Why visit Turks & Caicos?

For beaches and watersports, Turks & Caicos is the place!

For a long time, scuba divers tried to keep Turks & Caicos a secret treasure all for themselves. But in recent years, the beautiful turquoise waters and powdery beaches have begun to attract more travelers who are truly looking to get away from it all. Crowds remain thin, and the islands resemble the peaceful beauty of the Caribbean of 20 years ago. Scuba diving, snorkeling, and boating excursions offer awe-inspiring glimpses of fantastic reefs and marine life. And back on land, top-notch tennis and golf abound.

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Turks & Caicos - a group of secluded islands tucked peacefully off the southern end of the Bahamas - is the perfect retreat for those seeking tranquility enveloped in white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. More than 200 miles of spectacular, sandy coastline set the perfect scene for beach lovers. And turquoise waters teeming with vibrant butterfly fish, exotic black coral, and orange sponges beckon scuba divers.

Turks & Caicos remains significantly less developed than many of the other Caribbean islands. Grand Turk is the main tourist island, and Providenciales, in Caicos, is the resort center with the most action - golf, tennis, and casino gaming abound. For a relaxing vacation spend sauntering along secluded beaches and uninhabited cays, shelling, fishing, snorkeling, windsurfing, and scuba diving, Turks & Caicos is the place!

Approximate Air Travel Time

New York City 4.6 hrs
Boston 5 hrs
Miami 1.75 hrs
Philadelphia 4.4 hrs
Los Angeles 6.75 hrs
Chicago 4.75 hrs
Dallas-Forth Worth 4.5 hrs
San Francisco 7.5 hrs

Areas within Turks & Caicos

The main islands of Turks & Caicos consist of two groups separated by the Christopher Columbus Passage. Grand Turk and Salt Cay make up the Turks group, while the Caicos group consists of Providenciales, and South, East, Middle, North, and West Caicos. Some are uninhabited, and some are much smaller than others, but all boast world-renowned snorkeling and scuba diving.

Grand Turk

This island is home to Cockburn Town, the historic and cultural center of the islands. The streets of this 7-square-mile island are lined with 18th- and 19th-century landmarks that reflect Bermudan style architecture. Grand Turk also houses the Turks & Caicos National Museum (the islands' only museum). A protected coral reef, with clear calm waters awaits scuba divers and snorkelers.

Salt Cay

Less than 10 miles south of Grand Turk this former center of the Bermudan salt industry is a 3.5-square-mile cay that has been designated a historic site. Visitors here can see the windmills that once powered the salt industry and the 150-year-old White House, which was built by Bermudan salt rakers and still holds its original antique furniture. The ruins of an old whaling station are also on exhibit.

South Caicos

This is where you'll find some of the best diving and snorkeling in all of the islands. This 8.5-mile-long island has a plethora of secluded coves and thriving coral reefs. For a small fee, locals will take visitors sailing and fishing.

East Caicos

This 18-square-mile island is completely uninhabited. It was once home to a large sisal plantation and cattle industry, and ruins of an abandoned town, railroad tracks, and cave artwork remain. Today, much of the island is covered in swamps and mangroves, and sea turtles lay their eggs on the 17-mile beach.

Middle Caicos

At 48 square miles, this island (aka Grand Caicos) is the largest and least developed of the inhabited islands. Towering limestone cliffs and quiet beaches create a dramatic coastline. Conch Bay, on the north shore, features gigantic limestone caves. Just offshore in shallow water is the perfect place to snorkel and see a wide variety of marine life.

North Caicos

This 41-square-mile island offers miles of soft, white-sand beaches and water that's teeming with unusual fish. Visitors can also see a crab farm, plantation ruins, flocks of flamingos, and other birds.

Providenciales

Commonly referred to as Provo, this is Caicos' most developed island. With 38-square-miles and 12 miles of beaches, Provo offers major hotels, a casino, a golf course, and boutiques. A barrier reef attracts swimmers, divers, and boaters. An added bonus is JoJo, the Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphin who has lived and played in these waters since 1983. He loves to give children rides on his back and perform tricks for anyone who'll watch.

West Caicos

Completely uninhabited, this 9-square-mile island has some of the most exotic diving imaginable. A wall inhabited by immeasurable species of marine life begins about one-quarter mile out to sea. The ruins of Yankee Town are evidence of the small civilization that once existed here.

Topography

Turks & Caicos is an archipelago of eight main islands and 30 to 40 small cays scattered around two large limestone platforms. The entire low-lying island country is surrounded by a continuous beautiful coral reef about two miles offshore.

