Jim Hill Nature Walk

Posted on January 29, 2016 by marta

Jim Hill view towards Five Cays…….such calm turquoise waters today.

What an awesome day it was today. One look at that turquoise, flat calm water and a quick trip up Jim Hill ended up being a good two hours. There was an abundance of glorious wild flowers in full bloom after the rains of last week. The Turks and Caicos Islands are blessed with so much natural beauty.

The wispy, dried and twig like Broom Brush has undergone a transformation and now has white delicate flowers.

Most of the year, the Broom Brush goes un noticed as it looks withered and dry most of the time. The rains of last week created the greening of the branches and an abundance of delicate white flowers. The Broom Brush is endemic to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas.

Jacquemontia Havanensis is a twining vine and the flowers on this one had pretty pink highlights.

Many of the shrubs were covered with this little vine with star shaped flowers. Many were white but there are variations with pink and light blue colours.

I love the scent of the Bahama Strong Back which is similar to jasmine.

This shrub provides food for birds and insects and the fragrant flowers are a source of nectar for butterflies and the Bahama Woodstar Hummingbirds found in the Turks and Caicos. And when you boil the twigs and leaves making it into a tea, it relieves back pain and has medicinal properties. I’ve heard it is good for tummy problems too.

This Old Man Cactus is about to burst out with a beautiful flower……..it generally blooms at night.

Blooms are extraordinary…….satin like and with a cloying scent.

The Old Man Cactus flower is attractive to insects and butterflies and its bright red fruit is loved by our local birds.

The Wild Senna has beautiful bright yellow flowers.

The Candlewood when not flowering looks like a miniature holly bush.

The Candlewood has bright spikey orange flowers with four longer stems that look like candles, thus the name.

Encyclia Altissima, our beautiful wild orchid

I don’t know what this is but it was a pretty little daisy like weed.

Just love this one with its delicate seeds and turquoise sea background.

Sea Sage has to be one of my favourites with its multi pink and yellow cluster flowers.

Heading down Jim Hill towards the marina and Harbour Club Villas.

How I love the Wild Passionflower vine and this one was in full bloom….. check out the little caterpillar.

A little snail on the Sea Grape bush.

Pretty butterfly hovers above the passion vine.

The lovely Melochia with its’ pinkish purple flowers

A beautiful day, a wonderful photographic excursion to enjoy our local wildflowers.

Look around you as you enjoy our beautiful by nature islands.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Trip Advisor Hall of Fame

Posted on May 23, 2015 by marta

CONGRATULATIONS……….FIVE-TIME WINNER OF THE CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE

We are thrilled to announce that Harbour Club Villas and Marina have been recognized as a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence HALL OF FAME WINNER.

The ‘Hall of Fame’ was created to honour those businesses that have earned a Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years. The Certificate of Excellence award celebrates excellence in hospitality and puts a spotlight on those that consistently deliver an exceptional service to their customers. It is given only to establishments that achieve great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor.

Currently we are #4 of 44 hotels on Trip Advisor! For a small vacation complex like ours, this is a major achievement and all our thanks go to our travelers for sending in their reviews.

Six, one bedroom cottages at the edge of Flamingo Lake……..great accommodation for couples, families and groups.

Specializing in couples and small groups, we can accommodate from 2 to 24 guests in our unique and very beautiful accommodation on the south side. We have affordable and highly competitive prices. all villas are available to rent either individually or as a collective group and if required, we’ll rent on an exclusive basis to ensure your family or friends have a very memorable stay.

It is our genuine intention that guests arrive as guests and leave as our friends.

A unique location between the lake and our own private Marina with a channel out to Cooper Jack Bay

Here’s what some of our guests have said……….

Nannie says “Hidden from the rest of the tourists, you have your own island retreat, surrounded by the most incredible gardens and water vistas. Your villa has just enough amenities so as to not interrupt its relaxed and soothing island oasis vibe! Truly my new favorite spot on the globe.”

