The Turks and Caicos Islands is a country of 8 major islands and numerous uninhabited cays located 575 miles south of Miami. I visited the island, Providenciales…
and stayed at Gansevoort Turks & Caicos.…the resort is beautiful and their staff gives you the royal treatment. But with these views, that’s just the topping on an already amazing ice-cream sundae.
Beach strolling daily was a must for me.. intermittently with dips in the pool and ocean to cool off. Great way to burn off vacation food calories..especially in a place where most local places fry their seafood. And who can turn down fried island seafood? No one.
Gansevoort Turks & Caicos: Day & Night on the Boardwalk
Massages + beaches go hand-in-hand. So I’m obviously going to recommend you try it out! I loved it.
To break up the monotony of beach bumming around, I can suggest a fun activity involving a very interesting creature. Meet Mr./Mrs. Conch:
Quick definition of the conch before I get to my next couple tips: a type of shellfish that lives in a large shell which has the form of a spiral.
Caicos Conch Farm: Definitely visit! It’s a quick 30-minute tour with fun facts about the biology and technology behind raising the big kahuna… aka… the Caribbean Queen Conch (fancy-shmancy scientific name: Strombus gigas). Here you see thousands of conch growing on-shore. Touch the conch if you dare.. (a bit weird looking when they come out of their shell to play) and even learn about all the stages of growth.
Snorkel or Scuba-dive! I’m a chicken when it comes to deep sea diving, so I stuck with snorkeling. Here are a few shots of what I saw just from the shallow side of the beach. Now imagine the view for those of you who go diving deeper….
And, speaking of fish… I got to taste some great local seafood dishes at two hidden gems:
Mr. Grouper’s Restaurant Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands: Hands down I recommend you check out this local spot! Amazing conch fritters, grouper and local dishes.
Conch Fritters
Another must-see nook: Da Conch Shack. Incredibly fresh and tastes delicious fried like they serve it here. Ideal for grab-and-go or if you’re feeling casual and hungry, great low-key place to sit and dine.
Lastly, BIKE IT! Go bike-riding to Mr. Grouper’s or Da Conch Shack! Feeling adventurous like I was? Ride a bike there. A heads up… roads are windy, sandy and unmarked. But stick with the directions concierge gives you and it’s worth it. You get a close-up look at scenic, local neighborhoods, the indigenous population and homes. A whole different view of the island that’s not commercialized. A view you may otherwise miss passing by in a car.
A Travel Diary & Wanderlust Wishes, By: Lily Vosoughi 