Climate

The average temperatures hover between 75° and 85°. From June through October, daytime highs can reach the 90°s, especially in the late summer months. Constant trade winds sustain a comfortable climate year-round. Turks & Caicos get about 21 inches of rain per year, but showers are usually brief. The heart of hurricane season lasts from late August to early November, though strikes are rare and there is plenty of advance notice to prepare.

A Selection of Things To Do and Places To See in Turks & Caicos

Snorkel the Black Forest

Just off-shore in 35 feet of water is a "forest" of black coral chock-full of brilliantly-colored coral and marine life. It's snorkel heaven, not to mention a fantastic spot for underwater photography!

Caicos Conch Farm

You'll learn all about these unusual sea critters from their breeding stage to egg incubation to full maturation through touch tanks and engaging videos.

Scuba Diving

All the islands offer excellent diving. Countless varieties of colorful fish and coral, and a breathtaking reef that is 65 miles across and 200 miles long, are just the beginning of the underwater attractions. Off the northwest corner of Provo is Smith's Reef, which houses brain and fan corals, sea cucumbers, green parrot fish, long-nosed trumpet fish, and hawksbill turtles. Off the shore of Provo's Grace Bay is a 14-mile long barrier reef that's teeming with everything from vibrant schools of fish to barracuda to rotund grouper. At Grand Turk, divers can take a night dive on a wall. Bioluminescence turns the daytime colors into phosphorescent illuminations of the night. Off Salt Cay divers can explore the HMS Endymion, which sank in 1790. The ship's cannons and anchors are still clearly visible. And off the southern shore of West Caicos is Molasses Reef, which is rumored to be the resting place of Columbus' ship, the Pinta.

Beaches

Non-divers can enjoy the spectacular ocean scenery from the pristine beaches. On Provo, Grace Bay has calm, iridescent waters and is the perfect place for a stroll at daybreak or dusk. Erebus Beach offers great snorkeling at Smith's Reef. And on isolated Long Bay, along Provo's southeastern shore, visitors find blissful solitude. On Grand Turk, Governor's Beach is the most popular spot for picnics and parties.

Boating

Don't miss out on one of the many boating excursions offered throughout the islands. Many include snorkeling and lunch (usually a picnic or barbecue). Some offers sunset cruises and glass-bottomed boats. Guests lucky enough to be on the islands from December through April may have an incredible whale-sighting as the entire Atlantic pod of 2,500 humpback whales migrate by the shores.

Biking

The flat terrain and mostly paved surfaces are perfect for leisurely bicycle riding. And biking offers a great way to see the many sites in town, including the beautiful Bermudan buildings in Cockburn Town. Many of the hotels have bicycles available, as do bike shops around the islands.

Golf

Golf lovers will love the Provo Golf Club, which is ranked among the Caribbean's Top 10. Along with the 18-hole course, golfers will find an air-conditioned West Indian-style clubhouse, a bar and grill, a driving range, and a pro shop.

Turks & Caicos National Museum

islands' only museum is on Grand Turk. The exhibits here offer a peek into the early days of the islands, going as far back as the tribal population. Don't miss the fascinating exhibit on the Molasses Reef wreck.

Shopping

Those looking to shop should head to Provo. The Bamboo Gallery sells various Caribbean art, everything from Haitian paintings to native metal sculptures. Greensleeves offers paintings, rag rugs, baskets, and jewelry all made by local artists. Maison Creole has furniture, carved wood masks, and canes. Mama's Gifts sells hand-woven and embroidered straw baskets, handbags, hats, and shell & wood jewelry. And Paradise Gifts/Art has an on-site ceramics studio, as well as jewelry and T-shirts.

Dining around Turks & Caicos

Like everything else on the islands, dining out is a casual affair, which is not to say the meals are not delicious. In fact, the island's recent increase in tourism is attracting a flurry of talented and inventive young chefs. Fresh seafood is a mainstay on most menus, and you're likely to see grouper, tuna, conch, spiny lobster, and hogfish, which is a local favorite. Many dishes are seasoned with tangy spices, and Cajun blackening and Jamaican jerking are popular. Most restaurants are located within hotels and resorts, and reservations are generally suggested, but not required.

Nightlife

Many of the hotels and resorts provide nightly entertainment. If your doesn't, Grand Turk and Providenciales have a few bars and clubs that offer music and dancing. Casino games are another popular nighttime diversion.

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