Hummingbirds, green herons, bananaquits, grey king birds and recently a yellow bellied sapsucker……all can be seen at the pool and grounds of Harbour Club Villas.

“There have been very few times in my life where words have failed me. This is one of those occasions! Barry and Marta, you two are such a find! I wish we were neighbors. The villa feels like home and we wanted for nothing during our all too short stay. I especially enjoyed your gardens, the hummingbirds and the blooming “old man.”

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com/ecotourism.htm

Ask Marta to show you the best spots to eat (my personal favorite is the Bay Bistro), or best isolated beaches where treasure may or may not be found…or WHERE TO FIND THE BONEFISH!!!!!!! ”

Rod and Kim Hamilton stayed at Harbour Club Villas to do some DIY bonefishing while writing their book.

“I can highly recommend. Marta and Barry are taking great care of us and if you can believe it, the bonefishing is at the end of their driveway. I can see bonefish tailing from my front window.”

Rod gives the Turks & Caicos a nine out of a possible ten “spousal rating”. Pick up and read his book DIY Bonefishing or ask me to read my personalized copy. By the way, my photos are in the book too!

http://www.bonefishing.tc/

Step out into the lake and be fishing in minutes………..yes the bonefish are just waiting for you.

“Ahhhh yes……..a do-it-yourself bonefish delight! While we were there in April, five of the six cottages housed some world class bonefish and fly experts! What a treat as that is what lured (hahahahaha) my husband and I to this cozy retreat.”

Craig says ” This was my third visit to Harbour Club and as usual our accommodations were immaculate. I am already planning a return visit next year to coincide with an early morning incoming tide. All in all, this is a great winter getaway spot, very “spouse friendly” and a good choice for DIY bonefishing when you don’t have all day to fish.”

A home away from home in lovely surroundings

“Staying on the south side of the island offers a much more immersed and laid back feel to your vacation. While Grace Bay may offer some of the amenities some people prefer, others may prefer a more quiet and secluded stay that isn’t always easy to find on the other side of the island. The Harbour Club Villas are very spacious, comfortable, with air conditioning. We loved walking down the hill to the marina to go sit on the dock in the morning, very beautiful.”

A short walk in the mornings and onto dive boats moored in the marina and close by………Aqua TCI is right on our docks.

“Our villa was large, airy and well appointed. Two of us are divers and had about a 2 minute walk to the dive boat. Marta and Barry are wonderful hosts and provided us with great tips about the island. We will return!”

Aqua TCI is moored on our docks and will show you our spectacular underwater reef life………..the clarity is unbelievable.

Connie ( a six time returning guest) writes”Through snorkeling and diving we saw over 60 varieties of fish and a number of larger sights such as reef sharks, nurse sharks, barracudas, southern stingrays, eagle rays, manta rays and green turtles. The highlight for us was five flying gunnards that we saw with Flamingo Divers at a site called Coney Island off West Caicos.”

Divers can sit and have breakfast overlooking Flamingo Lake before heading off to the dive sites.

“We loved our villa and our stay. The diving was terrific and the 2 minute walk to the Marina for 8:30 a.m. dives is the way to go!!!”

And, breakfast with a view too.

http://www.diving.tc/index.htm

Let us help you arrange your dream island wedding. Rent all our villas for your own exclusive use.

“My new husband and I, along with 17 of our family and friends stayed at Harbour Club Villas for a week. We got married on a beach in Provo (that Marta showed us) and had our reception at the villas. You will not find a nicer place to stay or have better hosts then Marta and Barry. The villas are very roomy, comfortable and clean. Your bed is made everyday and you get fresh towels. There are beach towels and beach chairs as well. Marta and Barry make you feel that they want to do whatever they can to make your stay the best it can be. We had our wedding reception there…we hired a caterer, decorated the bbq/eating area, had music and danced..it was the perfect setup. They did so much to help us with our wedding.”

http://www.cloudnine.tc/wedding.htm

Trip Advisor welcomes Harbour Club Villas to its’ Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame. This unique accolade is granted only to those businesses that have won the Certificate of Excellence for five years in a row.

