Beachfront Villas in Turks and Caicos

Turks and Caicos is home to some of the finest beaches in the Caribbean, each with a distinct character. Some are sheltered and glassy, others shallow and breezy, a few almost entirely private.

Grace Bay, on Providenciales's north shore, is the islands' signature beach: a long arc of pale sand protected by a barrier reef, with water as calm as a lagoon. It is also where the island's best restaurants are, from Coco Bistro, set in a palm grove, to Grace's Cottage at Point Grace. At its eastern end, Leeward and the Emerald Point peninsula are quieter and more residential. On the south-east coast, Long Bay is shallow and steadily breezy, a favourite with kitesurfers and families with young children. Turtle Tail, on the south shore, is gated and secluded, looking out over the turquoise flats. Offshore, Parrot Cay is a private island in all but name, home to the COMO resort and a handful of extraordinary estates.

The season runs from December to April. For Christmas and Easter, the best beachfront houses on Grace Bay are typically secured a year ahead.