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Aside from the adoration of flawless white sand and turquoise water, Wymara Resort Turks and Caicos is also the perfect place to go with your partner.
This was my first time in Turks and Caicos, though I’ve travelled quite a bit across the Caribbean including Puerto Rico, Jamaica and St. Maarten (and while working on Disney Cruise Line). While in Turks and Caicos, I spent most of my time at Wymara Resorts + Villas, a stunning resort with 91 rooms over a 15-acre peninsula.
I headed to Wymara for my birthday with my boyfriend (after our first successful getaway to Charlevoix, Que.) and loved the luxurious vacation. Wymara is a beautiful resort with delicious dining and excellent guest service — and a perfect destination for Canadians with a bounteous budget (expect to pay upwards of $6,000 for an ocean view suite for two during peak season).
Wymara was started by Bruce Maclaren who was born and raised in Canada. Maclaren and his family relocated to Turks and Caicos in 2008 because they loved the island’s calm Caribbean vibe and picturesque nature.
We spent five days at Wymara, enjoying the property’s restaurants, services, activities and beachfront. My favourite moments were the Thursday Night Seafood Extravaganza, couple’s massage, running throughout the island and hanging out in the room and at the beach.
Luxurious accommodation choices
There are so many lodging options at Wymara, whether you’re travelling with family, friends or your partner. I loved my time at the resort with my dude and found it to be the perfect couple’s retreat.
One aspect was the room itself. It was a big open space with a living room area, kitchen with cooking tools, bedroom with sliding doors, a toilet in a separate room, washer and dryer, shower, freestanding bathtub, Aesop products, Dyson blow dryer and our favourite place — a large patio that overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. It’s beautiful, has everything you could want, many places to snuggle and a few areas if you want to hang out alone with a book.
Postcard perfect beach
Wymara is one of several resorts on award-winning Grace Bay Beach. Named one of the best beaches in the world by Tripadvisor and featured on the World’s 50 Best Beaches list in 2024, Grace Bay is a sprawling beach with soft white sand and turquoise water.
The Wymara team cleans the beach in front of the resort to ensure it’s always pristine. The entire beachfront is public, so you’re free to walk the entire shore. Wymara is a ten-minute walk to a world-renowned coral reef system — if you plan to snorkel, just get your gear before leaving the resort.
We walked the beach quite a bit and it seemed like something was always happening. During the day, there are volleyball games, sandcastle building and many relaxing vacationers. At night, there are bonfires and bars and we even stumbled upon a wedding — it’s undeniably a romantic place.
A welcoming guest experience
The guest experience offered at Wymara is excellent. Not only were our needs and wants exceeded, but the team was nice, interesting and warm.
For example, we took the complimentary shuttle from the main Wymara property to the villas (home to the Caribbean’s first outdoor pool) and the gentleman driving started singing a local tune — Welcome To The Island by Mr. Chawaa, a local musician. My boyfriend, who is a singer, harmonized and I just sat back and enjoyed. The driver, who is also a singer, shared where he performs around “The Island” and a little about what it’s like to live in Turks and Caicos. It was these warm experiences with the Wymara team that elevated the overall experience.
Activities galore
I may not be an optimal beach destination companion. I always like to be doing something versus “relaxing” on the beach. Wymara offers ample options for both preferences. The resort has complimentary activities, like snorkelling, kayaking, hobie catting and more. There are also excursions like parasailing, jet skiing and island tours that can be booked at an extra cost. The friendly and knowledgeable Wymara guest experience team can help arrange these outings.
I don’t like celebrating my birthday — for whatever reason, it’s just not my thing. We travelled on my birthday and reached the resort in the early afternoon — prime sunshine time. It was 30 C, but I wanted nothing to do with anyone. Thankfully, we were greeted with a cocktail, a refreshing cold towel and attentive staff. I was starting to chill out but knew I needed alone time and a run. I got in my running clothes and asked the Wymara team where to go for a 5 km run. They gave me a little card that mapped out a perfect 5 km. I came back sweaty and the Wymara team welcomed me back with fruit-infused water. I ended up going on a run most days as it’s a fun way to explore the area.
My boyfriend’s favourite activity: While he was snorkelling, a large storm made its way overhead. I shouted at him and he finally came up and saw what was happening. He swam in and we ran back to Wymara (we were about a 30-minute beach walk away). That run was his favourite part.
Delish dining
There are three restaurants but many ways to enjoy meals. There’s Indigo, my favourite, Pink Bar and Blue Water Bistro. Indigo is more fine dining and the other two are more for casual eats. Indigo, which has a five-star rating on Tripadvisor, is Caribbean-inspired and delectable. The seafood is fresh and cooked to perfection. Expect to spend at least $100 per person (Turks and Caicos uses U.S. dollars).
The Pink Bar and Blue Water Bistro have similar menus. You can order meals and drinks at each restaurant or to the pool, your room or even the beach. The food is fresh and delicious for the most part. I loved the vegetarian burger, which is made in-house. The pizza and tacos were also great — but I’d skip the lobster rolls.
My favourite food experience was the Seafood Extravaganza. It takes place at the Blue Water Bistro but is served buffet-style. There’s a vast variety of local flavours and seafood favourites, including barbecued fresh lobster tails. I’m no romantic, but the vibe was tropical date night. There was live music, a bonfire and sounds from the ocean, all under the stars. (The view of the stars is perfect because of the very low light pollution). The buffet costs $90 per adult and $45 per child plus tax.
Overall experience and recommendation
Wymara Resort Turks and Caicos is undeniably a romantic place to be. The resort offers a luxurious experience with delicious dining and fun activities for two. Grace Bay Beach is stunning and looks like a postcard of itself. The Wymara team provided an excellent guest experience that even challenged my birthday blues. I’d recommend Wymara for a couple’s getaway but note the considerations of cost and time of year.
Wymara is a luxury resort and it’s not all-inclusive (breakfast is complimentary, aside from fancy drinks and tips). The cost of the accommodations varies between the various options and seasons. Expect to spend at least $30 for lunch, $50 for dinner and $20 per alcoholic drink.
We visited Wymara at the end of October and the beginning of November — right before the peak season that runs from the end of November to April. It was nice when we went, but a bit rainy and a lot windy. The peak season is ideal for prime weather and some activities, like whale watching. For optimal couple’s vibe, avoid visiting during holidays when kids are on break.
Randi Mann was a guest of Wymara Resort which did not preview this story.
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