Solo Female Travel in Turks and Caicos

When researching solo female travel in Turks and Caicos, I didn’t find many resources, so I wanted to put together a full guide! If you’re dreaming of a Caribbean escape, TCI (Turks and Caicos Islands) has you covered. With award-winning beaches, friendly locals, COVID infrastructure, tons of sunshine, and all of the good vibes I know you’ll have an amazing time. You should find everything you need to plan a trip in the sections below. Happy travel planning (or daydreaming)!

Turks and Caicos Overview

TCI is a collection of 40 islands in the Caribbean (technically considered the “North Atlantic”). The islands are north of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and east of Cuba. They are on the same time-zone as New York City. They are a British Overseas Territory, so English is the official language and cars drive on the left side of the road. Americans will need a passport to enter. Christopher Columbus set foot on Grand Turk in 1492, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that the islands became a destination for tourists. TCI has a population of 56,000 people as of 2020.

I want to shout out visittci.com and direct you to that website for everything you need to know with the most up-to-date information. I referred to that so many times when planning my trip.

Getting There

The gateway island for tourists is Providenciales, called Provo for short. That’s where you’ll find the international airport (PLS) and Grace Bay Beach. Grace Bay Beach won #1 beach in the Caribbean and #2 beach in the world in the 2020 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Awards, so Provo is somewhere I want to be! haha. Even if you want to visit other islands in Turks and Caicos, you will have to go to Provo first. From there you can get connecting flights or ferries. Because of COVID-19, cruises are not currently allowed in Turks and Caicos, but note that the port for cruise ships is on Grand Turk Island (not on Provo).

I decided to base myself in Providenciales for my trip because of all these factors–it definitely seemed to be the tourist hub. I flew from Chicago via Fort Lauderdale (and connected in Charlotte, NC, on my return flight). Jet Blue, American Airlines, and United are the main options for flights from the US. The average flight time from Southern Florida to Provo is 1 hour and 37 minutes.

My lovely Airbnb host picked me up from the airport with a car I rented from her for my whole trip. She charged $20 for transfer to and from the airport. And that’s when the vacation truly started!

COVID-19 Considerations

I wrote a detailed post covering what it was like traveling to Turks and Caicos during a pandemic which you can find here. Please refer to that for more in depth information. When deciding to do a bit of solo female travel in Turks and Caicos, a big factor for actually booking the trip was how they are handling COVID. There is a dedicated website called TCI Assured that you have to go through to get a travel authorization to enter the country. You have to show proof of a negative PCR test and travel insurance covering COVID-19 expenses.

When the US announced that they would require a negative test within 3 days to enter the country, Turks and Caicos expanded their testing capacity which added even more peace-of-mind. It was super fast, easy, and affordable to get tested for my return flight. I went to a resort and paid $50 for an antigen test and got my results within 2 minutes.

At the time of my visit, there were 2,070 confirmed positive cases with 14 deaths on the island. I felt that the risk of contracting COVID was very low, especially with all the precautions they had in place (masks required and people actually doing it, temperature checks, constant sanitizing). Due to the pandemic, we have to be very thoughtful about travel for the foreseeable future. Please don’t take the decision lightly and only travel if you feel you can do so responsibly. For me, I didn’t consider traveling until I was fully vaccinated.

Solo Female Travel in Turks and Caicos: Getting Around

From what I could find online before my trip, it seemed clear that having a car was the way to go in TCI. I ended up renting a car for a few days so I didn’t limit my experience and so I didn’t break the bank using cabs. Everyone said cabs were expensive, so I avoided them altogether.

I was so nervous to drive on the left side of the road! However, there are no stop lights on the island (just roundabouts) and the speed limit is either 20 or 40 MPH. I figured I would be ok driving slowly and cautiously.

I’m so glad I didn’t let my nerves about driving stop me from taking this trip. If you are a confident driver it will not be an issue at all, especially if you are comfortable with using roundabouts. I was consistently driving 60-70 MPH even though the speed limit was usually 40, and I was still getting aggressively passed all the time haha. Just stay in the slow lane. And also watch out for random speed bumps near some of the roundabouts. They are big so you have to pretty much completely stop to go over them. But yea driving on the left side of the road was totally fine!