A big thank you to all our visitors and guests who took time out to send in their reviews.

Marta and Barry

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Evening Stroll at Harbour Club Villas

Posted on March 25, 2015 by marta

Zenaida Dove perches on the back stone wall by the pool area at Harbour Club Villas

A beautiful, still and calm evening for a stroll around Harbour Club’s grounds and down to the Marina. An over abundance of opportunities as I wander around taking photos of the flowering plants, animals and sunset views. Here’s a selection and I hope you enjoy seeing them.

The pool at Harbour Club Villas in the late afternoon. Look at the flowering desert rose.

A perfect bridal bouquet of orange island honeysuckle favoured by the hummingbirds.

Pesky woodpecker that’s drilling holes in our coconut palms…….he’s a yellow bellied sapsucker.

Cankyberry, a species of nightshade found on our islands with its sharp prickles.

This little anole lizard was perched high on my frangipani licking I don’t know what off the budding flowers.

A bright yellow spiny orb weaver. Quite pretty really even though I don’t really like spiders.

Neighbours out for an evening sail coming in to the Marina at dusk.

This little anole was curious and posed for the camera.

The sunset glow of golden colours is so amazing looking towards Five Cays from Harbour Club Villas and Marina

Aqua TCI divers boat gently rides out the evening in the Marina, ready and waiting for another great dive day in the waters of Provo.

All this in a casual evening stroll around Harbour Club Villas and Marina. Love the peaceful quiet as the sun sets over our islands.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Bananaquits Bath Time

Posted on August 15, 2014 by marta

Bananaquit enjoying the water droplets.

Harbour Club Villas has quite a few birds now and this is an never ending source of photos for me. Another hot, sunny day on island and so I sprayed down our pepper and tomato plants. Within minutes all kinds of birds showed up to enjoy fluttering about in the droplets on the small palms and Washingtonians. They would fluff up their feathers to expose bare skin and rapidly flick their wings in the droplets collected on the fronds. Tough to try and get photos that are in focus because they were moving so fast. Here’s a selection of bananaquit photos.

A Washingtonian palm frond makes a perfect bird bath.

A lot of hopping about from frond to frond

Two little bananaquits enjoying a bath on a hot Provo day

Love this photo of a bananaquit on a palm frond

Fluttering wings picking up water droplets

A natural bird bath

Providenciales has numerous birds and the bananaquit is perhaps one of the more colourful small birds. I love to watch them especially around Harbour Club Villas pool area where many of our guests and bird watching guests can sit, enjoy and capture them in their photographs.

Call us for more information.

Marta

A New Look for Harbour Club Villas

Posted on July 8, 2014 by marta

Harbour Club Villas and Marina …… a beautiful location between Flamingo Lake and Cooper Jack Bay on Provo’s south shore.

Our six rental villas are in a beautiful, tranquil setting just perfect for a great vacation on Providenciales. Rent one villa or rent them all for your next group holiday or event such as a family wedding. We are only a five minute drive from Grace Bay beach too. We’ve been here for 15 years and know all the best spots, things to do and will send you to many amazing beaches to explore and enjoy.

We have recently given our villas a new look with bright Caribbean colours. Windows are screened and louvered so guests can enjoy the cooling tropical breezes. Let me show you through our villas.

Comfortable queen sized beds in our villas

Bright, open living rooms

Villas can sleep extra people on a sofa bed

Lots of couches and a dining room area overlooking the lake

Flat screened TV and a fully equipped kitchen

New colours of blue, green and yellow to brighten up the villas

High ceilings and a large living area for our guests comfort

Dining room table and seating for four and all with a view

Come and enjoy what we have to offer at Harbour Club Villas and Marina. We have six, one bedroom villas with fully equipped kitchens providing everything that you could wish for in lodging in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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

Birds at Harbour Club Villas

Posted on March 11, 2014 by marta

A beautiful Bahama Woodstar hummingbirds flies to the Dwarf Poinciana flowers for nectar.

