Taylor Bay….perfect for kids, weddings and sunsets

Posted on January 13, 2020 by marta

Lazing in the shallows of stunning Taylor Bay

Taylor Bay is a shallow bay that ripples and sparkles as the out going tide forms sand bars. It’s a perfect setting for a late afternoon wedding with a few dark clouds looming as our bride and groom pose for wedding photos.

The bride and groom had eyes only for each other. Lori looked stunning in a beautiful lace, tea length dress as her handsome groom Dan looked lovingly into her eyes.

Lori and Dan throw petals into the water just as the sun sets over Turtle Rock.

Gentle waves lapping the shoreline at Taylor Bay

Kids love to play in the shallow waters of the bay.

Splashing is part of the fun for this little guy

Playtime at the edge of the water in the late afternoon.

Just sitting and enjoying the soft sand and clear shallow waters.

Tides out leaving behind an upside down jelly.

Walking out for a long ways before it gets deeper.

The tide comes rippling in as the sun shines on the water creating patterns of light.

You can see how far out the people are and still in less than waist deep water.

Dreaming on a sand bar in Taylor Bay

Taylor Bay sunsets are simply the best

New Year 2020

Posted on January 1, 2020 by marta

Grace Bay Beach on Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands — It’s New Year’s Day and what a way to start the new year.
Heading to Grace Bay beach. Come join us.

Salt Cay As Beautiful As Ever

Posted on April 19, 2018 by marta

Blackbeard’s our favourite home away from home

Two trips to Salt Cay recently, one in January for birthday celebrations with my sisters and the second, just to get away and enjoy a slower pace. The hurricanes greatly impacted this little island and the destruction caused was beyond belief.

I don’t want to dwell on the many issues the island is facing or the negatives. My aim in this blog is to show you the charm and beauty of Salt Cay today. In a later blog, I will show you and cover the historical side.

The donkeys were wandering in small groups and posed picturesquely in front of this house.

The White House, a beautiful Bermudian house with stone roof that sustained damages from Hurricane Irma.

The White House, built in the Bermudian style has a limestone roof and overlooks the salt ponds. Salt storage was at ground level and the family lived on the top level. The owner – a 4th generation Harriott, is repairing the building; mostly water damage from leaking roof. He said that experts from Bermuda were coming to help repair the roof.

The Coral Reef Bar and Grill is a real meeting spot for everyone.

We used to be able to walk along the side sea wall but no longer as it collapsed during the strong seas and pounding of the waves. The sand is now filling in the harbour so that where there once used to be water, it’s now all silted in. Debbie had to watch the front of Coral Reef Bar and Grill be washed away from the horrific storm. She has lost part of her restaurant …. the deck is gone and the erosion has been very extensive.

Salt Cay Divers boat ready to take us out whale watching and YES, we saw a mother and her calf.

Pristine North Beach with view towards Grand Turk and cruise ship.

Footprints in the sand and not another soul in sight.

Love the sea glass and so many shells.

Early morning coming up over the salt pans as I walk with my camera. A donkey walks past me along Victoria Street.

North Creek in the early morning

Bermudian kitchen at Government House

Walking along the Folly as the sun rises creating reflections of the White House in the salt ponds

I spotted a lone flamingo in the salt pond

View from the Folly across the salt ponds towards Victoria Street

Here’s the White House from Dunscombe Point and what used to be the island’s swimming hole

An endangered iguana suns himself on the walls of the old cemetary

Field of ancient Turks Head cactus on Cotton Cay just off Salt Cay Turks and Caicos Islands

A great way to get around by bicycle.

So tough to get up on those gangly legs!

What a beautiful morning on Salt Cay

The church is gone, crumbled by the hurricanes but the view still takes my breath away

Can’t get enough of those donkeys!

Some wonderful snorkeling just off the beach.

My trips to Salt Cay have been many over the years. These two trips will stand out in my memory. The first trip in January was filled with nostalgia as I remembered the way Salt Cay was pre Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The second trip in April was all and more than I expected…….the resilience of the people as they picked up the pieces and got on with what life had dealt them.

Still a long ways to go but I’LL BE BACK for your special brand of sunshine.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Turks and Caicos Islands….Open for Business

Posted on March 30, 2018 by marta

Harbour Club Villas and Marina has a new look with new, white metal roofs…….Yes we are open for business after Hurricane Irma.

Yes, we can now say that we survived a Category 5 Hurricane!

It has been a chaotic and traumatic time for all of us here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. We were hit hard with damages especially to all the roofs. Our red tiled roofs are no longer, ripped off by the horrific force of the winds and left in piles after Hurricane Irma.