You do not need an international drivers license to drive in Turks and Caicos as long as your license is in English. I highly recommend getting your own car to zoom around the island.

Using Your Cell Phone

Despite TCI being a laid-back, friendly destination, solo female travel in Turks and Caicos is still solo female travel. Whenever I am traveling alone, I always want the peace-of-mind of having a phone that works and not just relying on wifi. For my own safety, I want to be able to access the internet at all times. I like having the option to share my location with friends or family back home or to be able to call someone if I have car troubles.

I bought a SIM card with Digicel for $10, which included one day of data. Then each additional day cost $6 or you could buy a week of data for $26. I decided to get a SIM card to save a bit of money but also because I wasn’t able to purchase a roaming plan from my carrier in the US. Check with your current carrier if you don’t have an unlocked phone or don’t want to use a different SIM card. You can probably add international data for around $10 a day.

Again, most people visiting Turks and Caicos can manage with just using wifi and offline maps. As a solo female traveler, I think the extra effort of being connected at all times is worth it. My Airbnb host and I exchanged details on WhatsApp, and it felt great knowing I could get in touch with someone on the island if I needed anything.

Turks and Caicos Weather

Turks and Caicos has amazing weather year-round–a big draw for visiting. Dry season runs from December to April. Hurricanes are rare, but hurricane season is from August to November. Most rain occurs from April to July, but even then it does not rain much. The average year-round temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit. I would say the peak time to visit is the dry season from December to April so beware that prices may be higher during that time.

The weather was amazing during my trip! It was usually in the high 70s/low 80s with constant sunshine–a perfect escape from winter in Chicago.

Solo Female Travel in Turks and Caicos: Safety

I don’t think many women go to TCI alone, at least not from what I could find online prior to my trip. It makes sense, there’s no backpacker scene or hostels and it’s on the pricey side. It did seem to be a safe island from what I could find, though, so I was curious to see for myself.

I felt 100% safe during my time of solo female travel in Turks and Caicos. The locals were soooo friendly. I never felt creeped out by anyone. That being said there are some basic precautions I took to avoid ever putting myself in a weird situation.

Firstly, I stayed at an Airbnb hosted by a local woman (more on that later). She lived on the property, and I felt comforted knowing she was close by if I needed anything. Secondly, I was hardly ever out after dark. I try to avoid being out alone when it’s not daylight anywhere I travel. It’s not always possible, but it was easy in Turks and Caicos because of COVID restrictions. Plus I was up early to make the most of my day, so I was tired early too.

Thirdly, I had a working cell phone at all times. I didn’t use it–I was living in the moment–but it was nice knowing it was there in case of emergency. And lastly, I didn’t drink alcohol on this trip. When you’re traveling alone, no one is there to watch out for you but yourself. You have to be more cautious about how much you drink. I’ve been on a drinking hiatus for a while now and decided to keep it going during my time in Turks and Caicos since I was driving myself around everywhere. (Plus you can’t complain about the hangover free mornings!)

Those factors definitely added to my feeling of safety while traveling solo. Here are some other things to consider:

• download Google Maps offline. always know where you are and avoid getting lost.
• some women like to travel with a ring on their left finger to avoid unwanted attention, but I didn’t feel that was necessary in Turks and Caicos.
• avoid being out after dark.
• know your plans and look confident. avoid looking like a confused and vulnerable tourist.
• don’t feel like you owe anyone anything or have to be nice.
• leave a detailed itinerary with someone at home including addresses of where you’re staying and any activities planned.
• know where the closest embassy is.
• add your trip to the US Department of State STEP program (basically a safe travelers program telling the embassy where you are that they can access in case of emergency).
• limit your alcohol consumption.
• bring a dry bag so you don’t have to leave your possessions alone on the beach when you go into the water (I ended up leaving my stuff on the beach because it was so empty everywhere).

