As a native New Yorker, my family often looked to the Caribbean for sunny getaways. Yet while I’d visited the Bahamas, I’d never made it to the neighboring islands of Turks and Caicos — about 28 miles southwest, in the Atlantic Ocean.
The small British Overseas Territory consists of more than 40 islands and cays, divided between Turks islands and the Caicos islands. The Turks islands, on the eastern side of the archipelago, include Grand Turk (site of the capital and the second most-populated island); while the Caicos islands include Providenciales — the most developed island, home to most of the country’s population as well as the airport, world-class beaches, luxury resorts and fine dining.
Much more remote and quiet, and far less commercial than the Bahamas, the area’s privacy and exclusiveness make it a popular destination for celebrities — and people including Oprah Winfrey, the Kardashians and Bruce Willis own property there, while Justin and Hailey Bieber, Drake and Beyoncé and Jay-Z are known to visit.
While only a three-and-a-half-hour direct flight from New York, Turks and Caicos requires a connecting flight from L.A. However, with the recent surge of development there (new hotels and residences from St. Regis, Andaz and more are in the works), some of the hotel staff hinted that direct flights from commercial and semi-private airlines may soon launch.
Many of the travel journalists who visit Turks and Caicos spend a week visiting several different islands (including some resorts on private islands), but since I could only get away for a few nights, my younger sister and I chose to stay at two popular destinations on Providenciales: Wymara and Amanyara.
Even before the plane landed, I was in awe of the distinctly turquoise water and blue skies I saw through the window. The fact that it was hurricane season in October meant the islands were less crowded (the busy season runs from Thanksgiving through August) — and despite one cloudy afternoon, we had consistent sun and warm 80-degree weather.
My sister had fond memories of visiting the boutique property now known as Wymara Resort + Villas about 10 years ago, when it was a Gansevoort hotel, so it was one of our picks. What makes this hotel rebranded in 2019 and owned by developer-local resident Bruce Maclaren so unique is the architecture. Upon entry, your eyeline goes right from the 7,000-square-foot infinity pool straight through to the iconic Grace Bay Beach on which the hotel sits (and of which, compared to other resorts, Wymara has a sizable strip).
Rated four stars by Forbes Travel Guide and Green Globe-certified, the oceanfront resort has 97 modern studios, suites and villas — with sleek white décor, Frette linens, Dyson hair dryers, kitchenettes and rain showers. We loved our spacious accommodations with beach views and nightly treats. Wellness fans can indulge in treatments with 111SKIN products at the spa or make use of the fully equipped gym and unlimited classes, from paddleboard yoga to sound bath meditation. Activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking and water sports are also offered, but we were perfectly happy swimming in the clear, clean water or lounging with our feet in the powder-soft white sand.
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The other thing that stood out about this hotel was the culinary offerings — helmed by Australian chef Andrew Mirosch since 2018 and centered on sustainable seafood and fresh produce. Wymara has several of Tripadvisor’s top-rated restaurants in Turks and Caicos. Indigo, which holds the No. 1 spot, serves elevated Caribbean fusion dishes, from mahi mahi to lobster, in an elegant setting — and we also visited for the complimentary daily breakfast buffet, complete with an omelet station. Blue Water Bistro is a beachside restaurant with fresh local options (like lobster tacos and a tuna tataki salad), and Pink Bar is perfect for al fresco cocktails and light bites.
We took a quick shuttle over to the Wymara Villas + Beach Club, which is a separate property located on the Turtle Tale peninsula, minutes away. In addition to residences (villas with one to six bedrooms), this campus houses the Sunset Cove Beach Club — with an ocean pool and sports club — and the newest restaurant, Land + Sea, which opened in April. This transporting open-air venue, right on the water, was an idyllic spot to enjoy fresh catches and steak while watching the sunset.
Other island retreats may have more in the way of nightlife and shopping. And while we ventured over to the casino at the four-year-old Ritz-Carlton one night and into town one day — we appreciated that Turks and Caicos is a more of a low-key, less-developed (for now) destination for those looking to retreat.
For our final night, we traveled about 30 minutes by car over a purposely untouched terrain to the northwest coast of Providenciales, to Amanyara. The secluded beachside Aman property sits on an 18-acre nature reserve and is named for the Sanskrit word “peace.” Built in 2006 and recently refreshed by original architect Jean-Michel Gathy, the resort is sprawling and visually outstanding: the design reflects nature’s beauty and the brand’s Asian roots through wooden textures, majestic reflecting pools, tropical gardens and a Zen, minimalist aesthetic.
The Aman brand originated in Thailand in 1988 and has expanded to more than 35 properties around the world — with only three U.S. properties and Aman Beverly Hills underway.
The grounds — so big, bikes are used by guests to commute around — house only 38 pavilions and 20 villas (consisting of three to six bedrooms, plus private infinity pools and chefs). Our timber-shingled pavilion, comprised of floor-to-ceiling glass felt suspended in nature, and had its own rocky cove with lounge chairs in the back. The room came equipped with a canopy bed, desk, heated toilet, soaking tub and complimentary drinks and snacks.
A showstopping black infinity pool framed by two beds made for an impressive sight. Those who prefer to be on the beach can opt for a lounge setup on the sand. Amanyara’s white-sand beach and rocky coves border Northwest Point Marine National Park, which has some of the world’s best wall reef diving. The all-day beach club restaurant offers a Mediterranean-inspired menu of salads, grilled seafood and wood-fired pizzas.
A palatial circular bar with high ceilings serves light meals and cocktails, like an edamame martini and signature mojito — which can also be enjoyed on the terrace during sunset — as well as a daily afternoon tea. For dinner, the restaurant features Asian-themed dishes like sushi, curries, pad Thai and miso black cod. Breakfast is complimentary and includes options from omelets to avocado toast. No reservations are required anywhere. There’s also a screening room with a popcorn maker that shows nightly films and a boutique for beach essentials.
What shines at Amanyara are the extensive wellness and athletic offerings. A spa with four treatment rooms and a private swimming pool performs treatments like a signature massage, which incorporates Aman’s own products. A fitness center boasts Peloton bikes and the latest equipment — with a host of classes and personal trainers — as well as adjacent Pilates and yoga studios. A clubhouse features tennis, volleyball and pickleball courts; a soccer field; a boxing studio; an indoor game room; and more. As part of a Legend program launched in 2021 to mark its 15th anniversary, the resort arranges for sports stars like tennis great Maria Sharapova to visit for clinics.
The hotel can organize scuba diving, whale watching, nature discovery outings and water sports, as well as excursions to other islands. But given the wealth of options on the grounds, most people who come to Amanyara simply opt to stay.
