Things to Do in Turks & Caicos

Start with Grace Bay Beach, because you have to. Three and a half miles of talcum-powder sand meeting water so absurdly turquoise it looks retouched - except it is not. The reef system just offshore at Smith's Reef is accessible by wading in from the beach, no boat required, and you will find yourself drifting over elkhorn coral alongside spotted eagle rays and juvenile sea turtles within minutes. Rent snorkel gear from any of the outfitters along the strip or bring your own; the entry point near the Coral Gardens resort is the easiest.

Chalk Sound National Park, on the south side of Providenciales, is the counterpoint to Grace Bay's open ocean. This shallow lagoon glows an almost electric shade of turquoise, dotted with hundreds of tiny rocky islands covered in scrub. Kayak or stand-up paddleboard tours are the best way to explore it, gliding past the resident Turks and Caicos rock iguanas basking on limestone outcrops. A submerged plane wreck in the sound adds a surreal snorkeling stop.

For serious divers, the wall off Grand Turk is one of the most dramatic drop-offs in the Atlantic. The seafloor plunges from about 20 feet to over 7,000 feet within a few hundred meters of shore. Even snorkelers can see the edge of the abyss on a calm day. The 30-minute flight from Provo to Grand Turk is worth it for this alone, though most visitors combine the dive trip with a walk to the Grand Turk Lighthouse and a wander through the quiet colonial streets of Cockburn Town, the country's capital. January through April, humpback whales migrate through the Turks Island Passage between Grand Turk and Salt Cay - sightings peak in February, and small-boat whale watching tours operate from both islands.

Middle Caicos, connected to North Caicos by a causeway, feels like stepping back decades. The Conch Bar Caves are the largest dry cave system in the Bahamas-Turks and Caicos chain, with 15 miles of underground limestone caverns filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and resident bat colonies. Admission is 30 dollars cash, and you must arrange a guide through the National Trust in advance by calling ahead - this is not a polished tourist operation, which is part of the charm. Open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 3 PM.

Back on Provo, the Caicos Conch Farm near Leeward is the only conch farm in the world. The 30-minute guided tour walks you through the hatchery and algae vats, ending with a hands-on introduction to Sally and Jerry, the resident pet conchs. Twelve dollars for adults, eight for children, closed Sundays. Time a visit around the full moon and you can book a glow worm cruise. These bioluminescent marine worms put on a 20-minute light show on the third, fourth, and fifth nights after each full moon. Sun Charters runs popular evening trips aboard the Atabeyra, a 77-foot schooner, with rum punch included. The display happens in sheltered bays around Providenciales, and it is genuinely otherworldly - but check the lunar calendar before you book your flights.