Activities and Tours: What to Do

A couple I met during my trip told me they were spending 3 weeks in TCI and I initially thought that was a bit overkill. But that was the first full day of my trip, and after exploring and learning more, I realized you could easily spend 3 weeks in Turks and Caicos. My trip was 4 nights which was the perfect amount of time for a little getaway. So whether you have a few days or a few weeks, you will not run out of things to do! I’ll start with detailed descriptions of the activities I personally experienced, and then I’ll share some other ideas. Traveler’s tip: Star the places you want to visit on Google Maps, so you can access it at any point if you need to figure out what to do next!

Beach Hopping

If you’re planning to do solo female travel in Turks and Caicos, chances are it’s the beach that called your name. When I found out Grace Bay Beach was a top beach in the world, that was pretty much enough for me to book my flight and want to visit. The other beaches I got a chance to check out were amazing as well. Definitely make sure to give yourself a day to beach hop to a few of these spots, to relax with a good book, and to enjoy swimming in the beautiful water.

• Grace Bay Beach: white sand, expansive beach lined with resorts, award-winning and I can see why. If you aren’t staying at one of the resorts, bring your own chair and umbrella so you aren’t in the direct sun all day. I was able to rent a chair and umbrella because it was so slow during my visit, but apparently they don’t usually rent to non-resort guests. There is a public parking lot but it’s pretty small. I got there around 9 am and was able to grab a spot.
• Sapodilla Bay Beach: absolutely stunning beach lined with beautiful villas. It’s in a bay and the water is sooooo shallow for hundreds of yards which made it different than any beach I’ve ever been to. It was so calm and gorgeous and perfect for relaxing. You could walk so far out and the water would still be at knee-level, so I also think it’s perfect for families with small kids because the conditions are so gentle. There was an area of people selling concessions right by the entrance (I think alcohol too), and they were playing fun music. So that was a bit more of a party scene and I just walked further down the beach and it was so chill and peaceful. This and Grace Bay Beach were my favorite beaches out of all the ones I went to.
• Long Bay Beach: This beach is on the south side of the island which always gets more wind, so it’s the spot to go for kite surfing. I walked along the shore at sunset, and because of the wind the water was so choppy and I didn’t particularly love this beach. But I guess this is where a lot of celebrities rent villas when they come to Turks and Caicos, so maybe it’s nicer when the wind isn’t as bad.
• Taylor Bay Beach: this is close to Sapodilla Bay Beach and it’s a very similar vibe with the shallow water that seems more like a big swimming pool than an ocean. I came here for my last sunset and it was very quiet and beautiful.
• Coral Gardens Reef: This beach has a snorkeling spot right off the shore that’s apparently good for seeing turtles, so that’s why I’d put this one on your list. I came for sunset my first night and didn’t do any snorkeling but it was still really pretty to see. It’s also close to Somewhere Cafe which I heard was a good food spot.
• Malcolm’s Road Beach: This beach is on the west side of the island, so it would be a good sunset spot. I heard you needed a four wheel drive car because there’s a bit of off roading required to get there, so I didn’t visit this beach personally. I did see it from the boat when I did the snorkeling tour and it looked really nice. It’s next to Amanyara Resort which is one of the most luxury accommodation options on the island.

Edge of the Banks Tour with Big Blue Collective

This was probably the highlight of my trip and something I would have to do again if I ever go back to Turks and Caicos– it was that good. The Edge of the Banks Tour is the all-day snorkeling option offered by Big Blue Collective. I got there at 7:45 AM and was back by 5 PM, so you really do get a whole day. I can’t say exactly what you’ll do because they customize each day based on weather conditions. But you’ll essentially get 3 snorkeling sessions, a lot of cruising around in the boat, and stopping somewhere beautiful for lunch.

On the day I went, we snorkeled for about 45 minutes at our first stop over a reef and got to see so many fishies and coral. We even saw a starfish and lobster. The reef in Turks and Caicos is part of the 3rd biggest reef system in the world, so it’s definitely worth getting out to see it. Then we cruised over to West Caicos for more snorkeling, had lunch, and did cliff jumping which just added to the adventurous feeling of the day. We did our last snorkel at the edge of the banks where the ocean floor drops off and saw a sting ray and sharks. It was so cool to get to experience different kinds of snorkeling in one day.

