On the last day of our anniversary trip, the Turks and Caicos Tourism Board wanted to show us some of their favorite beaches, including a quick stop on Iguana Island, as well as a snorkeling adventure for conch shells. We would be spending half a day on a 48-foot, first-class catamaran that we were assured was operated by the friendliest and most talented crew in the country.
As luck would have it, just as we were setting sail, the resident dolphin JoJo swam by to wish us a safe journey. JoJo is an Atlantic Bottlenose that has been living and playing in the shallow waters of the Turks and Caicos since 1980.
The first stop of the day was to Iguana Island off of Little Water Cay. This is the only place in the entire world where you can see the endangered rock iguana in its natural habitat.
The next stop was to a secret reef. Once anchored, we had the opportunity to snorkel in pristine, turquoise waters and see first-hand one of the Caribbean’s most incredible assortments of tropical fish, although our real mission was to find conch shells, which would then be used for our lunch.
While the captain of the boat worked on making us passengers fresh conch salad, we were given time to wander around Fort George Cay, otherwise known as the world’s most beautiful beach. Just to prove my bold claim, I did not in any way shape or form edit the following photos. The water is truly that magnificent!
On the way back, we enjoyed the delicious conch salad and talked about how the next time we visit the Turks and Caicos we will definitely spend more time exploring what lies beneath the water there. As soon as we returned to our gorgeous villa at The Somerset on Grace Bay we finally popped open the bottle of champagne that had been waiting for us from day one and toasted to an unforgettable second anniversary.
We were told by quite a few people that we simply could not leave the Turks and Caicos without visiting the infamous da Conch Shack, so we saved it for our last meal. While we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner there and the live music, we still thought Bugaloo’s Conch Crawl was better. Nevertheless, it deserves a visit while on Providenciales.
Okay, I feel like I just took a trip to the Turks and Caicos with you:-) I just pinned each day on my Traveling pin board, and tweeted each day:-) The pics are seriously beyond beautiful! Sweet little JoJo would have been the best part of the trip for me. Dolphins are my all time favorite creature, and I believe I will be a dolphin in my next life:-) The ocean is where I go when I meditate, everything about ocean make me happy. I can tell I would adore Turks and Caicos, everything about your trip looked memorable, breathtaking, and delicious:-) Hugs, Terra
Awwww what a lovely and amazing comment, thank you so much!!! You would have loved JoJo! He was too sweet and cute! I hope with all of my heart that you and your hubby can make it to the T&C one day soon.
Wow!!!!! I absolutely love crystal clear – flat – waters. This is just unbelievable 🙂
Looks like you’re have a great time!!!
Isn’t it just gorgeous!?! I wish we were still there, but yes we did have a great time!
Lovely!! And so jealous that you guys got to get your own conch…it’s over-harvested here and illegal to take so I don’t get to enjoy delicious conch here.
Oh wow, I had no idea that it’s over-harvested. Now I feel bad for eating it!!! 🙁
I hear so many good reports about the Turks & Caicos and these photos certainly convey it in a good light. It looks like a little piece of paradise. Would love to go there one day.
I’m glad you’ve heard good reports and that you enjoyed the post! Fingers crossed you make it there soon!!!
andi, your pictures are absolutely stunning!!!!! i’ve always wanted to go there and your photos just made me even more want to go there!!! your 3rd yr anniv…hmmmm…fiji??
Awww thank you X a million!!!! What an awesome compliment! Fiji would be AMAZING!
i wanna go there and bora bora and …. ahhh the maldives!!
ME TOO!!!!!!
Andi, you take the most beautiful pics!
Thank you X a million!
How I love seeing the world through your eyes (and camera lens), Andi. Especially when they give me a glimpse of places like this. Happy second anniversary, dear! Cheers to many, many more… in many beautiful places.
Awww thank you sweetheart, what lovely words! XOXO
Awesome pics!
Thank you!!!
Brasil.
Love love all of the gorgeous photos. Your site is SO not good for me maintaining a zen and desire-free state of mind. 😉
Hahaha oooooh I HOPE so!!! Oh no I’m so sorry love! But, at least I get you daydreaming right?
I’m sure your next anniversary will be celebrated at an equally beautiful place! Maybe somewhere in the Pacific? I’m sure there are tons of amazing island nations there! 🙂
Oh now that would be amazing! I haven’t been to the South Pacific in almost five years and it’s my hubby’s dream destination!!!
Oh my – how absolutely stunning! I love that little fellow who seemed to follow you around. His coloring is gorgeous! 🙂
Actually that was like five different iguanas that I took pics of haha! They all looked the same. 🙂
Gorgeous pictures. Those iguanas are too cool!
Aren’t they awesome??? Thanks!
Wow, what a tropical island paradise! I live in Cairns and strangely enough was looking through photos of the islands around here when I saw your link in twitter……….now I have another place on the bucket list so thanks for sharing! Great blog and stunning photos!!
Oooh I love Cairns! I spent a week there many years ago and it was unforgettable. I hope you can make it to the T&C soon, you’d love it. Thank you for all of your kind words!!!
Just magic! Those shells are amazing…
We brought a couple home, they are SO gorgeous!!!
this looks like the perfect day
Totally! 🙂
I have never seen such beautiful iguanas! Wouldn’t mind just hanging out with them for the day 🙂
I know, me too! But with the tour you just past through in about 10 minutes. So sad!
These photos are quite stunning – all the contrasting blues and intensity of the light!
Thank you so much!!! I’m really proud of these pics. 🙂
I cannot get over the color of that lizard!
Isn’t it gorgeous!?!
So, so beautiful. And the lizards, oh, so cute! You’ve had the perfect anniversary!!
Thank you so much dear! And yes, almost too perfect!!! 🙂
The colors in these photos look like a dream! I love that turquoise iguana — and JoJo of course!
You would LOVE this place!!! XO
Hello! I also love your pictures!! Do you mind sharing some tips? What camera do have? and for underwater?
thank you =)
I use a Canon 7D and for underwater a Canon S90. So glad you like my pics!!!
Love your photography ♥ I think your living my dream 😉 That sky, blue sea… champagne!!! *a huge sigh* Thanks for this dreamy moment 😀
Awww thank you so much, what a lovely thing to say! <3
I so so love the snorkeling photo of both you! So classic!
Thank you dear!!! XO
Holy wow, those pictures are gorgeous! Looks like such a fun trip! My parents got married last year in the Virgin Islands and the beach where they had the wedding had water that blue, it was mind blowingly beautiful. This is making me want to get to a tropical beach ASAP! Congrats on your anniversary! 🙂
Oh wow, I’m sure their wedding was incredible!!! Thank you so much for your lovely words, they mean a lot!
Oh WOW! Just LOOK at that water. Dreamy! I wanna go…
Isn’t it just insanely gorgeous!?! Oh you must go! I want to see your pics haha!!!
I love iguanas! We have so many pictures of them from our honeymoon in Aruba, and they were on an island off Trinidad, Cuba too. I think I have to go see these rock iguanas someday, especially if they’re so tame!
Lucas is obsessed with them! These were so ridiculously gorgeous. I think I took 100 pics of them. I remember the iguanas in Aruba, I didn’t see any in Cuba.
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Andi, you have shared here such a beautiful article, All picture is very nice and loveable.
Thank you so very, very much!
Nice post! The information you provided is very helpful if someone is planning to enjoy the holidays.
Thank you so much! Glad it was helpful.
This is a good post!