Turks & Caicos
The Turks and Caicos Islands is a British Overseas Territory, located in the Atlantic Ocean and considered a part of the Caribbean region. With more than 40 small islands and cays, there are nine inhabited:
Grand Turk
Providenciales
South Caicos
Salt Cay
Middle Caicos
North Caicos
Parrot Cay
Pine Cay
Ambergris Cay
Grand Turk is the capital of the Turks & Caicos and is about 7 miles long and 1.5 miles wide.
Highlights include:
Cockburn Town
The 1852 Lighthouse
Guinep House
Governors Beach
Gibbs Cay
Philatelic Bureau
Thomas Anglican Church
Salt Museum
Guanahani Beach
The main cruise ship port is located in Grand Turk. You can walk right off the boat and enjoy a wide variety of activities, attractions and shopping. To walk into the main town of Grand Turk is about 3 miles... so it's recommended to hire a taxi or go on a tour if wanting to explore other areas.
The Grand Turk Cruise Center has a pool, beach, and loungers and is free to use. Snorkel equipment, beach floats, and shade "clam shells" can be rented at the Beach Rental Hut on the beach.
There are a variety of shore excursions available on Grand Turk, including snorkeling, diving, self-drive boating, deep-sea fishing, horseback riding, bicycling, island tours, and off-road adventures.
There is also a Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" restaurant at the Grand Turk Cruise Center.
Providenciales is the tourism hub and is known for beautiful Grace Bay Beach.
Highlights include:
Long Bay
Sapodilla Bay
Blue Hills Beach
Pelican Beach
Taylor Bay
Coral Gardens
Provo Ponies
The Island Fish Fry takes place at PTV Stubbs Diamond Plaza, in Providenciales. The Island Fish Fry is the most sought-after weekly event and features over a dozen restaurant and souvenir vendors, a live band, cultural performances that come together to create an evening of "all things Turks & Caicos".
You can play golf at the beautiful 18-hole golf course, Provo Golf Club, which is located near Grace Bay.
North Caicos is 12 miles northeast of Providenciales. Daily connecting flights, TCI Ferry and boat charters are available (30 minutes), making North Caicos easily accessible.
Highlights include:
Lobster diving
Flamingo Pond
Cottage Pond
Wade's Green Loyalist Plantation
South Caicos, around 18 miles long, is best known as the fishing capital of the Turks and Caicos.
The island is only a ninety-minute ferry ride or a short twenty-minute flight from Providenciales.
Highlight’s include:
Amos’ Wall
Eagle Nest
The Arch
The island of Middle Caicos is the largest island in the Turks and Caicos Chain.
Highlights include:
The Indian Cave
Conch Bar Cave
Bambarra Beach
You can take the TCI ferry from Providenciales to North Caicos and use ground transportation to reach Middle Caicos. There are also taxis and car rentals available on North Caicos to explore the islands.
With a length of only 2.5 miles, Salt Cay Island is a small yet remarkable destination to visit. Take a trip to Taylor's Hill and explore the ruins. Whale watching is a popular activity on this island, and you may even get to swim alongside them. Pink flamingos are a common sight at South Creek. The island also is a stopover for migrating birds and has roaming donkeys.
Chartering a boat for the day is the ideal way to island hop, and many services double as scuba, snorkeling or fishing guides too.
English is the official language.
Currency: U.S. Dollar
The Turks and Caicos Islands use 120v, 60Hz electricity and U.S. style power plugs. No adapters or converters are needed for American visitors.
Country Code: +1 649
There are no bus services or other public transportation on any of the islands. Taxis are readily available from the airport or resort areas. It is best to have a transfer or tour with transfers pre-arranged. Or, you can rent a car, but remember, driving is on the left side of the road.
Uber and Lyft are not available in the Turks and Caicos.