We were also on the look out for whales and dolphins. Just the day before, the tour was able to snorkel with whales and dolphins they found, and it was so incredible they decided to hang out there most of the day. So you really do get a different experience depending on the day, and the captain gives you options and asks what everyone prefers to do. The food and snacks we got were so good, too, and they offered rum punch after the last snorkel.

The company is also very eco-minded which I loved. For example, your captain is a marine biologist, so you get to pick their brain through out the day as well and just appreciate what you’re seeing through that lens. I would highly recommend booking something with them!

Horseback Riding

I’ve never been horseback riding as an adult, but when I saw you could go horseback riding on the beach and in the ocean I knew I had to do it. It was such a fun, enjoyable way to spend an hour. I booked with Unique Tours and Rentals and would recommend using them.

Solo Female Travel in Turks and Caicos: Where to Eat

When I visited Turks and Caicos, there were still pretty strict COVID restrictions. Independent restaurants were only allowed to do take-out, so I didn’t get a chance to experience many places. Some spots allowed you to eat on-site if you went up to order as “take out” and then grabbed it from the counter and sat yourself. But mostly I got things to go and went back to my Airbnb to eat. I could have eaten at restaurants within resorts because they were allowing that for some reason?? But I never felt like it.

• Da Conch Shack: This place is a must-visit. The local delicacy in Turks and Caicos is conch, and this seems to be the most popular restaurant to try it. You can get it a bunch of ways and then sit at the picnic tables right next to the ocean. It was a really cute spot for lunch you should definitely put on your list.
• Hemingway’s on the Beach: For some reason I was allowed to have a sit down meal here, so it must be associated with a resort? I absolutely loved the fish tacos I got, and the view was so gorgeous. You should definitely eat here.
• Shay Cafe: I came here and picked up local coffee and a breakfast bagel. Both were so good! And this spot is close to all the shopping in the Saltmills Plaza.
• Cocovan: This spot is basically a food truck out of an Airstream, so it was really cute. I got fish tacos that were delicious.
• Bugaloos: This is another place that was allowing you to order and then grab it and seat yourself on the property. It’s right on the ocean but I came for dinner when it was dark so didn’t get to see the view. My food was good but not my favorite out of the other spots.
• Other places I didn’t get to try: Lemon 2 Go is a coffee spot with good reviews. Pizza Pizza is a “wait for it” pizza spot. Caicos Cafe and Caicos Bakery looked good for breakfast. Somewhere Cafe is supposed to have good lunch and it’s right by a snorkeling spot. I also saved a place called The Patty Place. In terms of resort dining, I was going to check out The Terrace on Grace Bay and Ocean Club West Plaza but never got around to it.

Shopping

Usually I don’t spend much time shopping on my trips, so I only went to a couple places. I did want to pick up a few souvenirs (I always look for a coaster and jewelry when I travel somewhere new) and check out some local art. I wanted to mention these 2 stores because I absolutely loved them and they’re owned by locals! They’re both located in Saltmills Plaza close to Grace Bay Beach.

• The Wellington Collection: This is where I found my coaster, which I’m obsessed with and reminds me of the beautiful colors of Turks and Caicos and my time there. It’s all made by a local artist, and they sell other things like cheese boards and jewelry.
• Island Organics: This is another spot where everything is locally made. They have homemade soaps and candles (that the mother makes on site) and jewelry (that the daughter makes). I loved browsing and could have spent so much more money! They also do a soap making class which is definitely on my list of things to do if I visit again!

Things I Didn’t Personally Do

So that’s pretty much everything I got up to during my trip, but like I said before, there is soooo much to do in Turks and Caicos. I wanted to mention some other activities here!

• water sports: you can basically do any water activity you want. jet skiing, scuba diving, kite surfing, stand up paddle boarding through the mangroves, wake boarding, kayaking, boating, fly boarding, swimming with JoJo the dolphin.
• Thursday night Fish Fry: this was cancelled due to COVID at the time of my visit otherwise I would have definitely gone. From what I’ve heard this event is a big cultural street market type of situation where there’s food from local restaurants, crafts from local shops, and music.
• Fishing: I thought it would have been really cool to do a fishing day trip and catch what you eat for dinner! Another couple I met was spending a lot of time fly fishing.
• Island hop: Provo is just one of the islands in Turks and Caicos and it’s the perfect base to visit some of the other islands! The couple who stayed for 3 weeks was doing this. They ended up visiting all but 1 island during their trip.

