The Star Of This Caribbean National Park Is Its Bright Turquoise Lagoon With Unmatched Scenery

Chalk Sound is like a scale model of the Caribbean sea: It's a body of turquoise water, and the surface is dotted with islands. The sun blazes above, and the water is shallow, rarely deeper than five feet. But unlike much of the Caribbean, there is little development here; from certain vantage points, you won't see a single dock, sign, or rooftop. The northern shore in particular feels untouched, a tropical wilderness. If you want to imagine a time before human settlement — before resorts, before colonists, before even Indigenous people — this is the lagoon for you. Also, it's the perfect place to bring a kayak or stand-up paddle board (SUP).

Located in the Turks and Caicos archipelago, Chalk Sound is tucked into the southwest corner of Providenciales, the chain's most populous island. While roads and buildings circumscribe the lagoon and planes fly over the water as they land at the adjacent airport, this place still feels isolated and peaceful, far from the hotels, spas, and casinos operating nearby.

Chalk Sound is three miles long and completely cut off from the sea; the waters are practically transparent, yet they also contain so much salt that most swimmers can float without effort. The ripples are calm, the bottom is composed of soft sand, and most adults can wade right into the middle without submerging their faces. If you're planning an adventurous trip to Turks and Caicos, Chalk Sound is an absolute must-visit, especially if you're avoiding crowds.

Turks and Caicos has become a popular destination, with nearly 2 million overnight visitors in 2024. But for most of its history, the 40 islands and cays that make up this British territory were largely unknown to the outside world. This started to change in the '80s, as the territory made a concerted effort to attract visitors, and tourism has grown exponentially in recent decades. For a long time, Chalk Sound was used for raising shellfish, which were canned nearby. As the island has transformed into a vacation hub, the former fishery is now a national park, home to a dazzling range of birds and marine animals. The celebrity species is the Caicos rock iguana, a large and spiky reptile that occupies the lagoon's tiny islands and ekes out a living in the local cactus and scrub.

There's a parking area on the eastern edge of the lagoon; from the craggy shore, you can wade directly into the water, or put in a kayak or canoe. The national park is free to enter, and you can swim or snorkel all day, as long as you take proper precautions against sun exposure and dehydration. You can rent a kayak or SUP from Neptune Villas, located on the lagoon's southeastern tip. A favorite attraction is the underwater wreck in the northern-middle portion of Chalk Sound; the winds and fuselage are largely intact, and they rest just below the water's surface. 

Chalk Sound is extremely safe, but visitors should take precautions: touching the native coral sumac tree can leave you with an irritating rash. Rocks can be sharp, and more than one bare-footed wader has gotten cut. And as tempting as it may be, flying drones is prohibited.

A good number of visitors fall in love with this quieter part of Providenciales, which is why the land around Chalk Sound — particularly the southern shore — is pocked with accommodations. This is an expensive quarter, with hotel rooms fetching hundreds of dollars per night, but if staying with a large group, the many private villas can be a relative bargain.

This is a prime place to bring family, school reunions, or a high-end bachelorette party; if the sun-drenched coast ever gets too tranquil, you're only a 25-minute drive from Grace Beach, Providenciales' most action-packed district. Not surprisingly, Turks and Caicos is a wildly popular honeymoon spot, and hordes of couples get married here. Small wonder Turks and Caicos is considered the most romantic destination in the Caribbean.

A road encircles the lagoon, and some just like to drive around it, taking pictures as they go. If you're in the area and looking for an even more laidback hangout, Taylor Bay Beach is located just across the road. The white sand and electric-blue waters are about as perfect as you'll find. You could easily add Taylor Bay to a list of under-the-radar beaches you need to visit in the Caribbean.