Talbot's Adventures
Talbot's Adventures
4.5
8:30 AM - 5:30 AM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:30 AM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:30 AM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:30 AM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:30 AM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:30 AM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:30 AM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:30 AM
Full view
About
Talbot’s Adventures was created by the inspiration of the Talbot Family. Our families’ core values are centered on a life spent on and in the ocean. From generations born in Salt Cay, we have taken on the slogan of "professional natives." The tradition of exploring backwaters and fishing for conch, lobster and snapper is a lifestyle for us. We are now glad to have the opportunity to share this lifestyle with you! Alexander Norman Talbot, a Bermudan descendent, was a great fisherman, free diver, sail boat captain and boat builder. As a highly respected man of the sea, he contributed his service to TCI during the salt trade industry days in Salt Cay. Norman started the Talbot lineage here, and with nothing but his inherited legacy, the younger generation tailored and introduced the trade to the tourist industry through out the Turks and Caicos Islands. As Norman’s grandchild, I (Capt. Levardo) was also born and raised in the little island of Salt Cay. I took to the sea from the age of 5 with my father Oscar Talbot Senior. Oscar is one of the best divers and fishermen in TCI and still free dives for conch and lobster well into his 70s. My passion for marine life, conservation of the environment, and sustaining culture and heritage in the Turks and Caicos Islands were the building blocks for Talbots Adventures. My motto is "catch some and save for future generations." My experiences includes 10 years as a Fish and Parks Marine Conservation Officer for the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources as well as working for various boat charter companies (including Sail Provo, Silver Deep and a few other smaller companies). The dream of owning my own boat charter company came true in the summer of 2009. Talbot’s Adventures has since turned into one of Provo’s premier private boat charter/ fishing companies. Let us show you around the waters of the Turks and Caicos!
Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
287 reviews
Excellent
253
Very good
10
Average
8
Poor
7
Terrible
9
Colleen K
Savanna, Illinois, United States68 contributions
Mar 2020
Well, we are repeat customers - when something is right, you keep coming back. Talbot's Adventures is the service you go to when you want to create a unique experience but are relying upon local experts to make your wish a reality. Captain Levardo put together an excellent crew to send us on our afternoon adventure - Oliver and Mitch were amazing. They took us to find sea turtles and rays, then we dove for sand dollars. Then we were off to snorkel on some amazing coral reefs and find dozens of iguanas, followed with a sunset cruise to La Famille and back. Every time we bring a group to the islands, Talbot's Adventures provides the highlight of the trip. Don't pass up a chance to see the islands from the water and through the eyes of the friendly and experienced locals who work for this company. Feleshia will answer your call and treat you great as well.
Looking forward already to our next trip!
Looking forward already to our next trip!
Written March 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeremy
1 contribution
Feb 2024 • Family
We chartered a private fishing boat with Captain Levardo and his first mate, John, to spearfish and dive for lobster. It was a fantastic experience, and Captain Levardo and John were kind, knowledgeable, and professional.
Captain Levardo and John: The captain and his first mate made the effort to maximize our experience and make it comfortable. They knew the best dive spots and entered the water with us to catch lobster. Note: it helps if you know how to freedive at a basic level. The experience is much more worthwhile that way.
Lobster: With only four hours, we just focused on lobster diving, which was what we wanted. We caught several and cooked them in our rented condo for dinner. It was a treat. With more time, we would have been able to harvest conch and spearfish.
Price: At first, we were deterred by the $2k price tag for just four hours. However, we really maximized the time, and for a private charter in T&C, it was well worth the money. Captain Levardo provided amenities like water, beer, snacks, and all necessary gear.
Looking forward to coming back out for more fishing excursions with Talbot Adventures!
Captain Levardo and John: The captain and his first mate made the effort to maximize our experience and make it comfortable. They knew the best dive spots and entered the water with us to catch lobster. Note: it helps if you know how to freedive at a basic level. The experience is much more worthwhile that way.
Lobster: With only four hours, we just focused on lobster diving, which was what we wanted. We caught several and cooked them in our rented condo for dinner. It was a treat. With more time, we would have been able to harvest conch and spearfish.