Where to Stay

I decided to use Airbnb for my trip, so that’s what I can recommend best. I’ll share the exact one I booked–I thought it was a perfect option for solo female travel in Turks and Caicos. You can do this trip more cheaply if you book a private room instead of the entire place. You can also spend way more money and be way more luxurious if that’s what you’re looking for–Turks and Caicos is home to amazing resorts. Grace Bay Resorts seems to be the most popular, and they have a chain of options you could look into. Ocean Club Resorts looks popular, too.

I booked 4 nights at “Island’s Eye” Special with car hosted by Rosie. It’s priced around $100 per night which was the most affordable option I found to have my own suite. The car cost an additional $35 per day. It was a simple room with a queen bed and kitchenette plus a bathroom, but it was clean and had everything I needed. The bed was super comfortable–I slept so well each night. The wifi worked well and the AC was strong, which is always a plus. I also loved the central location–it took me anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes to get where I wanted to go.

The thing I loved the most about this room was the fact that the host was close by. She lived in the adjoining suite and was always just a WhatsApp message away. My first day there she was so kind and took me to pick up a SIM card and some dinner. She knew literally everyone on the island. I felt really safe staying with her and knowing a local on the island in case of emergency. I think her place is perfect for solo female travelers who want to save money on accommodation (or even couples).

How much does it cost to visit Turks and Caicos as a solo female traveler?

Solo female travel in Turks and Caicos is not the best option for those on a tight budget, like backpackers. From what I can tell, there are no hostels on TCI. I would definitely say it’s mid-range and up. There are many luxury options from resorts to tours and dining. You technically could do it a lot cheaper than I did by not doing tours, by staying in a private room, or by walking everywhere. However, even the grocery stores are expensive, and if you don’t have a car to get around you’re really limiting yourself. Eating in and using cheap transportation are great ways to travel on a budget, but that’s just not really an option in Turks and Caicos.

I did this trip on a mid-range budget. That means I was ok spending money at cafes and restaurants, and I spent a decent amount of money on tours and activities. Personally, I didn’t want to go so far and then just lay on one beach the whole time. I saved money by booking an affordable Airbnb instead of staying in a fancy resort, by renting a car for only a few days of my trip, and by not drinking alcohol. I also saved money by using credit card points to cover the cost of my flight and accommodation.

Here’s a break down of what I spent during 5 days on Providenciales:

• round trip flight: FREE (booked a $596 flight with credit card points)
• accommodation: $209 (used an Airbnb gift card from credit card points to book my room, saving me $200. Total for accom was $409 for 4 nights)
• travel insurance: $83
• COVID testing costs: $50
• airport transfers: $20
• baggage fees: $65
• car rental: $105
• gas: $26
• 1 hour horseback riding tour: $140
• full day snorkeling tour: $295
• beach chair/umbrella rental: $20
• cell phone SIM: $16
• things I bought for the trip: $496 (GoPro Hero9, Earth Pak dry bag, Raw Elements sunscreen, Cressi snorkel)
• food: $153
• souvenirs: $123

Turks and Caicos uses US dollars, so it’s very convenient for travelers from the US. Make sure to have cash, though. A lot of places did accept card, but there were definitely times I needed cash.

Sample Itinerary for Solo Female Travel in Turks and Caicos

Thursday: Enjoy the views over the Caribbean on your flight. My heart was immediately captured by the colors and I could already feel myself warming up. Island life is so close! Arrive in Provo at 2 pm. Settle into Airbnb, get a SIM card and a bite to eat (I went to The Snack Spot and had a fresh fish dinner). Head to a beach for sunset (I went to Coral Gardens Reef).

Friday: Full day tour with Big Blue Collective from 8 AM – 4:30 PM. They adjust each tour based on the wind and weather conditions, so no 2 tours will look the same. You’ll spend time cruising around on the boat, watching for whales and dolphins. You’ll stop somewhere breathtaking for lunch and maybe even cliff jumping. In terms of the food situation, you get a snack after the first snorkel, a full lunch after the second snorkel, and rum punch after the third snorkel. The final snorkel spot will be at “the edge of the banks.” You will not regret signing up for this activity–it’s an absolute must do. Then, stop at nearby Cocovan for dinner. After a full day in the sun, I spent the rest of the night relaxing at my Airbnb.

