Category: About TCI

Chocolate lovers, unite! For those of you with a penchant for sweets, you’re in for a treat. Every February you can sample some of the finest chocolate dishes the Turks and Caicos have to offer at the Annual Chocolate Lovers Showcase at The Palms.

Local restaurants participate in the event as they compete for the best use of chocolate. Amanyara, Asu, Beaches Resort, Crush Bakery, Fire & Ice, Infiniti, Kitchen 218, Melt, Pelican Bay, Parallel 23, Seven and Stelle have all had their hand at unique chocolate dishes for you to sample with a side of champagne.

The showcase is one of the islands most beloved culinary events and for good reason. Past showcases have benefited the local Salvation Army’s hot meal program for kids on Providenciales. Additionally, the Chocolate Lovers Showcase raised enough money for the Salvation Army to provide lunches for about 6,000 high school students from just one event. Event organizers hope to exceed that every year.

Sometimes you just can’t ignore that sweet tooth. Fulfill your craving and help an important cause in the Turks and Caicos at the same time. Your tastebuds will thank you—and so will the school children of the Turks and Caicos.

Whether this is your first time or you’ve been to the Turks and Caicos before, you already know what the islands are best known for—the beaches. There’s no debating our powdery white sand and clear blue ocean are what make our islands a world-class destination. But you haven’t fully experienced the Turks and Caicos until you’ve immersed yourself in the culture—until you’ve met the people, tasted the food, danced to the music and experienced Junkanoo. And that’s why, if you’re here on a Thursday at 5:30 pm, you need to head to Bight Park for the weekly Fish Fry.

The Fish Fry is a signature Turks and Caicos event that brings together locals and tourists to experience true island culture. Local artists and businesses set up shop to sell their goods, while at least 20 different restaurants are on hand selling their tastiest local fare—fresh fish, conch, peas and rice, and more. And to quench your thirst, there’s plenty of rum punch and Turk’s Head beer, our local brand brewed right here in Providenciales. And you can’t leave the park without stopping by the Coco Vibes stand, where you can get a fresh coconut with rum (or without—your choice!)

As you soak in the atmosphere, do some souvenir shopping and get a taste of island cuisine, you can enjoy live music and entertainment from the main stage, or wander down the boardwalk to the beach. The night culminates in Junkanoo—a traditional parade with music, dance and costumes that weaves its way through the park, encouraging bystanders to jump in and dance. Usually you have to wait until Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) to experience Junkanoo, but Fish Fry makes it possible every week.

Take note that parking is limited, so it’s best you arrive early. Admission is free, but cash is necessary for any purchases.

Ready for an authentic, unforgettable Turks and Caicos experience? We’ll see you Thursday at the Fish Fry! Come with an empty stomach and your dancing shoes.

 

As each year comes to a close in the Turks and Caicos, a special gift is left in its wake—and it’s kind of a big deal, weighing up to 80,000 pounds

We’re talking about humpback whales, which migrate from the northern Atlantic Ocean to the warmer waters of the Silver Bank near the Dominican Republic to breed and give birth between December and April. The whales travel in pods, so where there’s one, there are at least a few more. And nothing will make you feel quite as small as seeing a pod of humpback whales on their journey to warmth—or better yet, seeing a humpback whale breach (or “jump” out of the water).

If you’re in the Turks and Caicos during whale season, the best places to get a glimpse of these giant marine mammals are the islands of Grand Turk and Salt Cay because of their close proximity to the Columbus Passage. Whale sightings are not uncommon off the Caicos Islands (which includes Providenciales), but you’re more likely to see them closer to the passage. Local airline interCaribbean offers multiple daily flights from Providenciales to Grand Turk, from which Salt Cay is just a short ferry ride away.

If you’re fortunate enough to see the whales underwater, you’ll be likely hear them, too. The sounds of the humpback whales create a song that can be heard from miles away underwater. Snorkeling and scuba diving encounters are reported every year, but if you’d rather stay dry, there are plenty of boating excursions that will give you the chance to see the whales up close.

