Five Days of Mangroves and Straw Work
Your Turks & Caicos Itinerary at a Glance
- Day 1 Day 1: Arrive and orient
- Day 2 Day 2: Paddle the creeks
- Day 3 Day 3: Walk the west
- Day 4 Day 4: To North Caicos
- Day 5 Day 5: Middle Caicos
Where to Stay in Turks & Caicos
Bottle Creek Lodge
Owner occupied cabanas with complimentary kayaks and bicycles, and kayak access to East Bay Islands National Park straight from the property.
What to Do in Turks & Caicos
National Environmental Centre
What you are about to look at, explained.
Wheeland Ponds
Saline ponds and flooded quarry pits off the Blue Hills Road, the best brackish birding on Providenciales, with ducks, grebes, cormorants, pelicans and migratory shorebirds.
Big Blue Collective kayak and paddleboard ecotours
Guided paddling through the mangrove creeks at Mangrove Cay and Frenchman's Creek.
West Harbour Bluff and the Split Rock trail
A coastal bluff with a small cave and centuries old rock carvings, continuing toward Frenchman's Creek Nature Reserve.
Chalk Sound National Park
Lagoon, islets and iguanas, from the road and on foot.
Conch Bar Caves
The largest dry cave system in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos chain, National Trust managed and guided only, US$30.
Crossing Place Trail
Limestone cliffs and beaches on the route that used to be the only way between the islands.
Where to Shop in Turks & Caicos
The Thursday Island Fish Fry
The one reliable weekly gathering where money goes to small local vendors rather than resorts.
Middle Caicos Co-op
Buy straw work from the eighteen or so artisans who made it.
Your Day by Day Turks & Caicos Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive and orient
Free, and useful.
Wheeland Ponds
Saline ponds and flooded quarry pits off the Blue Hills Road, the best brackish birding on Providenciales, with ducks, grebes, cormorants, pelicans and migratory shorebirds.
Day 2: Paddle the creeks
The nursery for the whole reef system.
Big Blue Collective kayak and paddleboard ecotours
Guided paddling through the mangrove creeks at Mangrove Cay and Frenchman's Creek. Non motorised, small groups, observation only, no feeding or handling.
The Thursday Island Fish Fry
The one reliable weekly gathering where money goes to small local vendors rather than resorts. Every Thursday from about six. Bring cash.
Day 3: Walk the west
Coast and carvings.
West Harbour Bluff and the Split Rock trail
A coastal bluff with a small cave and centuries old rock carvings, continuing toward Frenchman's Creek Nature Reserve. Free.
Chalk Sound National Park
Lagoon, islets and iguanas, from the road and on foot.
Day 4: To North Caicos
The green island.
Middle Caicos Co-op
Buy straw work from the eighteen or so artisans who made it.
Bottle Creek Lodge
Owner occupied cabanas with complimentary kayaks and bicycles, and kayak access to East Bay Islands National Park straight from the property.
Day 5: Middle Caicos
Caves and the old road.
Conch Bar Caves
The largest dry cave system in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos chain, National Trust managed and guided only, US$30. Four bat species live in it, and visitors are asked not to disturb them.
Crossing Place Trail
Limestone cliffs and beaches on the route that used to be the only way between the islands.