This guide to surfing in Turks and Caicos runs through everything you need to know about paddling out in this honeymoon haven of the Caribbean.
An introduction to surfing in Turks and Caicos
The Turks and Caicos – a land of sugar-white sands and waters of pure teal. These are honeymoon islands extraordinaire. They probably have more in the way of five-star hotels with infinity pools than they do surf breaks. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t surf breaks. There are. What’s more, given the rep for the island chain as a lux getaway for newlyweds and A-listers, crowds are kept to a minimum. The upshot? It’s a fairly decent place to come if you want to surf Caribbean waves alone, so long as you have the budget for it.
Like the rest of the region, surfing here is highly seasonal. It depends almost completely on the wintertime northerly swells that push down from the upper Atlantic. They’ll give clean groundswell days while there are ravaging the Eastern Seaboard with frothing storms and snow. The other impediments to surfing in Turks and Caicos is the presence of a barrier reef. It rings almost all of Providenciales and outer islands. Look for a break in that and you’ll usually happen upon the finest spots.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing the Caribbean
The surfing in Turks and Caicos at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Turks and Caicos surf?
Where is Turks and Caicos?
The Turks and Caicos are a group of 40 islands that spread through the northern Caribbean Sea. The Bahamas end on one side (to the west), bridging the gap with the Sunshine State. Cuba is to the south. As the name implies, the country is split into two main groups. There are the Turks, to the southwest. There are the Caicos islands, to the northeast. Most people arrive in the latter, onto the main isle of Providenciales, which hosts the key international airport of Providenciales International Airport.
Turks and Caicos surf spots
There aren’t actually all that many surf spots in the Turks and Caicos. These islands are famed for their super-still seas, which are kept that way on account of a long barrier reef that rings many of the main island groups. There are some breaks in that, and other spots where the reefs bend close enough to the shore to offer some great waves. Those are the places you’ll want to chase if you came here to score.
As we’ve already mentioned, there are two individual island groups here. One of them – the Turks – are basically void of any surf. Go to those for your luxury escapes and all-inclusive trips. Stick to the more exposed Caicos if you want waves. Here’s a closer look at what’s on offer…
Northwest Point
The Northwest Point is the bent finger of land that juts out of the very top of Providenciales island. It’s the single most exposed location in the country because it pushes all the way through the reefs and sucks up all the direct N swells that get pumping in the winter months. When they come down at a direct N or NE angle the rocks here can create lovely long rights that flow into the bay. They can be big but will work past 5 foot.
The problem is that the coral is really shallow and the area is prone to super strong currents. Even staying up at the point is a chore with all the shiftiness that goes on. Many people return with grazes that need iodine treatment. You should be sure to know what you’re in for before paddling out here.
Grace Bay
Grace Bay is one of the most photographed runs of sand in the whole of the Caribbean. It’s a gorgeous stretch that’s talcum white and lapped by illustrious turquoise seas. You really can’t beat it for sunbathing. Surf wise, the region also presides over a rare break in the barrier reefs that encircle the TCI (as the Turks and Caicos are sometimes called for short). That results into two separate spots, both of which are a mile or so offshore and only really reachable if you have a boat – the paddle would be mind-numbing!
The first of the two is known as Sellars. It’s a shallow reef right that can be nice and hollow on N swells that are medium to high. The second is False Cuts, which runs in really direct over extremely shallow reef. It’s a nice wave on some days but loves to close out.
East Caicos
For us, East Caicos is the undiscovered gem of the TCI. It’s the easternmost of the Caicos group and one of the least-developed islands in the whole chain. It’s really tricky to explore by land since there aren’t many roads. A boat will be needed. The reward is an eastern shoreline that’s not protected by long shelves of reef. Reports of a decent left-hand river mouth and lots of frothy A-frames emerge from there from time to time.
Where to stay when surfing in Turks and Caicos?
Intro One area of surf vacationing where the Turks and Caicos certainly don’t disappoint is on the hotel front. This land has some of the most eye-wateringly ridiculous pads in the Caribbean. Check em out…to hotels
The Oasis at Grace Bay
The Oasis at Grace Bay is just what you’re after from your tropical getaway, or, at least it’s what we’d be looking for if we were vacationing in the TCI this year! Facing a soft-sanded beach right on Grace Bay, it’s got a stunning pool space fringed with royal palms and rooms that are clean and minimalist from head to toe. We love it.
COMO Parrot Cay
The natural wood tones and the thought-out window placements of the rooms at the COMO Parrot Cay are just the beginning of why we adore this hotel. It’s got a pool that pokes out over the white-sand beach and access to its very own paradise run of shoreline. Yes, you’ll have to travel to the surf breaks but staying here means staying in the height of comfort.
Bianca Sands on Grace Bay
If you want a little extra space to spread out and relax, go for one of the larger suites at the Bianca Sands on Grace Bay. Again, it’s right on Grace Bay’s award-winning sands but includes one- and two-bedroom rental options that can sleep whole families if needed.
Step-by-step guide to planning your [yoast_kw] trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the [yoast_kw]…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Turks and Caicos?
The winter months starting in November and ending in March are the best time to surf in Turks and Caicos. These islands see the brunt of the N swell at that time, as does the rest of the northern Caribbean. The issue in the TCI is that a lot of that swell will be chopped down to nothing on account of the reefs, but it can survive in some places where it breaks through. There will also be days that work when the W trade winds combine with big hurricane swells in summer, but that’s a real waiting game and the currents get so gnarly that we hardly think it worth the risk.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