Now some 50 days after, we have new white metal roofs and clean up is almost complete. The Turks and Caicos Islands are open for business and better than ever…….restaurants are opening, dive boats are back in the water, snorkeling is great and we’ve seen so many turtles and our bonefishermen are back in the lake and on the flats, excursions and more.

Red tiles are no longer but fresh looking, white roofs

Grace Bay Beach at the Bight Reef is as beautiful as ever so book your vacations now. This was taken a few days ago

Our beaches are all as stunning as ever with the prettiest sparkling water you’ll ever see. All my photos have been taken recently and quite honestly, if you want beaches that have few people on them, now’s the time to come. We are waiting for you so head down for some fun in the sun and on the beach.

Our first flower appears after the wrath and devastation of Irma and it was so beautiful to see.

A rippling effect as the sunlight plays on the waters of Grace Bay

Young flamingos were sighted in Flamingo Lake close by the villas at Harbour Club

A spectacular sunset over Flamingo Lake

Stark silhouette of leafless trees that were stripped by Hurricane Irma

Footprints in the sand along the edge of the water on Grace Bay

A little hummingbird sits on a rope left over from tying our trees together for strength against the hurricane……..so where do they go during hurricanes?

Not ready for scuba diving……call Jodi at Snuba TCI.

Peaceful and serene on the south side of Provo where our villas are located.

Dive operators are ready to take you out for some scuba diving.

There’s some great diving waiting for you…….four of the island’s dive operators leave from the marina at Harbour Club or close by: AquaTCI, Flamingo Divers, Provo Turtle Divers and Caicos Adventures. Give them and us a call for all your diving needs………grab your buddy and come on down.

Snorkeling Smith’s Reef after the hurricane…..so many juvenile hawksbill and green turtles were sighted.

The Bight Reef on a clear day recently…still debris lying on the bottom but thankfully the reef looks really good.

Sailing along Grace Bay with the Atabeyra just this past week

There’s many water based excursions you can choose and one of the best is sailing on the Atabeyra……….so relaxing, do a snorkel or a sunset cruise and watch that rum punch!!!

Here’s my version of “Fall” colours on Provo !

Bonefishing in Flamingo Lake and yes, we saw fishermen last week.

Provo Ponies is ready to take you for a leisurely ride on Long Bay beach

This could be you in one of these lounge chairs?

Those adorable potcakes…….so many of them waiting for good forever homes.

Forever shades of blue and turquoise.

The Turks and Caicos Islands are open for business after the hurricanes and we invite you to join us. We want to show you our special “beautiful by nature” islands and friendly welcoming people.

Hope to see you all very soon.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Summertime Beaches

Posted on July 5, 2015 by marta

Southwest tip of our island on a summer’s day……..perfection

Summertime on Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands brings a laid back, lazy and dreamy time. Much too hot to do anything BUT head to the beach. And those beaches are all beyond belief…………on some of them, there’s not another soul. All that splendor to enjoy for yourself. We call it “silly season” and it’s a time when many leave the island and the beaches are empty but heavenly.

Late afternoon and a lone figure way out on a sandbar………it doesn’t get any better than this!

Summer storm passing on through and what intense colours.

These three ladies have their cooler and glasses of wine……..what could be more perfect?

Thatch beach umbrella and chairs just waiting to be filled.

A little girl enjoying playing on the beach.

Late afternoon as the sun casts a pinkish glow and a lone SUP-er heads home.

Pretty spectacular

Ahhhh Sapodilla Bay and it’s shallow waters………little kids just love this beach

Lace fringed ocean on a flat calm day.

Look at that water with nothing better to do than float around on Grace Bay

The end of a beautiful day with cocktails in the water.

Summertime is the best time………..quiet beaches all to yourself, swimming in perfect island waters, snorkeling the reefs and just enjoying life at a much slower snail’s pace.

Stay with us at Harbour Club Villas and Marina and we’ll tell you all our secrets and best hideaway spots on the variety of breathtaking beaches.

See you on the beach…….somewhere?

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Provo Beach Tour

Posted on March 4, 2015 by marta

Taylor Bay with its shallow , clear waters and a delight of every child.

Babalua beach, a lesser know piece of gorgeous beach just made for Harbour Club Villas guests.

Just across the channel coming into Harbour Club’s Marina are the little Cooper Jack Beaches that are just perfect to while away an afternoon

Stunning Leeward beach……don’t forget your camera as the colours here are always amazing.

Kite boarders and horseback riding on Long Bay beach……….great to watch them.

Malcolm Roads beach with its lovely beach but it takes a little bit of a walk.

Sapodilla Bay beach on a lazy afternoon just floating away all your cares.