Activity around the pool at Harbour Club Villas has been amazing. I sit there often trying to capture all our birds coming in to feed from the variety of flowering plants. Our villa guests too are taking photos of the Hummingbirds and Bananaquits that are always there twittering and flying from perch to perch. Our resident Green Heron often comes for drinks and preens himself by the pool. He’ll squawk at you if he doesn’t like you enjoying “his” private pool!! We have Mourning Doves that peck at the gravel under the neem trees at the top of the driveway. They must be finding food there and also seen this week was the Northern Mockingbird.

Pretty little bananaquit sitting in our Tamarind tree…see the fruit…….found in my favourite Worcestershire Sauce.

We see Mourning Doves every day pecking at something underneath the neem trees.

The Northern Mockingbird is locally called “Preacher Bird”

Our resident Green Heron preening and grooming by what he thinks is his own private swimming pool!

The Island Honeysuckle attracts many birds to our pool area at Harbour Club Villas.

My first sighting of a Cuban Crow in one of our Palm trees……uncommon to see on Provo and has a bizarre gobbling cackle which is how I tracked him down at the villas.

A baby Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher just learning to fly……….so cute!

The Gray Kingbird comes to the Turks and Caicos to breed in the summertime.

The American Kestrel known as Sparrowhawk is commonly seen here year round.

The Yellow Warbler male has reddish brown streaks and lives and breeds in the Turks and Caicos year round.

And just because I love them so much, another photo of the Bahama Woodstar hummingbird that guests can watch daily by the pool at Harbour Club Villas.

Birdwatchers have so many birds they can see when on holiday and staying at Harbour Club Villas. The surrounding area has other water birds as well so have those cameras ready!

Harbour Club Villas

Posted on February 9, 2014 by marta

Harbour Club Villas and Marina looking out over Flamingo Lake

The six villas at Harbour Club make for a charming vacation hideaway that’s a little removed from the hustle and bustle of Grace Bay but still within a five minute drive.

View from Jim Hill looking over Flamingo Lake towards Harbour Club Villas

We have made a name for ourselves marketing the natural beauty and tranquility of the southern shores of Providenciales where the villas are located. Our guests are drawn towards quiet enjoyment of the natural beauty that surrounds us. We have guests coming for the excellent “catch and release” bonefishing in Flamingo Lake and Turtle Lake and the nearby ocean flats, scuba divers that return year after year and leave from our marina docks, birders, photographers and birdwatchers that enjoy the water birds, flamingos, egrets, herons, ospreys that are in our area and kayakers that love to explore the Cooper Jack shoreline and Delou’s beaches.

Six, one bedroom villas with fully equipped kitchens for your vacation rental on Provo’s south shores.

The villas were built in 1998 on the southern shore of Providenciales and comprise six, one bedroom villas, a pool and gazebo, a private marina with several dive companies close by including Flamingo Divers, Caicos Adventures,Ocean Vibes, Provo Turtle Divers and Provo’s newest addition, Aqua TCI. Here’s some photos of Harbour Club Villas and Marina on the south shore of Providenciales.

Gazebo with pool for just lazing around and relaxing.

The Marina at Harbour Club Villas from where several dive companies leave in the mornings for the dive sites at West Caicos and French Cay.

Contact Harbour Club Villas for all your diving needs, dive packages with several dive companies operating out of the marina just a short walk away from the villas.

Bonefishing just steps away in Flamingo Lake right infront of the villas.

The villas are located very close to two bonefishing lakes and flats about a mile down the road. Grab your rod and fish whenever you want to. If you don’t fish, no worries as we are always happy to share our knowledge of this beautiful island paradise especially all our great beaches.

Villa with gazebo and pool with a barbecue/grill for guests to use.

Stone walkways and tropical vegetation.

Poolside ………. relax and read a book and catch some sunshine.

