If you’re searching for the perfect location for a family day out in Turks & Caicos, Sapodilla Bay is an ideal choice. Located on the island of Providenciales, Sapodilla Bay offers breathtaking beauty and a memorable beach experience. Situated just off the south coast of Providenciales near Chalk Sound, this beach stands out as one of the most stunning in the entire Caribbean region.
Upon arrival at Sapodilla Bay, you’ll be greeted by a stunning 900-foot (275-meter) long stretch of beach that is sheltered and cove-like. With its shallow, calm, and crystal-clear waters, Sapodilla Bay is an excellent choice for families seeking the ultimate beach adventure, particularly those with small children. From sand play and swimming to water sports and beach explorations, there's quite a lot to do on and around this beach. Read on for what to expect on a family beach day at Sapodilla Bay.
Good to know: The island of Providenciales is the most populated island in Turks & Caicos. It is made up of 40 different islands and cays.
Sapodilla Bay is one of those beaches that you can either visit for a couple hours, or spend the entire day. This is a lively beach with plenty of activities and water sports for the entire family. Here are some of our favorite things to do while there:
Let the ocean wash away your cares and renew your spirit at Sapodilla Bay. This pristine Turks & Caicos beach has the calmest waters that remain shallow for quite a distance from the shore. This makes it a great option for families with small children or beachgoers in general who just aren’t strong swimmers. As you won't have to worry about strong currents, you can simply just lounge in the water or go for a swim a little further out.
Even if you don’t swim on this beach, at low tide, you can literally just walk into the water for a good distance before the water gets too deep. This is because the tide goes out quite a long way. The sand is soft, the scenery is captivating, and the characteristic island warmth certainly will add to the feel good vibes this experience brings. While walking through the water, you do need to be aware of how far from land you travel as there are no lifeguards.
Sapodilla Bay has very fine, silt-like sand that is great for sand play. Whether you’re interested in beach volleyball, football, or simply engaging in fun baby beach games, this beach offers endless opportunities for enjoyment. Kids especially, will delight in the experience of digging in the sand, creating lasting memories.
While the little ones are engrossed in their sand adventures, parents can fully unwind and soak in the relaxed ambiance that Sapodilla Bay provides. With its convenient location, this beach serves as an ideal option for families. Take a moment to kick back, relax, and revel in the tranquil surroundings. To enhance your comfort, vendors can be found strolling along the beach, offering rentals of chairs, umbrellas, and sun-shades. These vendors can usually be seen walking along the beach. Some of them also sell delicious local food and drinks including crowd-pleasing rum punch that adults can indulge in.
While in Turks & Caicos, you’ll find many beaches where you can try various water sports. Sapodilla Bay is one of the best options for a jet ski adventure. The speed and thrill of jet skiing at Sapodilla Bay are sure to inject a surge of excitement into your beach day. At this beach, you can rent jet skis from vendors who can usually be found near the shoreline. The vendors usually charge per ride or based on the duration of time you’ll be spending on the jet ski. This price can vary based on the vendor. The Sapodilla Bay area is very scenic and you can enjoy the best views with this kind of excursion.
Expert tip: If you’ll be traveling with family to Turks & Caicos, these family beach games can add to the fun and bonding moments in your vacation. Traveling with a baby? If so, you might find these baby beach ideas useful.
Sapodilla Bay is quite mesmerizing, but there are lots of other exciting things to do in Turks & Caicos apart from just indulging in the beach. When you’re finally able to tear yourself away from these captivating shores, here are some of the other interesting points of interest worth seeing:
If you choose to access Sapodilla Bay via the southern end, then you will pass the entrance to the Sapodilla Bay Hill Rock Carvings on the way to the beach. This attraction is a short distance away from the beach and it is worth checking out during a trip to this area. The rock carvings here are truly historic. They are said to have been created by shipwrecked sailors and travellers as they awaited their ships. The sentiments on these inscriptions are varied. The designs include names, dates, symbols, and simple depictions of ships and buildings. These intricate carvings are said to date back to the mid-1700s and, for some, the 1800s.
Though there are still some carvings left in this area to view, many of the carved rocks in this area were taken elsewhere for the sake of preservation. The ones that remain are intriguing and tell the stories of times long past. The short hike up the Sapodilla Bay Hill can be worth it just to admire the breathtaking views of the bay and surrounding areas.
