Six Sunny Days in Turks and Caicos

Deanna Borrego: Turks and Caicos

I’d never been to Turks and Caicos before this trip, but it was always on my list. I went in with high expectations, especially because Grace Bay Beach is supposed to be one of the most amazing beaches in the islands with crystal clear water and white sand. My expectations were met. It was just as advertised; the sun is hot, the beaches are beautiful, the water is perfect, and the people are super nice. 

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Six Days in Turks and Caicos

Day 1

We started in Grace Bay Beach at the Wymara Resort & Villas. It’s actually made of two accommodations: the resort on the beach and the villas, which are multi-bedroom properties located about ten or fifteen minutes down the road. There’s shuttle service between the two, and the property is about a ten- to fifteen-minute drive to all the shops and restaurants in Grace Bay. The concierge can arrange a taxi for you, so even though it’s at the far end of the island, you’ll always have access to anything you want to see or do. 

The villas are excellent for larger families who all want to be together or a girl group of friends, and the resort is nice for honeymooners. I would recommend it for everybody. That night we had dinner at the Blue Water Bistro. It was a buffet with plenty of sushi, fish, and even brisket. Being from Texas, I was like, sign me up! It was so tender. I’m a picky eater, but there was such a big variety that it was easy to find plenty of foods I liked. We also enjoyed a bit of pink sunset, which was fantastic right on the beach, and live music. It totally set the tone for the trip. 

Day 2

The morning activity on the second day was a HIIT class, but me and high intensity don’t mix, so I skipped that one. There was a lot to do at the villas, anyway. They have a sauna, gym area, pool, pickleball and tennis, and a set of stairs that led down to the beach. I just had breakfast and set off on a site inspection at the resort. They have so many options, like garden studios on the main floor and one-bedrooms with full kitchens. One convenient perk of Wymara Resort & Villas is that they’ll do grocery runs for you at an extra charge. Since most of the resorts in Turks and Caicos are not all-inclusive, eating out can get expensive, so if you do have a small kitchen, you can do some prep work and enjoy a small breakfast or lunch at your hotel. 

After the site visit, I enjoyed lots of beach time. The resort had these chairs with umbrellas and servers bringing you drinks and food. There were also these interesting woven chairs that you could literally set at the edge of the water and let the waves come up because they could get wet. I did that for quite a while. The water itself was so clear, almost like the water in a pool, and the seabed is sandy, so you don’t need water shoes or anything. That night we donned our best dress for dinner at the beach club, which had an indoor and outdoor area with gigantic fans to keep you cool and also keep the bugs away. I had the filet. It was phenomenal. When I go to the islands, there are limited places where I feel like I’m going to get a good piece of steak, especially being from Texas, but this dinner was perfect. It was tender, delicious, and it came with Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes. Everyone loved everything they got. 

Day 3

On the third day we went to South Caicos, but before we left we did a bunch of resort tours, including The Palms. The Palms is an outstanding family resort that they’re completely redoing. It’s gorgeous. Non-motorized watersports are all included, and you can snorkel from the beach there. Plus, it has one of the best spas on the island with fifteen different treatment rooms and entertainment every Friday and Saturday. Then, we hopped over to South Caicos on a smaller plane with about twenty to twenty-five seats. You’re allowed one checked bag no more than fifty pounds, and your carry-on needs to be ten pounds or less. The agents checked a few people in our group and let others slide, so it wasn’t a consistent process. If you take one of these small planes, it’s better to stick with the baggage limit. They may or may not check, but why give yourself a headache?

We arrived in Sailrock South Caicos, which is a lovely property with villas facing the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a good place for kitesurfing since the climate is a bit windier and the villas are very spaced out. It feels private. One fun fact about South Caicos is that it has salt flats, and they used to sell it commercially and use donkeys to halt the salt. There are still donkeys that roam freely. I was standing on my deck one evening, and I saw one, so I grabbed one of the apples from the fruit basket I got on arrival and tried to feed it. He wasn’t having any of it, but I tried. These donkeys probably get a lot of apples! I should mention that the roads around Sailrock South Caicos are all dirt, so you need a four-wheel drive vehicle. Fortunately, there’s a nice cove and a beach near the resort.

Day 4

The following day we did a sea kayaking tour out to a sandbar, and it was so wonderful. I saw many animals, like stingrays and a couple of nurse sharks, and I also found a few sand dollars. You can snorkel there as well. It was only about a ten-minute paddle from the shore, and it’s one of the excursions Sailrock offers, so it’s right off their beach. It was super convenient. 

That night we had dinner outside at this incredible setup right on the beach. The staff brought all this different food in and cooked it family style: a lot of fresh, local dishes, like salads with shrimp and lamb. The setting was absolutely perfect, and the food was delicious. It was a good send-off from South Caicos, and the next day we were off to Ambergris Cay.

Day 5

We flew to Ambergis Cay on another small plane. It’s an all-inclusive private island resort, and you get around by golf carts. Like South Caicos, Ambergris Cay has dirt roads, so expect beach hair all day! You’ll find a lot of options here, like one-bedroom and oceanfront properties that aren’t too far from the airport or restaurants. We stayed in a large eleven-bedroom property on the other side of the island. While the dirt roads are interesting to say the least, staying at Ambergis Cay itself is an elevated experience. The service is phenomenal, and everything is top-notch. 

We did two excursions on Ambergris Cay. The day we arrived was the tiki bar trip, where they took us out to this floating bar with drinks, music, and tons of relaxing and floating in the water. The water was about five feet deep, and you could walk for about a mile out there, and it doesn’t drop off. We spend two hours out there. I would highly recommend it. It was very fun.

Day 6

On the last day I did the morning yoga class, which had an excellent view of the entire island and the ocean. There was a beautiful breeze, and it was just what I needed. The final day also included a sunset cruise, which, unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but I saw pictures from the group. They spotted flamingos, eagles flying overhead, and tons of marine life. The crew also gives you champagne on the cruise. It’s a quick journey out and back, about an hour on the water. The next day it was time to head back home.

I’d advise people to use FastPass because Turks and Caicos can get busy, especially if you’re arriving or departing on the weekend. Pack your patience, and remember to go along with the island vibes. The service at your resort will be spectacular, so a little congestion at the airport is worth it. It’s a great experience.