For much of the 20th century, Turks & Caicos was a sleepy corner of the Caribbean, known more for bonefishing flats and quiet villages than for high-end resorts. Tourism began to pick up in the late 1980s and 1990s as Grace Bay Beach became the centerpiece of development. Resorts such as Ocean Club, Beaches, and Seven Stars anchored its rise, transforming Providenciales from a virtually undiscovered island into a name on the global travel map. With its long sweep of white sand and clear turquoise water, Grace Bay was consistently ranked among the world’s best beaches, and for many years it defined the image of Turks & Caicos.
By the late 1990s, however, a new model of luxury was already beginning to emerge. In 1998, COMO Parrot Cay opened on its own private island, just a short boat ride from Provo. It was an early signal that travelers were seeking not only beach access but also seclusion, wellness, and exclusivity. Parrot Cay’s blend of spa culture, expansive grounds, and private villas marked a departure from the denser developments rising along Grace Bay.
The following two decades cemented Turks & Caicos’s reputation as an upscale, easy-to-navigate destination. Providenciales remained compact and approachable, appealing to families and couples alike, with good infrastructure and plentiful villa rentals. Yet even as the island became more popular, Grace Bay’s limitations grew more obvious: its hotels were aging, its crescent of sand became busier each high season, and its surrounding downtown became increasingly commercialized.
Visitors found themselves sharing space not only with other vacationers but also with the rising tide of shops, traffic, and tourist bustle that came with growth. And while the island has a handful of excellent local restaurants scattered around its fringes, dining options downtown remain oddly limited—making resorts with top-notch food and drinks all the more appealing.
That demand has fueled a new wave of properties beyond Grace Bay. In 2022, Rock House opened on Provo’s north coast, perched on dramatic limestone cliffs with a tucked-away beach and jetty. Its boutique scale and elevated design made it feel like a Mediterranean escape.
Two years later, in late 2024, The Strand debuted on Cooper Jack Bay, featuring a private stretch of dazzling shoreline, ultra-luxury residences, and a strong sustainability ethos, signaling the future of Turks & Caicos hospitality: fewer crowds and more privacy.
These resorts, including the long-established COMO Parrot Cay, which has long been a leader in holistic, sympathetic development around the local environment, illustrate a clear timeline of evolution—from sleepy backwater to Grace Bay boomtown to the latest era, where the most compelling places to stay are found off Grace Bay Beach.
The Strand Turks & Caicos
On Cooper Jack Bay, far from the bustle of Grace Bay, The Strand Turks & Caicos offers an entirely different perspective on the island. Part of the Leading Hotels of the World collection, its private stretch of beach glows with a milky-blue hue thanks to limestone particles. Villas and residences, maximizing ocean views with glass walls, terraces, and seamless indoor-outdoor living, hug the beach.
Anchored by its beach club—with a pool, cabanas, and The DelMar restaurant—The Strand delivers more than just views. The hillside kitchen, shaded by a living green roof, serves wood-fire grilled seafood and prime steaks accented with global flavors. In fact, the food here has quickly earned a reputation as outstanding, in part because it’s often locally sourced.
For example, the chef buys conch right off the beach from fishermen and serves it that same day. Thanks to this hyper-fresh approach, The Strand has become a destination dining spot in its own right, especially with the recent launch of an elevated, Latin-inspired tasting menu.
As for amenities, guests have access to tennis and pickleball courts, water sports, and a private marina with captained boats, alongside pools and spa services that keep it firmly in luxury territory.
The best part? You can enjoy the luxe experience guilt-free. The Strand has been carefully designed as a sustainable community. Energy comes primarily from solar panels paired with Tesla Powerwalls, while smart-home technology reduces energy consumption. Native landscaping, rainwater capture, and greywater recycling limit water use; light-colored exteriors cut cooling demand; and pollinator habitats are protected in partnership with a conservation nonprofit. Even transport is green, with electric carts charging throughout the property to take guests from pool to villa, as needed.
Rock House
Rock House, a member of Leading Hotels of the World, unfurls across 14 acres of the island’s north shore and fronts a private, tucked-away beach and jetty. Elevated as much as 95 feet above sea level, the property feels like a Mediterranean hillside escape while still being close to Providenciales’ top attractions.
The views here are cinematic, featuring infinity-edge perspectives that replace the crowds of Grace Bay with the tranquility of the horizon. In fact, Rock House purposefully channels the Amalfi Coast—from its cliffside setting and terraced design to the coastal Italian flavors and presentation of its food. Even colorful, hand-painted ceramic dinner plates offer a nod to Southern Italy, completing the transportive effect.
The resort offers 46 suites and villas, ranging from studios to multi-bedroom oceanfront homes, each with private terraces or plunge pools facing the ocean. Dining is a highlight: head to Vita Restaurant for elevated Italian-leaning flavors from pastas to grilled lobster, or nibble on small bites at the Cave Bar or Sunset Bar, both popular spots with locals and other travelers. A cliff-top infinity pool, cabanas, water sports gear, and fitness facilities complete the boutique-style amenities, with a spa debuting in the near future.
Sustainability runs through Rock House’s design. The designers incorporated native Turks & Caicos stone-clad facades and indigenous landscaping, either preserved or replanted, across the grounds. This kept the property sympathetic to the landscape so it blends in rather than stands out. Rainwater and greywater systems conserve resources while irrigating the gardens, while hot water on demand minimizes energy and water waste. The resort has mostly eliminated single-use plastics while encouraging guests to fill up their complimentary water bottles.
COMO Parrot Cay
COMO Parrot Cay just may be the ultimate holiday indulgence: a private island retreat with over a mile of soft white sand, lush coconut and banana groves, and preserved mangrove wetlands. The journey to the island sets the tone—guests are transferred by private boat and welcomed with a glass of champagne before setting off across turquoise waters.
COMO Parrot Cay stands as one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive addresses—and it’s no wonder that fashion icon Donna Karan has made a home here among the resort’s villas. The intimate, quiet, and private setting, paired with thoughtful design and beautiful structures, makes it the perfect creative and restorative hideaway.
Accommodations range from rooms and suites to beach houses, villas, and sprawling estates—many with private pools. The COMO Shambhala Retreat is a destination in itself, offering yoga, Pilates, outdoor treatment pavilions, and a serene spa recognized among the best in the Caribbean. Guests also have access to a modern fitness center, bikes to explore the island, and wellness programming that blends seamlessly into daily life.
Dining is refined but unpretentious: Lotus serves Southeast Asian-inspired dishes by the pool, Terrace leans Italian-Mediterranean, and the Beach Club offers fresh, healthy island fare.
Sustainability is built into island life. Food waste is composted into mulch for indigenous landscaping, crushed glass is reused in paths and construction, and eco-friendly materials define new builds. The island preserves large tracts of habitat rather than overdeveloping, supports local producers through sourcing, and maintains recycling and conservation programs to protect both its wetlands and surrounding marine environment. The property even boasts an on-site sustainability manager and marine biologist who tracks local ocean fauna.