Sheltered gazebo where guests can barbecue and have a drink or two.

Entrance to the pool at Harbour Club Villas

Flamingos in front of the villas in Flamingo Lake…a great spot for other water birds too

Breakfast on your own private patio with lake views

Freshly roasted island coffee for breakfast with a view

Villas are spacious with high ceilings and louvered and screened windows that look out over the lake. Bedrooms are air conditioned with a queen sized bed. The living room has a queen sofa bed onto which we place a proper queen sized mattress to make it as comfortable as a regular bed. The villa dining area has seating for four, counter top bar separating living room from a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom with walk-in shower, flat screened cable TV and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Each villa has its own patio area with table and chairs overlooking the lake. We also provide guests with beach chairs, coolers plus lots of pocket novels as well as local books with island type information.

Spacious bedroom with queen sized bed

Bathroom with walk in shower, towels and beach towels provided.

Louvered and screened windows, ceiling fan and airconditioning.

Comfortable couches and ample space throughout Harbour Clubs villas

Flat screened TV’s for our guests viewing pleasure and a fully equipped kitchen

Flat screen TV with counter/bar and complimentary WiFi throughout villas and grounds

Comfortable living area with dining table and chairs with views of the lake

The lake is right outside your villa..great for bonefishing

A sofa bed can be pulled out for additional guests or for group bookings such as weddings.

Sofa beds can be made up with a regular queen mattress on top to make it more comfortable

Villas are all spacious with ample room and with fans throughout.

Open and airy with louvered and screened windows to catch the breezes

Room for additional guests with the sofa bed pulled out

Queen mattress is placed onto the sofa bed to make it as comfortable as a regular bed.

Extra bed in the nook by the windows for additional guests

Sofa beds are as comfortable with added queen mattresses

Ample room for a sitting area when the sofa bed is in use.

Flamingo Lake and Harbour Club Villas in the distance.

Bonefishermen love fishing the lake in front of the villas.

Harbour Club entrance sign with bonefisherman.

Marina view towards Coper Jack on the south side of Providenciales.

View from Jim Hill a short walk away that overlooks Five Cays and the marina entrance.

The sun sets and the reflections on the lake waters are stunning.

Six, one bedroom villas ……….rent one or rent them all for your next family occasion such as weddings.

Villas can be rented seperately or you might consider several villas for a family occasion such as weddings, reunions, anniversaries or birthdays.

Many weddings have selected the villas as their home away from home.

A beautiful night for a wedding reception at Harbour Club.

Mirror calm reflections on Flamingo Lake right by Harbour Club Villas.

One bedroom villas fully self contained for your vacation on Provo.

Harbour Club Villas welcomes any and all inquiries. We hope to see you soon in our beautiful islands of the Turks and Caicos.

Marta

www.harbourclubvillas.com

Harbour Club Villas and Marina

Posted on January 12, 2014 by marta

Our little piece of paradise overlooking Flamingo Lake and our Marina at Cooper Jack.

Harbour Club Villas and Marina……a gem of a place on the South Side of Provo with Flamingo Lake on one side and our Marina leading out to beautiful Cooper Jack Bay on the other. It’s a new year and past time to tell you a little about our piece of paradise, our location, surrounding area and all the beautiful out of the way spots and things you will find when staying with us.

A kite cam view of our six rental villas. Thank you to our neighbors Polly and Byron for this sensational photo.

Fifteen years ago, we built six , one bedroom villas overlooking the lake on 2.2 acres in an area that is called Turtle Tail. It is a unique place to call home while visiting Providenciales. A place where you can look out sometimes and see bonefish tailing, watch the hummingbirds, doves, bananaquits and a green heron or two that drops by the pool daily for a drink and squawks at you if you intrude on his space. A walk down into the marina and you are greeted by our neighbour’s two potcakes, Effie and Gemma who love coming by for threats from our guests. Can you believe that our guests actually bring treats, and premium cuts of meat with them to feed these two dogs?

