Categories
Things To Do In The Caribbean Turks Caicos Information

Turks & Caicos information: top 3 things to do

We’re proud to say that the Turks & Caicos are natural paradise that appeals to lovestruck newlyweds, serious explorers, and families with children – there’s something to do here for everyone in this natural playground. However, not everyone is familiar with our islands, so we’re preparing a serious of blog posts that detail Turks & Caicos information.

Today’s topic: things to do on the Turks & Caicos

While the Sands at Grace Bay offers the perfect relaxing retreat, either by the side of the pool, or on a sandy beach with views of beautiful turquoise ocean and even bluer sky, there are plenty of other things to do around the islands if you’re in the mood to explore.

Here are the top 3 things to do here:

1. Scuba Diving

The Turks and Caicos island chain features the third-longest barrier reefs in the world – it’s over 125 miles long, and shelters the north shore of the island of Providenciales.and the reef is perfect for scuba diving.

With spectacular underwater visibility providing excellent opportunities to explore spot the coral reefs, sea mounts and sea walls, as well as encounters with schools of tropical fish, sea turtles, eagle rays, sharks and even migrating humpback whales, the Turks and Caicos barrier reef is a must-see destination for anyone interested in underwater activities.

The Turks Bank is also another popular scuba destination, and is made up of two expansive underwater limestone plateaus. If you’re hoping to encounter turtles, dolphins and Blue Marlin, head to the Turks Bank.

2. Explore Provo’s natural beauty

On terra firm, the island of Providenciales (where Sands at Grace Bay is located) features many salt marshes that act as a watery landing strip for migratory birds including egrets, terns and frigates. Bird watchers can track more than 150 species of birds, such as pelicans, flamingos, osprey and Cuban crows. There’s even a Flamingo Pond that’s home to hundreds of these graceful pink creatures.

If you feel like chartering a tour, there is also habitat on isolated cays for rare iguanas.

The Turks and Caicos are also famous for limestone caves, among the most expansive in the entire Caribbean. Middle Caicos, to the east of Provo, has the most limestone caves. Once on Middle Caicos, visitors are greated by the towering cliffs that climb above Mudjidin Beach. The caves themselves are reached after a short walk across the Cay.

3. Relax on the beach

Providenciales and the Turks and Caicos are known all over the world for superb beaches, romantic sunsets, and an premium mix of privacy and tasteful oppulence. Sit beneath the shade of a beach umbrella and enjoy a magnificent panorama of soft white sand, azure ocean and cloudless skies the color of sapphire by day, and blazing sunsets and sensual moonlight bynight.

Not everyone is familiar with our islands, so we’re preparing a serious of blog posts that detail Turks & Caicos information.

Categories
Things To Do In The Caribbean

Turks and Caicos things to do for Christmas and New Years

things to do turks and caicos christmas
Courtesy TCI Tourism

There are many things to do on Turks and Caicos during the Christmas holiday season. Here are a few activities:

2nd Annual Maskanoo Celebrations
Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) and the Cultural & Arts Commission (CAC) are pleased to announce the 2nd annual Maskanoo Celebrations. Maskanoo will be held in the tourist capital of Providenciales, following a route along Grace Bay Road between the Regent Village and Salt Mills Plaza. Persons attending the event will enjoy the street parade, local music, island food, arts, & entertainment.

Post-Christmas Beach Party
On December 28, come out to enjoy local band, native foods, model sailboat racing, kayak racing, handcrafts and more. Ferry/bus combo tickets from Provo and local bus for North & Middle Caicos available. Church groups cook & raise funds for their projects-call 231-4884 for details.

Old Year’s Night
Old tradition for bringing good luck in the new year. All night service in churches, everyone rings out old year and rings in New Year with bells, church gatherings and community greeting.

New Years Eve Parties
Ports of Call, Providenciales – Live Music – No Cover
Check with the local restaurants for special events

Jump Up Junkanoo
Junkanoo street music takes place from midnight to sunrise, New Year’s morning on most islands.

If you have any ideas for more things to do on the Turks and Caicos during Christmas, please let us know!

Categories
Turks Caicos Information

Turks & Caicos Resort Offers Mobile Reservations App

Making Your Turks & Caicos Reservations Just Got Easier…

Introducing our new Mobile Reservations App For Tech-Savvy Travelers! 

We are committed to providing tech-savvy travelers with the most current tools to access real-time information, make reservations and easily research resort and island information when planning their Turks & Caicos vacation. In response to the rise of web-based bookings we’ve experienced over the past year, we’re excited to unveil a new mobile application that will enable travelers to book real-time Turks & Caicos reservations and browse hotel information via their smart phones!

