Grace Bay Beach
The famous one: soft sand and calm water inside a national park.
Grace Bay is the long beach on Provo’s north shore, with soft white sand and calm water.
- From the villas
- About 10 minutes by car
- Getting there
- Paved, to the public accesses
- Best for
- A long walk, a calm swim, sunset
Checked and updated October 2026.
Getting on the beach
Public beach accesses run between the resorts. The larger car parks are at Grande Court, Central, Forbes Point and Rickie’s; Rotary Park, Forbes Point, Grande Court and Central are the easiest for wheelchairs. Central has umbrellas and loungers to rent; the resorts’ loungers are for their own guests.
Why the water is so calm
A barrier reef about a mile offshore breaks the Atlantic swell before it arrives, so the water inside is usually flat and clear. The trade winds also tend to keep sargassum seaweed off this shore.
The rules of the park
The beach and the water in front of it are part of Princess Alexandra National Park, declared in 1992. Fishing and taking conch or lobster are illegal, and taking shells, coral or sand needs government permission. Dogs go on a leash.
Staying safe
Boats are the real danger: banana boats and wake rides run close to swimmers, so stay inside the swim zones and take extra care at sunset, when swimmers are hard to see.
Why people know the name
Tripadvisor named Grace Bay the world’s best beach in 2016 and 2018. The bay itself is named after Grace Hutchings, wife of the islands’ commissioner in the early 1930s.
Grace Bay Beach: common questions
Is Grace Bay Beach public?
Yes. Entry and parking are free through the designated public beach accesses between the resorts.
Are there lifeguards at Grace Bay?
No, so swim with care.
Where are the public restrooms on Grace Bay?
At the Rickie’s beach access, where there’s also takeaway food.
Can you snorkel from Grace Bay Beach?
The easy shore snorkel is Bight Reef, at the western end of the beach. The barrier reef itself needs a boat.
How long is Grace Bay Beach?
Visit TCI puts it at a little over three miles. Longer figures you may see include the neighbouring beaches.
Nearby guides
- Reef and water Bight Reef
- Wild corners The Hole
- Beaches Long Bay Beach
- Everything The whole island guide
Facts checked against: Visit Turks and Caicos Islands · Visit TCI: Princess Alexandra National Park · Tripadvisor press release, 2018 · Photo: Coolcaesar, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (licence)
Come home to the quiet side
Two villas behind one gate in Long Bay Hills, with a pool between them and golf carts for the beach.
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