A perfectly still, calm day….we call it a French Cay day.

Take out our complimentary kayaks and spend a few hours paddling close to the shore in a foot or two of water exploring the hidden coves, Delou’s beaches and even some of the small cays to see the iguanas and snorkel.

A bird’s eye view of the lake, villas, marina and channel out to Cooper Jack Bight

Delou’s beaches across the channel and accessible by our complimentary kayaks

Many of our guests take out the kayaks and explore the shoreline…..beautiful little coves and tidal beaches, some coral heads to snorkel and some of the little cays have green iguanas. A delightful way to spend an afternoon on a beach just made for two.

Out kayaking making for one of the cays.

Visit one of the little cays with the kayaks and see our local iguanas.

One of the tiny tidal coves along the shore line

Kayak on Delou’s beach and Cooper Jack Bight

We have scuba dive boats just waiting to take you out to West Caicos or French Cay

Walk down to the Marina in the evenings and here’s where you will find all the dive operators….Flamingo Divers, Ocean Vibes, Caicos Adventures, Provo Turtle Divers and Jodi, the Snuba lady too. Our marina is the shortest distance to the amazing dive sites at West Caicos and French Cay. We’ll help you book some scuba diving, snorkeling or snuba so just let us know what you’d like to see and do.

Here’s Snuba TCI heading off for a wonderful day of snuba and snorkeling.

I’ve spent many hours on this small beach.

We have gorgeous sunsets which you can enjoy from the Marina

Flamingo Lake and one of our guests bonefishing

Bonefishermen love staying at our villas. All they have to do is walk out their villa door and be bonefishing in the lake within minutes. Sometimes you can even see the bonefish tailing from the villas. There are several areas where you can wade the flats too.

Bonefish churning up the lake waters at sunset.

Reflections on Flamingo Lake right by our villas.

Sunset and a flamingo on Flamingo Lake with Harbour Club Villas in the background.

A beautiful early morning calmness on the lake.

A Reddish Eagret looking for fish in Flamingo Lake.

Birdwatchers, birders and wild life lovers will enjoy watching the many water birds that fly in to enjoy the lake. As you walk from Harbour Club Villas along the Lake and Juba Salina, you’ll see all kinds of Herons, ducks and even flamingos.

Often we see small groups of Flamingos

Taking a look at the beautiful fishing flat close to Harbour Club Villas

Bonefishing on the flats of the south side of Provo.

Juba Salina is further down Turtle Tail and often you’ll see flamingos down this way.

Marta’s little beach or Dog beach at sunset….it’s tucked away so you’ll have to ask me where it is!!

This celebrity’s mansion overlooks the waters of the south side just down the road from the villas.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these photos of the south shore line close by Harbour Club Villas. It’s a wondrous area that’s quiet and tranquil, great for fishing, bonefishing, kayaking, walking and bird watching. For those that want to scuba dive, we are available to make the arrangements for you. Come and enjoy our piece of paradise……..the south side of Provo.

Marta

www.harbourclubvillas.com

Pintails on Flamingo Lake

Posted on January 3, 2014 by marta

Sunset over Flamingo Lake and three pintails

: The sun was setting as the ducks swam in the lake.

: Beautiful White-Cheeked Pintails swimming and feeding on Flamingo Lake

: A beautiful evening for a cruise on Flamingo Lake by Harbour Club Villas

Evenings at the lake by Harbour Club Villas brings out all kinds of water birds. This evening, three pintails enjoyed their cruise on the lake.

Marta

MyTurksAndCaicosBlog.com

Turks and Caicos Vacation, Travel, Fishing, and Diving

Tag Archives: Harbour Club Villas

Jim Hill Nature Walk

Trip Advisor Hall of Fame

Evening Stroll at Harbour Club Villas

Bananaquits Bath Time

A New Look for Harbour Club Villas

Southern Shores

Birds at Harbour Club Villas

Harbour Club Villas

Harbour Club Villas and Marina

Pintails on Flamingo Lake