Set along the white sands of Grace Bay Beach, Wymara Resort + Villas has become one of Turks and Caicos’ most sought-after stays. The Forbes Five-Star Wymara Villas, Sunset Cove, paired with the nearby resort, balance modern design with a laid-back island energy.
Behind it is a Canadian story. Born in Ottawa, Owner and Developer Bruce Maclaren didn’t come from hospitality in the traditional sense.
After building a successful construction business in Australia, he first visited Turks and Caicos as a traveller, and the pull was immediate.
“It was a feeling. I think it was 2006 when I first arrived on holiday, and my kids were one and four years old,” says Maclaren.
“It was magical. We visited over the next couple of years and then moved in September 2008. I thought: We’ll go try it for a few years. And that was 18 years ago.”
He relocated with his family and partnered in the creation of what would become Wymara, bringing a builder’s mindset to a luxury resort that feels intentional but not overdone.
The 97 oceanfront studios, suites and penthouses are oriented to maximize views, while a 7,000-square-foot infinity pool acts as a natural gathering point. It’s social when you want it to be, and easy to opt out when you don’t.
“Wymara hasn’t been built by a playbook of a big hotel company, which is what makes it really special,” says Maclaren. “When we renovated and rebranded in 2019, we took what we had learned in the 10 years prior and listened to our guests to give them what they wanted.”
Food and drink are a big part of the draw. Indigo leans into fresh, locally sourced ingredients, while Blue Water Bistro and Pink Bar keep things more casual, with sunset cocktails, beachside bites and live music nights.
“We’ve built our brand around the food and beverage experience. And to do that, I sought the help of a close friend of mine for over 20 years, Executive Chef Andrew Mirosch, who’s just so talented. He took a lot of his favourite dishes from Australia and added a more refined style, paired with locally caught seafood and Caribbean flavours. So it’s not traditional Turks and Caicos food, but he’s creating what I think will be the future of Turks and Caicos dishes.”
Just a short 7-minute drive away, Wymara Vil-las, Sunset Cove offers a completely different pace. Set along the more secluded Turtle Tail peninsula, the collection of one-to six-bedroom villas is designed for privacy, with expansive indoor-outdoor living spaces, private pools and uninterrupted water views. The newest addition, Azure Villa, is the most ambitious yet, with features like an overwater swim platform and outdoor kitchen.
“The villas are for the same guests as the re-sort, but for a different type of holiday,” says Maclaren. “They’re also available for sale, with roughly 40% currently owned by Canadians. We take care of the management and they earn the rental income when they’re not using it.”
Villa guests have access to Sunset Cove Beach Club, a private stretch of coastline anchored by a 130-foot ocean pool carved directly into the rock. Add in a sports club, waterfront dining at Land + Sea, along with a steady flow of events programming, and it’s easy to spend days without leaving.
Wymara has also made sustainability a priority, installing water conservation systems and sup-porting local initiatives, including coral reef res-toration and youth programs. It’s an approach that takes into account long-term impact.
“Our CEO, Shelley Rincon, was relentless in her pursuit of Green Globe Certification. We were the first resort in Turks and Caicos to stop using single-use plastics. And really, it wasn’t that we were trying to get recognition for it. It was just the right thing to do.”
The result is a property that feels focused on the details without being complicated.
Whether you’re there for a quick escape or a longer stay, Wymara delivers something increasingly rare: a luxury experience that still feels laid-back.
Learn more and plan your visit at wymara.com and wymaravillas.com.