The calm and shallow waters of the south side of Providenciales not far from Harbour Club Villas
South side flats
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Category Archives: Beaches
Turtles
My tucked away little beach found by a few lucky visitors
Late yesterday afternoon, we went down to a lovely beach not far from Harbour Club Villas. We were there with only one other couple…………..they must have been honeymooners as they had carved a heart in the sand.
Honeymooners leave a heart with their names and footprints in the sand
There was great excitement as Marilyn saw something in the water…………I knew immediately that the turtles were out! Previous guests at our villas had sighted dozens….yes dozens of turtles here. I had even taken a trip out to see for myself but hadn’t sighted any. There was at least three turtles this time and their heads popped up over and over again as we sat enthralled watching them. I waded out into the water and managed to get these photos of them.
I managed to catch this photo of one of the turtles as I waited patiently in the water for them to come up for air.
Another turtle pops his head up, saw me and went back under.
There has been numerous sightings of turtles here at this beach during the last month. I’m not sure why there would be so many of them and in the shallow waters of the south side of Provo close by our villas. I’ve mentioned it to a few people but no one seems to know.
I love seeing turtles and hope you do too on your next trip to our “beautiful by nature” Turks and Caicos Islands
Marta
Blue Hills
I love Blue Hills and these colourful kiosks right on the water.
Friends from Banff arrived yesterday and today I took them into my favourite area of Blue Hills. We stopped for a drink at Sailing Paradise which is located in these brightly coloured kiosks on the water. What a feast for the eyes……….colours of pink, aqua, blue and orange plus the sunshine cutouts with a turquoise ocean backdrop.
Great deck overlooking the water out at Blue Hills.
Visit Precious Barber Shop or stop for a bite to eat at Sailing Paradise in Blue Hills
Conch Shell
These two young local boys in Blue Hills were showing off a beautiful conch shell that they wanted to sell.
Blue Hills is another of my favourite areas where there’s always something great to photograph. These guys were on the beach by Da Conch Shack selling conch shells that they had cleaned.
Marta
Sapodilla rock carvings #2
View of boats at anchor at Sapodilla Bay from the top of the hill
A great view point to watch the sun go down and look for the Green Flash…………the top of the hill has scattered rock carvings with names and dates. They say these carvings were left by sailors on watch.
This carving bears the name S Thompson 1874 and shows the Masonic symbol
This is quite an elaborate carving with Palestine at the top and the name R N Bacon.
Inscription dated 1812 and 1821
This one's from 1832
Here's what Sapodilla Bay looks like from where the carvings are
Be sure to visit Sapodilla Hill to see these carvings and enjoy the view when you visit us on Providenciales.
Sapodilla Hill Rock Carvings
Here's the trail leading up Signal Hill to where the carvings are found
On the way out to South Dock and just past the Chalk Sound turn off, you’ll find a rough dirt road that ends at the old Mariner Hotel. Park beside the link fence at about a third of the way to the old hotel and look to the right…..you should see the trail head.
At the top of Signal Hill look down in the rocks and you'll find the carvings
There are many names and dates carved into the rocks supposedly by shipwrecked sailors in days gone by. The inscriptions are quite old and you can clearly make out names such as Balfour and Harriott along with dates.
This appears to be the earliest date 1767
One of the inscriptions could be attributed to a 19th-century official: W.R. Inglis, second President of the Turks & Caicos (1854-1862).
Inscription by W.R. Inglis around 1854-1862
I want to post more photos of the inscriptions and will do that tomorrow. The view is magnificent from the top of Sapodilla and well worth a trip to see these old carvings.
Marta
Old Tiki Huts at Malcolm Roads
Old photo taken in 2002 of the tiki huts and dive boat out at Malcolm Roads beach
Years ago, Malcolm Roads was only accessible with a 4×4 jeep type vehicle and the hill was soooooo intimidating, pitted and huge ruts towards the bottom. It was always worth it as at the end of the road was a simply breathtaking stretch of beach with the tiki huts. We used to do our ladies beach day down there with not another soul around. I thought some of you might like to see my old photos of the tiki huts and beach.
White, powdery sand beach and always the amazing colours of blue and turquoise
When we first came to Providenciales, the tiki huts were still useable for some shade but began to drastically deteriorate. They were originally built for a French game show that took place on that beach around 1992.
It's a real shame that this beautiful area was not protected for future generations. It is now the site of an exclusive hotel.
Dive boats would spend their intervals pulled up fairly close to shore
Those were the days.......exotic, remote......a piece of paradise.
Hope you enjoyed my old photos of the tiki huts at Malcolm Roads. A bit of history that many of us fondly remember.
Marta
Beach Wedding
Shelley and Shandi stop for some photos outside their villa at Harbour Club
What a day for a beach wedding……..Monday, April 20th…..glorious sunshine and the wind lay down a little as Shelley and Shandi headed off in their jeep to Malcolm Road’s beach. Shelley was a beautiful bride dressed in a gorgeous green lace wedding gown with a spray of lilies and orchids that matched her dress exactly. Shandi with his quiet smile didn’t seem to be too nervous!!!!!
Shelley and Shandi married yesterday on the beach at Malcolm Roads
Malcolm Road’s beach was deserted and picture perfect for their special wedding ceremony performed by Pastor Coleby of the Healing Waters Ministry.
Yeah!!!!!!!! We did it..........Just Married
Malcolm Road’s beach isn’t your usual wedding beach but Shelley and Shandi simply couldn’t get over the spectacular beauty of this area. The rocks reminded Shelley of her PEI (that’s Canada folks ) roots.
One of my favourite photos of the newly weds.........Yes, they both went right into the warm waters at sunset.
The happy couple went right into the water ………they had warned the photographers that this is what they wanted to do.
Congratulations to Shelley and Shandi on their marriage here on our beautiful island of Providenciales.
If you want a quiet, intimate island wedding and honeymoon, our six villa complex is perfect for smaller group occasions. Just contact me for information on having your wedding here on Provo. We’ll help you plan your very special wedding day.
See you in the islands!
Marta
Providenciales south side
Late afternoon, low tide and a few dark rain clouds create a picturesque view of the south side shallow flats of Providenciales
Come and see us at Harbour Club Villas ……. the south side of Provo where we are is tranquil and beautiful. Shallow flats and a favourite for our bone fishermen.
Marta
Hawksbill Turtle
In years gone by, the beautiful richly brown and mottled shell of the Hawksbill turtle’s shell was prized for tortoiseshell used for decorative purposes.
The Hawksbill turtle is easy to identify as it has a very distinctive sharp curving beak much like a hawk. The boney plates of the shell are streaked with amber, yellow and brown.
To the Taino Indians in the Turks and Caicos Islands, turtles were an important food item. Nowadays turtles are more often promoted as a tourist attraction.
The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands has adopted new conservation plans for sea turtles that will protect mature adults so they can breed, and reverse population declines.
Restrictions have been put into place and it is illegal for fishermen to kill turtles with shells over 60 cm or under 45 cm.
The distinctive “hawk” like beak of the Hawksbill turtle
In some countries the shell is still used to make hair ornaments, jewelry, and other decorative items and therefore they are on the critically endangered list.
Look at the wonderful colours in the shell of the Hawksbill turtle
Look for the Hawksbill turtle as you snorkel the coral reefs and waters of the Turks and Caicos on your next island vacation.
Marta