Providenciales review (Turks and Caicos Islands)

Member Name: bosharpe

Product:	Turks and Caicos Islands
Date:	26/08/09 (68 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Everything.

Disadvantages: Hurricane season

Providenciales or Provo is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is one of eight small islands that make up the TCI and the only one I've visited (so far). I stayed in Grace Bay.

I got off the plane at Providenciales Airport into a muggy wave of humidity carrying my backpack with me. I try to keep as placid as possible in airports especially in small ones packed full of Americans. But anyway, it's the Caribbean. Chill.

There was air conditioning where I was staying; even so I still had to flip the pillow occasionally to get the cool side. Right outside were jetty style planks leading to the beach. Literally a minute walk. The terrain is made up of rugged flat scrub land with prickly bear cacti (There red spurts are simpler to a Turkish "fez", hence Turks and "Caicos", which means small island) and sand dunes while the beaches are stunning with white sand that feels nice between your toes. The bushes and shade is home to many a scurrying lizard who scatter as soon as you disturb there hiding spot. There are miles of clear tropical waters and after dark it feels like you're on the edge of the world looking out to sea, but during the day the sun is a brilliant bright light so wear whatever your factor is. Splash it on or become lobsterfied.

There are many things to do on the island. Water sports are popular, especially scuba diving and jet-skiing. If you have a rented car on the island you can easily get to one of the coral reefs for snorkelling. There is Smiths reef or if you're not such a strong swimmer -Coral Gardens is more appropriate. It will amaze you seeing parrot fish and various schools swimming beneath your kicking feet while making loud crunching noises as they eat. There is a proportion sectioned off due to dumb ass tourists feeling they need to stand on the coral and erode it. You've got to hand it to them.

Another beautiful sight are the glow worms which mate once a month in a magical explosion of light. As the male and female worm swim at each other with speed and produce the light show. No light pollution there means on a clear night (and is rarely a cloudy one) the sky and waters both twinkled simultaneously.

Walking around the Island you may encounter some stray dogs. These mongrels have a name: Potcake dogs, because Islanders would feed them the scraping out the bottom of the pot. All the ones I met were friendly although they can be nervous.

Places to eat/drink

There are many restaurants along the shore of Grace Bay. A good place to eat is Hemmingways who do a range of native cuisine as well as western food. Something you can't beat is the fresh fish and among the ones on offer are local lobster and Mahi Mahi. On the pier of the restaurant there is a brass bell which someone is to ring on glimpsing Jojo the local dolphin who pops up on occasion.
Further down the dusty road there's The Conch Shack a small place right on the beach. Conch are large salt water shellfish which are farmed for their meat and it just so happens that the TCI is home to the only Conch farm in the world. The Conch Shack serves fresh "Conch fritters" with fries while you watch men collect conch-traps from the shallow water and bring them ashore to be prepared.

Other things

There are many other things to mention. There's Iguana Island inhabited by ...iguana's, and Salt Cay --a small island where donkeys are free-roaming. Just ask the islanders.
Nights out include chain clubs Club Med (a French resort) and Nikki Beach which has an artificial beach (Why?). Both have bar side pool and serve a range of cocktails although Rum punch seems to be the special. Both have dancing girls as well on the bar top too. For a good Irish-Caribbean pub there is Danny Buoys opposite the Regent Grand Hotel.
Graceway is a good place to shop for all your needs including fresh vegetables, fruit, meat and a selection of American brands. They are located on Leeward highway 10 minutes away from Providenciales Airport.

Entrepreneurs and rich Saudi princes have been slowly building the island up for many years now bringing in waves of people to this relatively un-touched paradise. Mainly loud Americans (Miami's only 575 miles away).In1996 there were 87,000 visitors and in 2007 there were 264,887. With the shore line slowly filling up with hotels and more and more people flocking to spend time in the sunshine I'm not sure how long it will remain a slice of paradise.

Summary: Perfect. (its where keith Richards fell out of that coconut tree)