Try any of these boat operators for a chance to see humpback whales in the Turks and Caicos:

Grand Turk

Oasis Divers

http://www.oasisdivers.com/
649-946-1128

Crystal Seas Adventures

https://crystalseasadventures.com/
649-431-9585

Salt Cay

Salt Cay Divers

https://saltcaydivers.com/
649-241-1009

Providenciales

Although you’re more likely to see whales from Salt Cay or Grand Turk, sightings do happen on Providenciales, as well as North, Middle and South Caicos.

Dive Provo

https://www.diveprovo.com/
954-351-9771

Big Blue Unlimited

https://bigblueunlimited.com/
649-946-5034

Every month after the full moon, a natural phenomenon lights up the ocean, creating the appearance of twinkling stars in the sea.

But these flashes of light that shimmer just below the ocean surface are, in fact, the creation of life. It’s the mating dance of the Odontosyllis enopia—known locally as the glow worm, a bioluminescent marine worm—and it’s a remarkable light show you can’t miss if you’re in the Turks and Caicos at just the right time.

The show begins three to five days after the full moon and almost an hour after sunset. That’s when the female glow worm rises from the sandy seafloor where she resides to the surface of the water, swimming in circles and releasing her eggs—all while emitting a bright fluorescent chemical that attracts her male counterpart. While swimming to his mate, attracted by her beckoning glow, the male worm also “glows” as he makes his way to his partner. He then releases his sperm, creating even more light. All this from these tiny marine worms, with the females growing to about 20 mm long, and the males growing only to 12 mm.

It’s a brilliant, albeit brief (about 15 minutes), affair that you have to see to believe. And it’s suitable for an audience of all ages.

But the only way to witness the spectacle of the glow worm is to be out on the water, particularly in shallow areas. And you have a few options as far as getting out there to see the show.

The Atabeyra, operated by Sun Charters, is a 70-foot sailing vessel that has operated as a charter boat in the Turks and Caicos since 1998. Originally a cargo ship that transported goods between Hispaniola and the Turks and Caicos, the Atabeyra is a favorite among locals. After picking guests up from the Blue Haven dock, your captain will cruise around the Caicos banks and return to the channel to catch the glow worm light show. Need more incentive? A refreshing rum punch is also included in the trip.

If you’re looking for a more active glow worm experience, try a guided standup paddleboarding excursion. Imagine paddling out to sea on your board, when all of a sudden tiny blinking lights begin to illuminate the water just below your feet—talk about surreal. 

However you decide to see the glow worms, be sure that you do. It’s not every day you get to see a marine mating dance that lights up the underwater world.

IF YOU GO

Sun Charters

sailatabeyra.com

[email protected]

649-231-0624

It’s a national symbol of the Turks and Caicos, a local delicacy and the country’s No. 1 export. We’re talking, of course, about conch—the marine life that’s celebrated every year at the Turks and Caicos Conch Festival.

Visitors and locals celebrate the Turks and Caicos Conch Festival in the month of November. Restaurants from all over the island are on hand serving up their best conch dishes. There’s always a variety of conch recipes to choose from, ranging from traditional fare like conch salad, fritters and stew, to more eclectic dishes like conch wontons, empanadas, and yes—even conch pancakes.

In addition to the food, there is live music and entertainment—including the traditional conch shell blowing competition. And did we mention the festival is normally setup steps away from the beach?

The Conch Festival started in 2004 with the goal of bringing more people to Blue Hills, one of the original settlements of Providenciales. The charm of Blue Hills today is found in its lack of development, with the main Blue Hills Road running parallel with the ocean shore. Without a doubt, the road is the most scenic on the island and is worth the drive any time year. Blue Hills is mainly a residential area dotted with local restaurants and shops, offering visitors a look at what the island was like many years ago.

If you plan to go to the Conch Festival this year, be sure to go on an empty stomach. No doubt you’re going to leave a few pounds heavier—tis the season, after all.