It’s always been a rarefied, exclusive beach destination; and as more and more travelers seek seclusion and privacy amid the pandemic, the Turks and Caicos Islands is seeing a surge in villa rentals. 

And with top Caribbean villa destinations like St Barth currently closed (although that’s likely to change soon), travelers are increasingly looking to the luxurious sands of Providenciales. 

“A vacation in the Turks and Caicos islands is a great option right now, and renting a private villa is the ideal way to enjoy the destination and stay safe,” says Stiles Bennet, president of WIMCO Villas. “There are direct flights from many US hubs, everyone who visits is required to produce a negative test result so you know everyone on the plane recently tested negative, and there are very few cases on the island.”

Turks and Caicos officially reopened for tourism last July, and has undertaken what has been among the model tourism reopenings in the Caribbean. You can find more on the destination’s travel protocols here.

That’s come as more and more carriers increase their service to Provo’s airport, from American Airlines, which operates two flights a day from Miami to new flights on the way from New York.

“Most private villas are located along the 10 mile long Grace bay beach, and there is plenty of room along the beach to relax and be socially distant,” Bennet told Caribbean Journal. “The restaurants and waterfront bars are open air, and are open until 10 PM each night. For those that prefer not to dine out in public, it is easy to arrange grocery delivery, take out, or private chef services.”

And while Grace Bay Beach is Provo’s top draw, villa vacationers are finding stays across the island, from the tony Turtle Cove section of Provo to the

And then there’s Long Bay, home to Provo’s premier residential resort: The Shore Club on Long Bay Beach. 

The Shore Club has been popular for its villa-style units and its ultra-luxe standalone villas, with the latter among the most spectacular accommodations in Turks and Caicos. 

For travelers seeking even more seclusion, there are options on other islands in Turks and Caicios like the all-inclusive villas at the Ambergris Caye private-island resort and beach villas like those at the Sailrock Resort on the island of South Caicos. 

For more, visit WIMCO. 

— CJ