By simply typing “thesandstc.flywheelstaging.com” into your mobile web browsers, you will now be redirected to the resort’s new mobile-optimized webpage “m.thesandstc.flywheelstaging.com” that offers a quick and easy format for booking vacation reservations online and accessing timely resort information. For those of you who don’t have a smart phone, you can easily access our 2012 room rates or make your vacation reservations online via our Turks & Caicos reservations page or by calling us toll-free at 877-777-2637.

In an effort to continuously enhance our online offerings, we have also embraced social media over the past year and are now able to keep more travelers on the pulse with resort and island news through our resort Facebook page and timely Twitter updates. We invite travelers to visit our Facebook page as an easy way to ask your travel or resort questions, to inquire about the vacation experiences of past guests, share and browse photos of recent resort stays and stay up to date with our most current specials, resort news and island happenings! Visitors can “Like” The Sands’ Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/TheSandsAtGraceBayor follow The Sands on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/thesandstc.

 

 

 

Categories
Beach Weddings Turks Caicos Things To Do In The Caribbean

When planning a Caribbean beach wedding, Turks & Caicos is an ideal choice

When planning a beach wedding, Turks & Caicois is an ideal choice.Over the past 15 years, Providenciales, or “Provo”, the westernmost island in the Turks & Caicos chain, has enjoyed fantastic growth – the island has really come into its own as a Caribbean destination.Growth in this case means careful preservation of a balance between providing amenities for residents and visitors, while also preserving the stunning natural beauty of the island.This combination of convenience and secluded beaches and luxury resort destinations make the Turks and Caicos the perfect place to plan a “Caribbean-style” beach wedding.

But first, more about our wonderful home:

Providenciales (aka “Provo”) is the commercial hub of the Turks and Caicos Islands, a relatively little-visited island chain floating on the blue and placid Caribbean Sea.

While we love to swim, windsurf and scuba dive here on Provo, our islands, with their backdrop of onyx water, brilliant coral sand, and majestic palm trees makes what we feel are the most romantic weddings in the world.

But it’s what newlyweds and their guests can do after the wedding during their stay here that is equally important.

What to do on Provo after your wedding

1. Go golfing

Provo is home to an 18-hole golf course, a casino, three marinas and multiple shopping centers. Yet it is the the sea, focus of all life on the islands, that is the true treasure here.

2. Go exploring

shallow azure sea that home to an abundance of marine life, including conch shells and lobster.
Grace Bay, on the the north coast, is the one of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean.

Add an air of mystery to your wedding experience by visiting “The Hole” at Long Bay. The Hole is a deep limestone chimney that ends with an unexplored pool of saltwater. Pirate treasure is rumoured to be buried here, so maybe your guests will be the first to find it.

3. Go cruising

For your guests, arrange a sunset sailboat cruise. Visit Cheshire Hall and the Richmond Hill plantation ruins, or Sapodilla Bay and its many shipwreck remains.

4. Spend time on the beach

Famed for bathing, snorkelling, and even a long-distance open-water race, this beach is the perfect backdrop for a wedding, or the perfect place to spend your honeymoon.

5. Spend time at our resort!

Bask in the sun alongside one of our free-form swimming pools or on the sands of our pristine beach. The location of our resort is spectacular – on the shore of the famous Grace Bay Beach Turks and Caicos with more than 12 miles of white powdered sand and dazzling transparent turquoise waters.

Anything is possible when you get married on Provo.

We think that when planning a Caribbean beach wedding, Turks & Caicos is an ideal choice.

Categories
Turks Caicos Information

10 Active Adventures in Turks & Caicos Islands

Through a special relationship with local water sports provider, Ocean Vibes Scuba & Watersports, The Sands at Grace Bay is able to offer guests numerous ways to stay active outdoors and explore the Turks & Caicos Islands with a long list of exciting adventures. For outdoor adventurers and sun-seeking guests, The Sands at Grace Bay provides free use of bikes, kayaks, windsurfing equipment, snorkel gear and Hobie Cats.  For visitors seeking off-site adventure, below is a list of 10 exciting Turks & Caicos Island excursions that The Sands at Grace Bay can help guests arrange on their next visit:

1. SCUBA Diving: Day trips, night dives and customized SCUBA  charters to the islands’ best dive sites. Not Scuba certified? Ocean Vibes can have you underwater in a matter of hours!

2. SNUBA Excursions: SNUBA allows guests to go beyond snorkeling and more fully experience the wonders of the underwater world. SNUBA is a unique, shallow water diving system that bridges the gap between snorkeling and Scuba diving allowing you to go 20 feet below the water’s surface – it’s safe, easy and does not require certification!