Price: At first, we were deterred by the $2k price tag for just four hours. However, we really maximized the time, and for a private charter in T&C, it was well worth the money. Captain Levardo provided amenities like water, beer, snacks, and all necessary gear.
Looking forward to coming back out for more fishing excursions with Talbot Adventures!
Written February 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan
1 contribution
Jul 2021 • Couples
My wife and I went on the half day bonefishing trip with Levardo Talbot on the first day of our honeymoon. The fishing was excellent. All the tackle was in pristine condition (light and ultralight spinning rods) as was the boat (Carolina skiff with 115 outboard and large fishing deck). This is a really cool way to experience the island ecosystem and interact with it. The man made side of Turks and Caicos is impressive, but the trip wouldn't have felt complete without getting into some of it's natural beauty. The highlight of our trip was Mr. Talbot himself. Our captain was friendly, knowledgeable, instructive, and a pleasure to be around. I cannot recommend this trip highly enough.
Written July 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JimK
1 contribution
Feb 2020 • Friends
My husband & I have been going to Grace Bay for 10 years and have booked fishing charters many times. We always request reef fishing meaning near the shore not out in the ocean. We have had great experiences and often went with a group we did not know but the Captain made us feel like we’d been together before. This time we decided to go as a couple and reserved a 32’ boat With a bathroom for 1/2 day to do reef fishing with Talbots Adventure. Captain Levardo, the owner picked us up at our resort and was very pleasant and had in fact visited our hometown for many summers. When we arrived at the boat launch we thought something was amiss as we were in a 17 ft. Boston Whaler as her and not the 32 ft version we had reserved. We assumed it would be ok as we were going to be inland Reef fishing not out in the Ocean. Captain Oliver was our guide and seemed disinterested and unenthused and unlike other guides fished but caught nothing. He took us out to a depth of 200 ft where the waves were rolling over the boat, there were no life jackets, no canopy to cover us from the sun, no bathroom, the fishing equipment was in disrepair (hooks needed sharpening) and no live box to keep fish if we caught any—we did not. After 2.5 hours of rolling in the waves, being soaking wet or burning up in the sun, unable to sit on a seat to fish or stand without being knocked off balance, and without catching any fish we asked to return. Captain Levardo to his credit was shocked that we came back early and we explained out of earshot from Captain Oliver. He was apologetic, offered to take us out another day and refunded half of our $800 fee. We were so freaked out we declined the offer of another trip. The trip was a huge fail and not because we didn’t catch fish—that happens— a failure because the experience was unsafe and extremely uncomfortable. Ruined our day and literally frightened both of us. Our advice is to make sure the guide knows what reef fishing means, the boat is equipped with safety equipment, fishing gear that is in good condition, (has a bathroom if you’re going to be on it for more than a couple of hours) and is big enough to sit or stand safely and comfortably to fish.
Written May 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary J
1 contribution
Mar 2022
The 1/2 day deep sea fishing with Talbot's was disappointing in many ways. I was told in advance by Aultisha their customer service agent that it was a 4 hour day with a light lunch (sandwiches, granola bars) beer, water and soft drinks. What we received was not what I was informed of.
We were told to be at the dock at 7:45 and they were 25 minutes late so we departed at 8:15. We cruised out to the fishing grounds in front of Bruce Willis' home and had lines in the water about 20 minutes after departure. We fished this one and only area the entire time. There was one bite with the bait and lures being used. This bite was lucrative and the fish came on board to be given to the crew. With no bites, bait was never changed and the fishing grounds were not changed either by Cpt. Cecil and Lucky. Additionally, no light lunch was on board. No snacks were even offered. The only saving grace was they did have cold beer and rum punch. The third crew member, Jayson, indulged on the rum punch since there was nothing going on. Lucky wrapped up our day early and we were back on the dock at 11:15. So by my math, that is 3 hours on the boat and just over 2 hours of lines in the water. For a boat ride it was ok. For a fishing trip, I would not recommend this company.