Chalk Sound National Park on the southwest of Providenciales is hands down one of the most beautiful places in Turks & Caicos. This lagoon is a must-visit attraction for nature lovers or anyone who just wants to experience the joy that can come from being immersed in nature. This park has a wealth of activities families can enjoy including sightseeing, wildlife spotting, and water sports.
To get to the Chalk Sound National Park, you’ll need to take a short walk along the coast from Sapodilla Bay. Chalk Sound National Park stands out for its shallow and bright turquoise water and the hundreds of small, limestone islands that can be found in this area. Of all the wildlife that can be found here, the iguanas are most popular. Many families make a point of seeing how many of the native rock iguanas they can spot while here.
While at the Chalk Sound National Park, you can partake in water sports like kayaking, paddle boarding, or just go on a boat tour to explore the lagoon and its many cays. These are great opportunities to take in the beauty of this area. All in all, whether you'll be going on family vacation, solo trip, group or couples vacation, a trip to the Chalk Sound National Park can be a serene and tranquil experience.
Sapodilla Bay is just about 10 miles (16 km) away from the resorts of Grace Bay Beach by car. There are two access points to get to this beach and they are located at either end of the sandy stretch. Each access point has its own convenient parking area. You can access the beach on the southern side by way of a short path between two villas. The south side access point of Sapodilla Bay beach is shared with the Sapodilla Bay Hill Rock Carvings trail. This access point is just past the start of Chalk Sound Drive and the main road in the Chalk Sound peninsula. In terms of parking, there is plenty of space in this area.
The second entry point leads to the northern end of the beach. You will be able to find this entrance just after you get onto Chalk Sound Drive at the police station. From that point, drive 0.3 miles (0.5 km), which will take you to an open, unpaved parking area on your right. The beach will just be a short walk across the road and down a sandy path.
Good to know: A beach vacation with a toddler can take a lot more planning than usual. If this will be your first vacation with your kids, then checking out our vacations with toddlers and baby-friendly vacations pages can help you to get all the details in check.
No. You won’t have to pay to go to the beach at Sapodilla Bay.
Nope. There are two free parking lots on the northern and southern ends of Sapodilla Bay.
If you want to rent sunbeds, chairs, or umbrellas at Sapodilla Bay, that will come at an added cost. You will also want to bring enough cash for food and drinks if you plan on spending the day here. Food, drinks and water vendors are usually making the rounds on this beach. Just in case there aren’t any vendors on the particular day that you choose to go, you can bring your own snacks, drinks and anything else you would like to eat while there.
Before heading to Sapodilla Bay for a family beach day, keep in mind that there are no lifeguards on this beach. This may not be a deal breaker though, as the water on this beach tends to be calm on most days and it is also shallow.
Good to know: Keep in mind that there are no bathrooms or baby-changing areas on Sapodilla Beach. There are, however, some local businesses in this area that are usually quite accommodating to visitors when it comes to utilizing their facilities. If you’re spending the day here, especially with kids, you will definitely need sunscreen. Apply as often as needed, especially when going in and out of the water.
Based on reviews and word of mouth, Sapodilla Bay is definitely one of the most popular beaches in Turks & Caicos. With soft white sand, clear water, and amazing views, the entire family can relax and enjoy the beautiful Turks & Caicos sunshine during a visit to this amazing beach.
If you haven't already, the first step to planning your Turks & Caicos vacation and a visit to Sapodilla Beach is deciding when to go. Once you've done that, you can book flights, as well as your accommodation. For family vacations in the Caribbean, all-inclusive resorts are a great idea as they take away some of the stresses that can come with traveling with kids. Relax and let the kids enjoy the entertainment at Beaches Resorts in Turks & Caicos which not only has kids camps, but its own waterpark! This resort is perfect for families who want luxury, excitement, and overall just amazing experiences as part of their vacation in the islands.
Expert tip: Turks & Caicos water park at Beaches Resorts is one of the best Turks & Caicos kids adventures around. If you will soon be heading to this territory for a vacation, be sure to take a look at our Turks & Caicos packing list which can help ensure you’re well prepared for all of your island tours and adventures.