Favourite Southside Beaches

Posted on December 5, 2014 by marta

Delou’s beach also known as Cooper Jack beaches at the entrance channel to Harbour Club Villas and Marina

Explore with me some of our shoreline where you’ll find some out of the way gems of beaches that many of our visitors miss. Here are some of my favourites and each one has something special to offer.

You can kayak out the marina channel and follow the shoreline to this little beach.

“My beach” also known locally as “Dog beach”

Sunset and shallow waters, pretty idyllic for an evening swim.

Tidal beaches and lovely waters with stone animal carvings on the hillside above.

We’ve spent many hours on this beach and had it all to ourselves every time.

Beautiful Bonefish Point and the shallow sandbar stretching out into the waters.

Anchored out off the sandbar is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Sapodilla Bay is a perfect spot to while away some time especially with little ones.

Sapodilla Bay is an anchorage for visiting boats.

South West Harbour Bluff by the pirates cove has a lovely beach and you can walk for miles down to Bonefish Point.

Lounging in the shallow waters looking towards the pirate’s cave and Osprey Rock just around the corner.

Take a walk along Taylor Bay……..powdery soft sand.

Low tide and sandbars forming at Taylor Bay……take your kids here as they will love it.

Turquoise waters and white sand beaches of the Turks and Caicos Islands

It’s time to think about leaving winter behind and flying to the sunshine and warmth of our islands. Spectacular beaches await you, soft white sand and clear sparkling water.

See you soon and check out our villas for your next vacation ….. http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Southern Shores

Posted on March 31, 2014 by marta

A flat calm day on the south side of Providenciales and the entrance to the Marina at Harbour Club Villas.

Most of our island visitors miss the most beautiful and tranquil side of the island where you will find Harbour Club Villas and Marina. The shoreline is absolutely beautiful with waters that are shallow and numerous beaches where you can walk for a long ways out before it gets deep. This area off shore is called the Caicos Banks, the domain of the bonefish and flats as far as you can see. The ocean doesn’t get deeper than 15 to 20 feet and as you skim over the surface, you’ll see the bottom not too far below. Here are some of my favourite photos of the area known as Turtle Tail just by the villas at Harbour Club.

Fishing flats down on Turtle Tail about a mile from Harbour Club.

Wade the waters of Juba Salina in search of bonefish.

Views overlooking the turquoise waters of the South side of Provo

Tidal beaches on Cooper Jack Bight are within a kayak ride from Harbour Club’s villas.

Take a kayak out and explore the tidal beaches near the villas and just outside the Marina channel.

Turquoise blue waters that are crystal clear and shallow.

A lone fisherman motors home as the sun sets.

Hope to see you staying with us at Harbour Club Villas and Marina……we’ll show you our beautiful piece of paradise with numerous beaches and all kinds of sights to see. We’ll point you in the right direction.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Five Cays Bay and Bugaloos

Posted on February 6, 2014 by marta

I don’t think the view can get any better than this one

This spectacular view of the bay at Five Cays greets you as you find a seat at Bugaloos Conch Crawl. It truly is a remarkable and unforgettable place as you sit peacefully looking out at the shallow waters of the bay waiting for drinks and mouth watering, tasty conch dishes.

Sitting and soaking in the beauty while sipping on a beer.

Trees grow through holes carved in the wooden tables and provide shade from the hot sun.

Come, sit and stay awhile as you gaze out over the ocean. Watch the little waves come rippling in and sand bars forming as the tide goes out. Order conch any which way you want it….conch salad, fritters or cracked, fish and lobster too.

Our lunch arrives and we order another ice cold beer.

Bringing a load of conch from the pens out in the water.

I waded on out to see the conch being “knocked”.

Two beautiful conch shells which will be cleaned and then sold.

Two eyes and a mouth in between and there are males and females, I’m shown and told by a local expert.

The operculum or claw of the conch…..this is how they move.

The conch pistol is touted to be an aphrodisiac…………try it on your lunch or dinner stop at Bugaloos.

This guy would do anything for conch!!

Mounds of conch as the conch gets “knocked”.

Sweet little miss with a conch shell.

Beautiful pink conch shells ready for purchase.

Visit Bugaloos in Five Cays………….the conch tastes great!

Hope to see you at Bugaloo’s Conch Crawl when you head to Providenciales for your next holiday.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Half Moon Bay

Posted on January 27, 2014 by marta

This little guy popped his head up in Turtle Cove Marina before we were leaving.

A beautiful trip heading out from Turtle Cove Marina following the shore line towards Little Water Cay and the iguanas and on to Half Moon Bay. It’s a favourite stopping spot with a magnificent stretch of beach and of course that signature turquoise water.