Grace Bay Beach

Grace Bay is the reason most people choose Providenciales. The beach runs along the island's north shore in one long, gently curving band of fine white sand, and the water in front of it is protected by an offshore barrier reef, so it is usually calm, shallow near the shore and a shifting palette of pale green, turquoise and deep blue further out. The tourist board notes that it lies within Princess Alexandra National Park and that it has been named the world's best beach in Tripadvisor awards time and again. Most of the island's resorts, restaurants and shops are strung along the road behind it, but the beach itself is public, and you can walk a very long way between resorts without meeting a crowd. Rows of loungers belong to the hotels in front of them, yet the sand below the high-water line is open to everyone, and there are public access points between the properties. Snorkelers can find coral heads and sea fans a short swim from shore in places, while boat trips to the reef, to Iguana Island and to the sandbars leave from the same shoreline.

Why the water looks the way it does: the Caicos Banks are very shallow and very sandy, and the reef a little way offshore takes the sting out of the Atlantic swell. The result is a lagoon-like strip of water that suits swimming, paddleboarding and gentle snorkeling alike. Conditions change with the wind and season, though, and on days of strong swell or rough weather the reef edge is not a place to swim to on your own. Treat the red-flag guidance at hotels seriously, as most beaches here have no lifeguards.

Working the beach: the middle stretch near the main restaurant cluster is the busiest, with paddleboards, kayaks and boat pickups. Walk east or west for quieter sand. A morning walk is the best time for photographs and shells, before the sun is high, while late afternoon gives a warm light and a good chance of a sunset drink at one of the beach bars. Take plenty of sunscreen, a hat and water, because shade is limited away from resort umbrellas, and consider a reef-safe sunscreen to protect the coral just offshore.

Practicalities: the island is flat, so the beach is easy to walk, but the road behind it is long and hot, so many visitors take taxis between dinner spots. Beach vendors are few and polite. If you are not staying on the beach, pick a public access point and bring your own towel, and ask at any open-air restaurant whether you can use their loungers with a drink order. Keep valuables out of sight when you swim, and give nesting or resting wildlife space. Because this is the headline sight of the island, build your other days around the water and leave one flexible day purely for the sand.