in the archipelago. There is no cruise port on Providenciales. Cruise ships enter Turks and Caicos via Grand Turk, and you will need to take a flight to reach Provo from there (no ferry service available as of late 2019).

Providenciales does not have any organised public transportation service. Beware of the illegal 'jitney' taxis that have taken this role, as they usually charge steep prices and do not drive safely. If you want to travel around Providenciales, car rentals and taxis are much better options.

Most taxis in Providenciales are metered and there's a fixed rate for distances, but it is advised to always to ask the full cost of your trip before departure. The Sea Breeze Taxi and Tours company offers, other than their regular cab service, airport drop-offs and pick-ups, sightseeing tours and nightlife excursions, as well as Wi-Fi during the entire trip.

The standard voltage is 120 V and the frequency is 60 Hz. AC power sockets are of type A (2 pins) and B (3 pins).

Most pharmacies tend to open at around 9am, with closing time varying between 7pm to 8pm, and they tend not to be open on Sundays. Flamingo Pharmacy 102 Leeward Highway, Providenciales +1 649 941 4527 Island Pharmacy Windward Road, Five Cays Settlements, Providenciales +1 649 946 4150

The Providenciales Post Office is located near the airport, in the Downtown, while another mailbox can be found in the Regent Village car park in Grace Bay. Stamps can be purchased from many gift shops found commonly in the Grace Bay area, as well as at the Post Office itself.