We were told to be at the dock at 7:45 and they were 25 minutes late so we departed at 8:15. We cruised out to the fishing grounds in front of Bruce Willis' home and had lines in the water about 20 minutes after departure. We fished this one and only area the entire time. There was one bite with the bait and lures being used. This bite was lucrative and the fish came on board to be given to the crew. With no bites, bait was never changed and the fishing grounds were not changed either by Cpt. Cecil and Lucky. Additionally, no light lunch was on board. No snacks were even offered. The only saving grace was they did have cold beer and rum punch. The third crew member, Jayson, indulged on the rum punch since there was nothing going on. Lucky wrapped up our day early and we were back on the dock at 11:15. So by my math, that is 3 hours on the boat and just over 2 hours of lines in the water. For a boat ride it was ok. For a fishing trip, I would not recommend this company.
Written March 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue J
1 contribution
Mar 2022
I booked a 1/2 day Inner Island Adventure with snorkling for my family of 6 on the boat called My Fair Share and was instructed to show up 15 min early for a 2:00 departure. We showed up promptly at 1:40 however there was no one and no boat at the dock from Talbot's Adventures. We waited and waited while I tried to make contact by phone but reception was extremely bad on the dock. After many attempts and finally reaching someone, they said the boat was on its way to to wait there. It arrived at 2:30 and was not even the boat we had arranged - should have been My Fair Share, this was a fishing boat with no name. The guide did not even apologize for being very late. I said I paid for 4 hours so I expect 4 hours. No snacks, only Rum Punch and beer. I had 2 minors onboard and was expecting snacks and a variety of drinks. We don't even drink much alcohol and the the guide ended up drinking more than we did anyway! He did give us the full 4 hours and did help us see a dolphin and even a whale and we enjoy snorkeling, so I'm being generous with 2 stars. It just started out on such a bad foot, and not much effort was made to fully recover. I would definitely NOT recommend booking with this company. Every other excursion we had on our trip to TCI (other vendors) had excellent communication including confirmation the day prior to offer specific meet up directions, were on time, and professional. This experience was none of those.
Written March 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jon B
8 contributions
Apr 2022
Worst guided fishing experience ever! Avoid this company.
Went fly fishing for bone fish. I'm an experienced fly fisherman of over 9 years, but have only one day on salt water. Captain showed up late (I had to call the office), and then openly expressed disdain for my experience level.
1 hour boat ride to the spot, which meant 2 hours total transit for a 4 hour trip. Not a word from the captain the entire time.
Once I started casting, it was all criticism and rapid fire, conflicting instructions. In short, he had me tied in knots before the first real cast, and he didn't get better from there.
His instructions weren't just confusing, they were wrong. At one point a fish swam from my 12 o'clock to my 3 o'clock, on the right side of the boat, and he kept yelling "Cast left! Cast left!" He kept saying that he would have to work harder to "guide" me, but all he did was yell louder. I felt I needed to work harder to please him, but there was no way.
I finally hooked a fish, and he immediately started shouting more instructions, "Don't do this! Don't do that! Reel faster!"
Problem was that the reel was broken, and would jamb with every crank. I pointed this out, even as I continued to battle the fish, and he just yelled, "Reel faster."
I finally landed the fish, and he promptly grabbed the rod, examined the reel, and said, "Reel's bent. Time to go back." No other comment or explanation.
We got back about 30 minutes early, which means I spent 90 minutes fishing, and 3-1/2 hours with a surly captain who has no business guiding amateur fishermen on vacation.
Terrible trip, terrible vibes, and an experience that wasn't worth a penny, let alone the $750+ it costs.
Worst fishing trip ever.
Went fly fishing for bone fish. I'm an experienced fly fisherman of over 9 years, but have only one day on salt water. Captain showed up late (I had to call the office), and then openly expressed disdain for my experience level.
1 hour boat ride to the spot, which meant 2 hours total transit for a 4 hour trip. Not a word from the captain the entire time.
Once I started casting, it was all criticism and rapid fire, conflicting instructions. In short, he had me tied in knots before the first real cast, and he didn't get better from there.
His instructions weren't just confusing, they were wrong. At one point a fish swam from my 12 o'clock to my 3 o'clock, on the right side of the boat, and he kept yelling "Cast left! Cast left!" He kept saying that he would have to work harder to "guide" me, but all he did was yell louder. I felt I needed to work harder to please him, but there was no way.
