With 200,000 tourists every year, the Turks and Caicos Islands are a popular vacation spot for anyone looking for a beach getaway. Turks and Caicos is a British territory consisting of 40 islands in the Atlantic Ocean just 550-miles south of Miami, Florida. Providenciales, more commonly called Provo, has an accessible international airport and is one of the most popular islands making up Turks and Caicos. A vacation here promises beautiful beaches, thrilling water sports, unique marine and wildlife and delicious food.

Provo’s Grace Bay Beach was declared one of the world’s best beaches by Trip Advisor’s traveler’s choice in 2016. Beautiful beaches with clear blue waters make a visit to the beach a must while staying in Turks and Caicos. Once on the beach there are also plenty of opportunities to go snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, kayaking, parasailing or just relax on the shore. Grace Bay is also close to many of the island’s main resorts and is part of the Princess Alexandra National Park.

Photo courtesy | Tim Sackton

The Caicos Conch Farm on Provo is the one and only conch farm in the world. The site offers 30-minute, hands-on tours of the farm showing how they grow and harvest the Caribbean Queen Conch as well as other fish. The farm also has shows and science lessons making it a great stop for the whole family.

For a look at more of Turks and Caicos’ unique wildlife visit the Iguana sanctuary at Little Water Cay, also known as Iguana Island. This small island off of Provo can easily be reached by a short tour boat or kayak ride. The island is a conservation effort for the endangered Turks and Caicos Rock Iguanas and has boardwalks along the north and south ends of the island allowing visitors to walk among the reptiles and get a closer look.

Photo courtesy | Acin

One of the most popular places to be on a Thursday night on Provo is the Fish Fry in Grace Bay West’s Bight’s Park. From 5:30-9:30 the park is filled with food, handmade crafts, music and entertainment. Local bands perform every week as well as lively cultural acts. Fried fish is an obvious crowd favorite but there are also local food vendors with plenty of options for drinks, food and dessert all night long.

On any other day of the week a great place to get a bite to eat is Da Conch Shack and Rumbar right on the beach. In 2013 BBC declared this place one of the best restaurants in the world. The restaurant specializes in fresh conch and seafood as well jerk chicken. Da Conch Shack offers a beach view with live music and dancing Wednesday nights and DJs on Sunday afternoon.

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Cover photo courtesy | Acin