Things to do with teens in Turks and Caicos: jet skis, cliff jumps and Snuba

Best for: teens who want to drive

For most teenagers nothing beats a jet ski, and the rules are generous. On our group tours anyone 16 or older drives solo, and younger teens can drive with a guardian seated behind them. The two-hour Caicos Cays & Shipwreck tour is the signature ride: hidden cays, Iguana Island from the water and the La Famille Express, a 220-foot cargo ship that ran aground in Hurricane Frances in 2004.

How old do you have to be to drive a jet ski in Turks and Caicos?

Sixteen to drive solo on the group tours. The private custom tours ask for 17 to drive solo, or 15 with an adult passenger. Each ski carries two riders.

Best for: brave swimmers and bragging rights

At the southwest point of Providenciales, limestone cliffs drop straight into deep water. Locals call the spot Split Rock, and it’s the island’s favorite place to jump. It sits at the far end of the island from the Leeward marinas, so it comes with our powerboat charters of six hours or more, or seven on the 26ft Regal.

Is there a minimum age for cliff jumping?

The charters set no minimum age. The captain chooses the spot and has the final say on the day, and jumping is always optional. More in our cliff jumping guide.

Best for: confident swimmers with energy to burn

Some boats bring the toys. On the 28ft and 37ft Luxury Boats and the 26ft Regal, the crew can bring a tube or a wakeboard if you ask ahead, and the Luxury Watersports Charter is built for wakesurfing, wakeboarding and tubing. Several boats, the 30ft, 35ft and 41ft catamarans among them, carry a Subwing: you hold a small pair of wings as the boat tows you slowly, tilt them down to glide under the surface, then tilt up to come back.

Do boat charters in Turks and Caicos have water toys?

Many do. Tell us when you book, because tubing and wakeboarding need advance notice so the captain brings the gear. Our water toys guide lists what every boat carries.

Best for: teens curious about scuba

Snuba sits between snorkeling and scuba. You breathe through a long hose from air tanks on a raft floating above you, so you can swim below the surface with a guide and no certification. The Snuba, Shipwreck & Iguana tour pairs a Snuba session with the La Famille Express and Iguana Island, with lunch on board.

Can teenagers do Snuba without a certification?

Yes. Snuba needs no certification or experience. The tour takes ages 3 and up, and Snuba’s own standard asks divers to be 8 or older, with basic swimming and comfort in the water.

Best for: a day off the water

For a day on land, guided ATV and UTV tours ride the trails of western Providenciales: cliffs, lagoons, salt flats, caves and empty beaches. The three-hour tour adds ancient rock inscriptions and the ruins of Cheshire Hall, a 1700s cotton plantation. Helmets, goggles, a guide and a shuttle from Grace Bay and Lower Bight come with every tour.

Can teenagers drive an ATV in Turks and Caicos?

Drivers must be 18 or older with a valid driver’s license, so unless your teen is 18 and licensed, a parent takes the wheel. A UTV seats the family together; tell us your teen’s age when you book.

Plan the big day first: cliff jumping needs a long charter, so lock it in before the shorter adventures. Mix it up with a jet ski tour, a group excursion or an ATV tour, and see things to do with kids if there are younger ones too, or our jet ski tour guide for every route. For a full day of jumps, toys and snorkeling on your own private boat charter, pick it below.

• Taxes included. The price you see is the price you pay.
• A deposit secures the boat. Every boat shows its free-cancellation window.
• Fast answers. Requests are confirmed within a few hours, nearly always the same day.