Grace Bay Beach: Voted the Best Beach in the World

Every Caribbean island is unique. Whether you’ve traveled to the Caribbean before, or are planning your first trip, every island offers something special. Each has its own culture, way of life, attractions, and of course beaches. While there are many beaches across the Caribbean which are all something special - Grace Bay Beach was voted the best beach in the world. Find out why, what it’s known for, and how to plan your next trip.

You’ll find Grace Bay Beach within the Turks & Caicos Islands. Unsurprisingly, these islands are among the more highly rated Caribbean vacation destinations, down to their natural beauty, picturesque setting, and opportunity for ultimate luxury. The island chain, a British Overseas Territory, is made up of 40 low lying coral islands, with the island of Providenciales (Provo) being the most populated. The famous Grace Bay region is in Providenciales, and Grace Bay Beach is one of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful beaches in the world.

In this article on the Beaches Blog:

About Grace Bay beach
Things to do at Grace Bay beach
Safety at Grace Bay beach
How to get to Grace Bay beach
Where to stay on Providenciales?

About Grace Bay Beach in Turks & Caicos

Described as the “hallmark of the Turks & Caicos islands”, Grace Bay Beach is a Bucket List destination. Advertisements related to the islands of Turks & Caicos often focus on the truly amazing Grace Bay for good reason. It is considered one of the most stunning places for a beach holiday and it’s definitely worth visiting.

Did you know? The picturesque Grace Bay Beach was named after Grace Jane Hutchings. She was the wife of Hugh Houston Hutchings, Commissioner of the Turks and Caicos from 1933-1934.

Once you’ve visited Grace Bay Beach, the chances are you’ll want to return as soon as possible. That’s because Grace Bay Beach offers an incomparable experience. Grace Bay Beach was voted World Travel Awards’ World’s Leading Beach Destination allowing the Turks and Caicos Islands to earn this title three years in a row. It also recently made TripAdvisor’s list for best beaches in the world, ranking first in 2018.

The consistency of this beach (the entire stretch is gorgeous) is one of the things that makes it stand out most, as well as the calmness of the water, which is attributed to a barrier reef about a mile away from the beach. At around 3 miles long, Grace Bay is connected to Leeward Beach on its eastern side, and to Bight Beach on the west. The entire beach area spans seven and a half miles (12km), from Blue Hills to Northwest Poin and you can walk end to end- if you’re feeling ambitious!

Things to do at Grace Bay Beach

The Grace Bay Beach area is popular for many things. Here you can relax and unwind, while soaking in the warm Caribbean sun, or you can spend the day trying out various water sports like paddle boarding, windsurfing, kayaking, parasailing, jet skiing, water skiing, and more.

There are also opportunities to go sailing, scuba diving, and snorkeling. Free diving and Snuba diving are also very popular on these shores. If you want to just take it easy, have a quick swim and return to the shady comfort of your beach umbrella and sun lounger.

Expert tip: Stay at Beaches Turks and Caicos and you will have full access to unlimited watersports, 21 restaurants, a huge waterpark (one of the biggest waterparks in the Caribbean) and more. This resort is all-inclusive, so all of these things are free and already included in your stay! You can even go on free scuba diving trips if you’re PADI® certified (max. two tanks a day), professional equipment and staff included.

What is snorkeling like at Grace Bay Beach?

Snorkeling at Grace Bay Beach is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. There are lots of great snorkel sites to choose from, but you’ll have to do your research to ensure you go in the right conditions, and to the right place, where you’re more likely to see the sort of marine life on your list. Some of the snorkeling sites off the coast here are better reached by boat, and to do this you’ll need to make arrangements with your tour company.

Bight Reef, located adjacent to the west of Grace Bay, is a popular beach-snorkeling site. It may take a bit of walking to get there from more central parts of the beach. Smith’s Reef is another popular site, where sightings are plentiful. At Smith’s Reef, chances are high that you’ll spot Hawksbill turtles or Eagle rays!

You may also want to read - The Top 22 Turks and Caicos Excursions

Safety at Grace Bay Beach

At any beach it is important to keep safety in mind. As there are often various motorized and non-motorized sports happening on Grace Bay Beach, stay aware of your surroundings. When swimming it’s important to be aware that small powerboats are sometimes in operation here, which can be a hazard. Local laws in the Turks & Caicos make it mandatory that boats have a spotter. Laws also state that they must adhere to a speed limit of 15 mph, particularly within the Princess Alexandra National Park, which includes Grace Bay Beach. Even with those laws in place though, you should always remain alert.

Is Grace Bay Beach kid friendly?

Grace Bay Beach, Turks & Caicos is a public beach with multiple access points (nine in total). It is considered a child-friendly beach as there are amenities like washrooms and places to eat located nearby. The water is clear and calm, and perfect for swimming. The beach is rarely crowded, due to being so big, and the water tends to be warm even when there’s an occasional rain shower. Overall, the beach is kept clean, making it a safe and fun environment for families. Grace Bay Beach is far from the only kid-friendly spot in Turks and Caicos. Read our other article to find out more - The Best of Turks & Caicos For Kids.

How to get to Grace Bay Beach, Turks & Caicos

Grace Bay Beach is located on the north end of Providenciales (Provo) in Turks & Caicos. The gateway island of Provo can be found on the north-western edge of Turks and Caicos. It’s easy to get to Grace Bay Beach, whether you decide to take a cab, use a rental, or take a shuttle. Guests from the all-inclusive resort Beaches Turks & Caicos, on Provo, have easy access to Grace Bay Beach, as the resort is located directly on the beach!

You won’t have any trouble getting a flight to Turks & Caicos as it is a popular destination and many airlines have daily flights into the Providenciales International Airport. It takes about 3 hours and 8 minutes to get to Turks and Caicos from New York, 2 hours and 46 minutes from Atlanta, 3 hours from Toronto, and 1 hour and 43 minutes from Miami.

If you stay at Beaches Resort, Turks and Caicos located on Grace Bay Beach, you’ll be able to take a complimentary shuttle from the airport, straight to the resort.

Where to stay on Providenciales?

Picture: Beaches Turks and Caicos all-inclusive family resort and waterpark.

With a beach so close to perfect, it’s only fitting that your accommodation should match. There are a few resorts along the Grace Bay stretch, and Beaches Turks and Caicos is one of these. The all-inclusive property caters to families, but is also a popular choice amongst couples and groups of friends. Overall, the resort is a great choice for a memorable Caribbean getaway.

No matter when you decide to go to the Turks & Caicos islands, you’re bound to have an amazing time!