I finally hooked a fish, and he immediately started shouting more instructions, "Don't do this! Don't do that! Reel faster!"
Problem was that the reel was broken, and would jamb with every crank. I pointed this out, even as I continued to battle the fish, and he just yelled, "Reel faster."
I finally landed the fish, and he promptly grabbed the rod, examined the reel, and said, "Reel's bent. Time to go back." No other comment or explanation.
We got back about 30 minutes early, which means I spent 90 minutes fishing, and 3-1/2 hours with a surly captain who has no business guiding amateur fishermen on vacation.
Terrible trip, terrible vibes, and an experience that wasn't worth a penny, let alone the $750+ it costs.
Worst fishing trip ever.
Written April 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback about your fly fishing experience with Talbot's Adventures. As the captain of your trip, I sincerely apologize for the misunderstandings and frustrations you encountered. Your experience falls far short of the high-quality service we strive to provide, and I take full responsibility for the shortcomings.
I recognize now that there was a significant miscommunication regarding fly fishing terminology and techniques. The standard terminology and approach for saltwater fly fishing on flats boats can indeed differ greatly from freshwater fly fishing. I should have taken more time to explain these differences and ensure we were on the same page before we began fishing.
I also want to apologize for any perception of criticism or disdain. My intention was to provide guidance, but I now understand that my manner of communication, particularly speaking loudly due to wind conditions, may have been misinterpreted as harsh or critical. This is entirely my fault, and I will strive to improve my communication style in the future.
Regarding the extended boat ride, I want to explain that in saltwater fly fishing, which is 100% sight fishing, we sometimes need to travel further to find clear skies and optimal conditions. However, I should have communicated this better and ensured you were comfortable with the plan.
I am deeply sorry about the broken reel. I was unaware of this issue until it was in use, which is unacceptable. We will be implementing more rigorous equipment checks to prevent such incidents in the future.
Lastly, I want to clarify that a 20-30 minute run time is typically standard for reaching the best fishing spots on a half-day trip. However, I should have discussed this with you beforehand and adjusted our plan based on your preferences.
Your experience is not representative of the service we aim to provide at Talbot's Adventures. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you directly to address your concerns further and discuss how we can make this right.
Thank you again for your feedback. It will help us improve our services and ensure better experiences for future guests.
Written August 26, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Douglas H
Littleton1 contribution
May 2022 • Friends
I definitely would not recommend this company. We had purchased an 8 hour deep sea and reef fishing excursion on May 10th. We arrived at the dock 15 minutes before our departure and then waited for almost an hour before our crew and boat arrived. We were told that they thought we were only doing a half day so they had to wait for the fuel truck to bring more fuel.
I know it is called fishing and not catching, but I don’t think Cecil and Lucky really cared as we kept going over the same area. We did catch a few fish while deep sea fishing and about 10 to 12 fish reef fishing. The crew tried to fillet the fish with the dullest knife possible. Instead of getting fillets we received chunks of fish. We were told we could keep the fish, but we were given about half of what we caught. Halfway through the day the boat started leaking hydraulic fluid so our trip back to the dock took a lot longer as we could only go about 5 miles an hour. We paid for an 8 hour trip and received about 6 hours. While we understand boat problems can occur there should be routine maintenance that helps to catch issues like this one. No one from the company called or emailed to tell us that they were sorry for the problems we encountered that day. I feel for as much as you charge your equipment and staff should be top notch. But it isn’t.
I know it is called fishing and not catching, but I don’t think Cecil and Lucky really cared as we kept going over the same area. We did catch a few fish while deep sea fishing and about 10 to 12 fish reef fishing. The crew tried to fillet the fish with the dullest knife possible. Instead of getting fillets we received chunks of fish. We were told we could keep the fish, but we were given about half of what we caught. Halfway through the day the boat started leaking hydraulic fluid so our trip back to the dock took a lot longer as we could only go about 5 miles an hour. We paid for an 8 hour trip and received about 6 hours. While we understand boat problems can occur there should be routine maintenance that helps to catch issues like this one. No one from the company called or emailed to tell us that they were sorry for the problems we encountered that day. I feel for as much as you charge your equipment and staff should be top notch. But it isn’t.
