Chalk Sound

Chalk Sound, a shallow, landlocked lagoon on the island of Providenciales, is one of the most beautiful and surprising natural sights in the Turks and Caicos, protected as a national park. Enclosed almost entirely by land, its calm, still waters glow an almost unreal, luminous shade of brilliant aquamarine and turquoise, so vivid it hardly seems natural, and are dotted with dozens of tiny, rocky, cactus-topped islets. Best appreciated from the scenic road that winds along its edge, from a kayak or paddleboard gliding across its serene surface, or from a villa overlooking it, Chalk Sound is a dazzling, tranquil and utterly photogenic natural wonder.

What you actually see

• The turquoise lagoon - the brilliant aquamarine landlocked water.
• The tiny islets - the dozens of small rocky islands.
• The scenic drive - the road winding along the lagoon edge.
• Kayaking and paddleboarding - the serene glide across the water.

When to go

December to April, the dry season, for the sunniest weather, when the lagoon's turquoise glows most vividly under clear skies; it is beautiful year-round in the sunshine. The calm, shallow water is ideal for kayaking and paddleboarding, and the scenic road offers lovely views and photo stops at any time.

Honest expectations

Chalk Sound is a scenic natural wonder to admire, kayak and photograph rather than a beach for swimming or an attraction with facilities, so a visit is a relatively short, scenic experience, and its shores are lined with private villas; there is little in the way of public access points. As a genuinely dazzling and unusual natural sight, though, a landlocked lagoon of unreal turquoise dotted with tiny islets, serene and utterly photogenic, Chalk Sound is a lovely and surprising highlight of Providenciales.

Nearby

Grace Bay, Sapodilla Bay and the west of Providenciales are within reach.