Grace Bay Beach: Why it’s the Best in the Caribbean

The Caribbean is a beach-lover’s dream. Every island has palm-fringed stretches of sand – but our very own Grace Bay beach - Provo’s jewel in the crown - stands head and shoulders above the rest. 

This isn’t only our opinion. Grace Bay has once again been voted #1 Beach in the Caribbean by travellers on Trip Advisor. Over 7,000 members of the public gave it a 5 out of 5 – and there are plenty of reasons they did so. 

A picture-perfect tropical beach

Stretching for miles along Providenciales’ north coast, Grace Bay beach offers some of the whitest sand you will ever see. Composed of finely crushed coral and limestone, it is powdery soft and cool underfoot.

The white sand stretches out into the sea, its pale tones lending the crystal-clear waters an ethereal hue, ranging from pale aquamarine close to shore to deep azure further out. These are some of the most spectacular shades of blue on the planet.

Clean, calm and protected

Grace Bay is part of the protected Princess Alexandra National Park Between and is kept in pristine condition. There is no trash or pollution on the beach or in the sea, and unlike many popular beaches in the Caribbean and resorts in the Mediterranean, Grace Bay maintains an air of tranquillity. You will never struggle to find a patch of brilliant sand for yourself and will not have to contend with hawkers selling their wares.

With a barrier reef a mile offshore Grace Bay is also protected from the Atlantic swells, keeping the water calm and safe for swimming, and all manner of water-based activities.

A playground for water sports

Indeed there are few bays better suited to practicing water sports. The calm waters are ideal for kayaking, and paddleboarding, while the length of the bay means there is ample room for banana boats, parasailing, hobie cat sailing and more. And for those on the lookout for the next adrenaline rush, there’s always a new watersport to try, whether e-foiling or sub-winging.

Grace Bay is also the heart of tourist action on Provo. It’s where the majority of visitors stay and the beach is used as a convenient pick up point for sailing, diving or fishing excursions.

Snorkelling from shore

While Provo’s best reefs lie further offshore and can only be reached by boat, Grace Bay does offer two great snorkelling spots that one can swim out to from the beach. Smiths Reef at the western end of the bay, near Turtle Cove, is easily accessible from shore and consists of several patches of coral teeming with fish. To the east of Smiths Reef, the Bight Reef (also known as Coral Gardens) is a ridge that stretches out about 350 feet from the beach but is not more than 20 feet deep. Both sites support a great diversity of marine life and there’s a good chance of seeing turtles, spotted eagle rays, angelfish and more.

Refreshments aplenty

When you need a break from sun and salt, Grace Bay has plenty of inviting places to take a seat in the shade, while you quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger.

Just Tacos is a great spot when you want to sit with your feet in the sand and enjoy light, tasty tacos, while for ice cold beers and great views of the bay, Flamingo Café is casual and friendly. For a casual lunch of Caribbean fare, grab a seat at the easygoing  Cabana Bar and Grill  and in the evening, if you want something more elegant, book a table at Blue Water Bistro  where you can enjoy sophisticated lite bites and island flavours are served in a gorgeous open air setting.