Written May 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback about your experience with Talbot's Adventures. As the owner and captain, I sincerely apologize for the numerous issues you encountered during your fishing trip. Your experience falls far short of the high standards we set for ourselves, and I take full responsibility for these shortcomings.
I am deeply concerned about the delayed start, the repetitive fishing areas, the issues with filleting the fish, and most importantly, the mechanical problem with the boat. These are all serious matters that we take very seriously, and I assure you that we are addressing each of them.
Regarding the filleting of the fish, I want to clarify that we typically don't provide this service. However, upon request, we do offer complimentary preparation of the catch. I apologize if this wasn't communicated clearly, leading to subpar results. We will ensure our crew is better equipped and trained for such requests in the future.
The mechanical issue with the boat is particularly troubling. We have a strict maintenance schedule, and this incident has prompted a thorough review of our procedures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
I am especially disappointed to hear that no one from our company reached out to apologize for these problems. This is a significant oversight on our part, and we will be improving our follow-up procedures immediately.
We value your feedback as it helps us improve our services. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss your experience further and to make things right. Please feel free to contact me directly.
Once again, I sincerely apologize for falling short of your expectations and our own standards. We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring it doesn't happen again.
Written August 26, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Goofrog
Mount Pleasant, TX3 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
Lavardo was clearly experienced and the best spotter I’ve ever fished with. The negative was we only fished 45 minutes of the 4 hours. We drove to 3 different spots and spent 10 minutes observing at each spot. I realize this is part of it and no use poling around an area with no fish. But we were 2+ hours into trip before we got rods out. Maybe it was bad luck but we only fished 45 minutes before it was time to head back. He spotted two groups of fish in that 45 minutes. We didn’t catch either.
He’s friendly conversation but needs patience on instruction. My teenage son had never bone fished, I was watching the video after and Lavardo told him “cast again” and “cast now” 6x in 10 seconds. My son was trying to finish retrieving and start his cast, so repeatedly saying the command only makes the environment more stressful. He also repeated “point your rod” 3x and “lower your tip” 4x to him in a span of 5 seconds. I realize in sight casting there is an opportunity window that can close quickly but after repeating twice, saying it repeatedly it doesn’t help.
My Background: fly fishing 30 years, 4th bone fishing trip, used 50-100 guides.
He’s friendly conversation but needs patience on instruction. My teenage son had never bone fished, I was watching the video after and Lavardo told him “cast again” and “cast now” 6x in 10 seconds. My son was trying to finish retrieving and start his cast, so repeatedly saying the command only makes the environment more stressful. He also repeated “point your rod” 3x and “lower your tip” 4x to him in a span of 5 seconds. I realize in sight casting there is an opportunity window that can close quickly but after repeating twice, saying it repeatedly it doesn’t help.
My Background: fly fishing 30 years, 4th bone fishing trip, used 50-100 guides.
Written November 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert B
Cary, NC48 contributions
Mar 2022 • Solo
I’m a beginner Fly Fisher. Truly enjoy and respect the sport. I had submitted my experience was beginner when I signed up and made it clear I’m learning and getting lessons. Captain was not patient and really only wants experienced fishers. He as much said so.
Wading for an hour while he fished so I could reel it in was NOT my idea of fly fishing. We then moved into the mangroves where I fished and caught a great Bonefish.
Very very knowledgeable and would be an great experience if you, as he put it, were a professional.
Wading for an hour while he fished so I could reel it in was NOT my idea of fly fishing. We then moved into the mangroves where I fished and caught a great Bonefish.
Very very knowledgeable and would be an great experience if you, as he put it, were a professional.
Written March 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi! there are 8 of us considering a fishing/snorkeling trip in April. One of the group has suffered a stroke. would it be possible for him to get on the boat at a dock? He is very anxious to go fishing....
Let me know what you think.
Written January 19, 2016
For sure - message Captain Talbot how will make sure you are accommodated. Hope you have a great time regardless
:)
Written March 31, 2018
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