3. SAILING: sailing aboard a custom-made catamaran with SCUBA/snorkeling stops at the world-famous North East shore of Providenciales, Iguana Island and beautiful uninhabited desert cays.

4. PARASAILING: Single or tandem parasailing offers guests the most breath-taking views of the islands from high in the sky.

5. SPELUNKING ON MIDDLE CAICOS: This adventure begins with a scenic boat ride from Provo to North Caicos, where you’ll stop along the way to snorkel on the barrier reef, and then you will set off to explore the conch bar caves and venture deep inside the earth with your native guide to view stalactites & stalagmites, bats, white owls and incredible limestone formations.

6. CATAMARAN SAILING: A popular and romantic option for adults is the 2-hour CHAMPAGNE SUNSET CRUISE – where you will have time to snorkel, visit Iguana Island, sip champagne and enjoy finger foods while sailing off into the sunset with a guest.

7. FISHING: Bone Fishing on the flats (spin rods included, fly rods available); bottom fishing for snapper, grouper and barracuda; and deep sea fishing (trolling) for tuna, wahoo, marlin and mahi-mahi are incredible day trips for both experienced and novice anglers!

8. SNORKELING TRIPS: Half and full-day snorkel trips and private snorkel charters enable guests to experience some of the best spots that make the Turks & Caicos Islands a world-famous snorkeling destination. On the half-day snorkel trip you’ll visit Iguana Island, snorkel along the barrier reef, dive for conch and watch the crew prepare a fresh conch salad and enjoy complimentary snacks, drinks and rum punch!

9. PRIVATE ISLAND ESCAPE/BOAT RENTAL:  Want to set your own schedule and enjoy a private island escape with your family or loved one? We can offer you our 24-foot boat rental for Iguana Island trips, snorkeling or just cruising the beautiful waters of Grace Bay and the North Side of Providenciales. Beach pick-up, drinks, and snacks are provided!

10. HORSEBACK RIDING: horseback riding along the secluded beaches at Long Bay is a truly unforgettable experience. We allow proficient equestrians to ride along the beach, and trained professionals can assist riders of all abilities.

In addition to this sampling of excursions, guests can also design their own out-island excursions, ATV along the beach and partake in a Glow Worm Cruise, Kayak Tour and much more. With Ocean Vibes’ concierge desk located just a couple of steps the resort’s main pool and beach access – guests can simply charge these services right to their room and book everything in a bathing suit.  Visitour website for the list of excursions offered by The Sands at Grace Bay and Ocean Vibes, as well as for pricing and additional information.

 

Categories
Turks Caicos Information

Introducing the Sands, a Turks & Caicos Luxury Resort

Located only 80 minutes by air from Miami, The Sands at Grace Bay – a Turks & Caicos luxury resort – feels like a different planet – a planet devoted to luxury, relaxation, and beautiful beaches. Our perfect white sand beach, spectacular views, and superb suites make The Sands at Grace Bay the perfect combination of seclusion and sophistication (or so we like to think).

Where we’re located

We’re located about thirty minutes by car up the Leeward Highway from the airport at Providenciales (or Provo), a bustling hub that has really come into its own over the past decade. Provo offers everything from shopping to nightlife, plus plenty of great beaches. What we offer though, is utter seclusion and a taste of the “true Caribbean”, with easy access to the amenities of Provo.

The white, white sands of Grace Bay Beach

The Sands resort sits along world-famous Grace Bay Beach, voted the #1 Beach and Sun Destination in the World by Trip Advisor’s ‘Traveler’s Choice’ Awards. The beach itself is lined with palm trees, and is an easy hop, skip and a jump from the Sands resort itself, which also features private

Close by, there is world-class diving, a variety of water sports, golfing or day cruises to secluded islands. Providenciales also offers many quaint boutiques for fun shopping excursions and a number of historical attractions worth visiting.

Relax by the pool

We also have a free-form swimming pools that’s close to the beach, perfect for families with kids, or honeymooners looking for a secluded spot to relax away from prying eyes.

At the end of the day, why not grab a drink or something to eat at Hemingway’s, a beachfront restaurant. Or, if you want, make the short drive down the Leeward Highway to Provo, where a world of nightlife and restaurants await you.

Creating a home away from home

Our goal is to help families, friends and couples create unforgettable vacation experiences by making our guests feel like they are “home away from home” during their stay. Our friendly and beautiful suites and pristine ocean-front location set alongside Grace Bay in Providenciales are just a few reasons why travelers continue to return to our resort year after year.

The Sands at Grace Bay is a Turks & Caicos Luxury Resort