Saturday: Spend the day at a few of the amazing beaches! Start at Grace Bay Beach around 9 AM. I would say to bring a chair and umbrella if you can. Apparently you can’t rent any on this beach because they’re all for resort guests only. I was there during COVID when it was empty (everyone has a price haha). I rented a chair and umbrella for $20 and spent about 4 hours chilling, reading, and enjoying the water. Head to Da Conch Shack for lunch around 1 PM. I’m not the biggest foodie, but I always make sure to try the local delicacy wherever I go. Turks and Caicos is known for conch and this is the spot to try it.

For your afternoon session, head to Sapodilla Bay Beach and enjoy relaxing in the shallow water from 2-3:30 ish. I was stunned by how beautiful this spot was. This was my day to cruise around the island and take in the views, so next up was a drive around Chalk Sound. End the day with one more beach for sunset! I went to Long Bay Beach. It was nice to walk along the sand at sunset, but it was really windy because it’s on the south side of the island. It was my least favorite beach of the trip but a must do if you’re interested in kite surfing.

Sunday: Friday was full of adventure and Saturday was full of relaxation. Today is a good mix of both, your last full day to enjoy the island. I had a slow morning after picking up a breakfast bagel and local coffee from Shay Cafe around 8 AM. Then I went to Seven Stars Resort for my COVID test at 11 AM. I drove to nearby Hemingway’s for lunch with a view and a good book (I had amazing fish tacos here). Then it was time for horseback riding with Unique Tours from 2-3 PM which I loved and highly recommend. I went to Taylor Bay Beach from about 4-6 PM to enjoy the sunset and more chill time. I finished my day with a lobster dinner at Bugaloos.

Monday: My flight home was at 1:45 PM and I had to check out of my Airbnb by 11 AM. That gave me a few glorious hours in the morning for some last minute activities. I went to another beach from 7:30-9 AM. Then I went souvenir shopping at the Saltmills Plaza from 9-9:30 AM (and could have spent much longer there). I was so sad to leave but felt rested, happy, and grateful for my time in Provo.

Packing List for Solo Female Travel in Turks and Caicos

A trip to TCI will require all your good weather beach attire! For example, I brought 4 bathing suits and pretty much lived in those and cover ups. I did bring some nicer outfit options for dinner, but the restaurants were take out only because of COVID when I was there. I never ended up getting dressed up for dinner. Other than that I just wanted to highlight a few things you don’t want to forget.

• US dollars. Not everywhere accepts card.
• For electronics, they use US plugs (Europeans will need to bring an adapter).
• reef safe sunscreen. This is an absolute must!
• insect repellant. I didn’t end up using mine much and I got a few bites but nothing too bad.
• rash guard. This is another must, especially if you do the snorkeling tour.
• dry bag. I think you can get by not having a dry bag, but this is what I used as my beach bag and I loved it.
• your own snorkel. Just as an extra precaution against COVID.
• GoPro. All your activities are water-based so I highly recommend having a GoPro if you love to capture memories while traveling.
• face mask, sanitizer, proof of negative PCR test, proof of travel insurance, travel auth from TCI Assured.
• I always bring a copy of my passport if I travel overseas.
• Let your bank know you will be abroad.
• iPad to watch shows and YouTube while you relax at night. Computer isn’t necessary.
• For solo females, bring a long sleeve flowy top because you won’t have anyone to sunscreen your back haha. I lived in this top at the beach just to keep me from burning.
• Beach hat and sunglasses.
• a good book.
• If you wear glasses, make sure to bring your contacts! You’ll need them for the snorkeling tour at the very least but I wore mine every day.

Conclusion 🙂

I hope you found this post helpful and that you’re well on your way to planning an incredible trip to the Caribbean. It would be wonderful if you would share this post on Pinterest or Facebook to help others find it too! Enjoy your trip to Turk and Caicos fellow daydreamers!