When you step off the plane at Providenciales International Airport, you’ll find a nice selection of rental car companies just outside. There are familiar brands like Avis, Hertz, and Sixt, and also local outfits like D&B Auto Rental and Scott’s Car Rental & Sales. So if you’re spending time in the Caribbean archipelago of Turks and Caicos, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding some wheels to drive around the beloved tropical island of Providenciales. Within the hour, you’ll likely be flying down Leeward Highway in search of your hotel. Just remember to drive on the left lane, and keep an eye out for roundabouts.
Actually, you may feel compelled to rent a car, not because Turks and Caicos is a thrilling place to drive — most would say it isn’t — but because this British Overseas Territory doesn’t have any form of public transportation. No buses, no rails, not even a decent shuttle. Turks and Caicos is famous for beaches, palm trees, seafood, and snorkeling, but mass transit simply doesn’t exist here. While renting a car isn’t the only way to get around, it’s by far the most economical, with base prices starting at around $40 per day. While the main island of Providenciales covers only 38 square miles of land, there’s a lot to see, and planning an adventurous trip to Turks and Caicos will benefit from a private car’s mobility.
The art of getting around Providenciales
Providenciales is the main island of Turks and Caicos, and it’s home to a surprisingly large population of nearly 50,000 residents. The town is a hodgepodge of houses, hotels, and waterfront infrastructure like beaches and marinas. The distance from the airport to the Leeward Settlement (on the island’s eastern edge) is about 9 miles, farther than anyone would want to walk beneath a high Caribbean sun. If you’re staying in the resort area of Grace Bay, a beautiful Caribbean beach for a picture-perfect vacation, you’ll find this district quite walkable, and you can easily stroll on foot from hotel to restaurant to sandy shore. But if you want to visit sunset-ready Bonefish Point, the Kimcha Village Bird Sanctuary, or the coastal Bird Rock Trail, you’ll probably want to get there by car.
Taxis are definitely a worthy option, if you don’t feel like taking the wheel yourself. Most visitors consider the fares pretty high, and budget travelers should plan their routes carefully. Bicycles are a near-ideal way to get around, as long as you don’t mind working up a sweat, and you can rent them at several spots, such as Caicos Cyclery. This is also the perfect environment for scooters and mopeds, with the islands’ relatively slow traffic and level terrain; motorized rentals are sometimes even easier to find that pedal-powered bikes. Even more adventurous is an ATV rental, which can be combined with a tour of Providenciales, thanks to several local companies. Make sure to read your agreement thoroughly and ask about insurance coverage.
Exploring the rest of Turks and Caicos
