The holiday capital of Turks & Caicos, Providenciales is the place for big beaches and luxurious family resorts. With three national parks, several marine and nature reserves, hectares of coast and a laid-back, beachy atmosphere it’s the perfect island for adventurous kids. Award winning dive schools teach children as young as six. Horse riding on the beach, dolphin spotting and snorkelling are much more fun than white-knuckle action. Kids can try all sorts of water sports for the first time in safe, calm waters. Then there are days out eco-touring, island hopping, caving, iguana watching and exploring – very little is off-limits to kids.

• Many family resorts have their own waterparks and a wide choice of kids-only activities.
• Providenciales is only 62km² but has everything from limestone cliffs to lagoons for adventuring around.
• The island’s main industry is tourism and high quality local operators offer everything from paddle boarding tours to boat charters.
• Providenciales International is Turks & Caicos’ main airport and where most visitors arrive.
• Don’t miss: Grace Bay, Cheshire Hall Cotton Plantation, Caicos Conch Farm (the only one in the world), Sapodilla Bay rock carvings and Iguana Island.

Protected by a barrier reef just over a kilometre offshore and covered in powdery fine seashell-sand, Grace Bay has been voted World’s Best Beach many times over. It’s on the north east coast of Providenciales, beautifully sheltered and stretches to between 5km and 12km (depending on which local you believe).

• Technically 5km long, Grace Bay seamlessly joins several other equally lovely beaches and covers about 12km in total.
• Part of the Princess Alexandra National Park.
• Not the island’s best snorkelling beach but great for water sports, sails to the reef and safe swimming.

The capital of Turks & Caicos is a mecca for divers and a brief stop for most Caribbean cruises. Apart from that small flurry of activity this is a gorgeously sleepy island known best for serene beaches, lovely Colonial architecture, free-roaming donkeys and Creole traditions.

• Best for experienced divers, young children and independent travelling families.
• Pretty 19^th century hotels, beachfront guesthouses and cute self-catering are Grand Turk specialities.
• Don’t miss: the Turks & Caicos National Museum, delightful Cockburn Town, Governor’s Beach, Gibbs Cay for the stingrays, North Creek marine reserve and Grand Turk lighthouse.
• Fantastic island for complete beginners to try reef diving.
• Winter whale spotting off the coast of Grand Turk is the best in the country.