Turks and Caicos
The Turks and Caicos is a British Overseas Territory that is southeast of the Bahamas in the Atlantic
Ocean. This archipelago of islands is typically at the top of the list of top Caribbean islands to visit. With
some of the most beautiful beaches it is no wonder why. The top places that are visited are Grand Turk
which is the cruise stop destination for the island and Providenciales (Provo) where most international
flights land. There are, however, a total of 40 islands and cays (8 inhabited) that make up the Turks and
Caicos. If you love beautiful beaches, watersports, snorkeling, boating, resorts and more this is the place
for you.
getting to the Turks and Caicos
The two most common ways to come to the Turks and Caicos are via plane to Providenciales or via
cruise to Grand Turk. All international flights arrive through the Providenciales International Airport
(PLS) on the island of Providenciales. When arriving by plane you will have to clear customs. Currently no
visa is required for USA, Canada and the UK. All cruises stop at Grand Turk arriving at the Grand Turk
Cruise Center. Customs will be cleared via the cruise so you are free to exit and get straight to your
activities.
getting around the Turks and Caicos
If you are arriving via plane, you will land at the Providenciales International Airport. Most visitors by
plane spend their time on this island but you can also visit other islands. From PLS airport, you can take
small interisland domestic flights. The two domestic airlines are Caicos Express and interCaribbean.
Common domestic flights go to Grand Turk (GDT), Salt Cay (SLX), and South Caicos (XSC). If you would
like to visit North and Middle Caicos you can go via ferry at the Heaving Down Rock Marina on
Providenciales which goes to the Bellefield Landing on North Caicos. You can also opt to ferry to South
Caicos from Providenciales, but this goes a couple times a week. If you are spending time on Grand Turk,
you can also take a ferry to Salt Cay three times a week.
Once on these islands you can get around by taxi or by renting a car. The cost of taxis is high. There is
also no public transportation. I would strongly recommend renting a car if you have any plans to explore
around the island. Unless you plan to stay in Grace Bay at a resort and near other resorts/dining and
plan to just stay in one place and relax, you will need a car. Also, if you take the ferry across to North
Caicos, you will need a rental car to explore North and Middle Caicos. If visiting Grand Turk rental
vehicles are available for the day if you wish to go exploring on the island. The cruise will also offer a
variety of tours to fit your desired plans for the day. If visiting Salt Cay, you can explore via bicycle or via
golf cart.
when to visit the Turks and Caicos
You can visit anytime of year because the weather remains fairly similar year-round with mostly sunny
days and very little rain. Peak tourism occurs between December and April. Officially, the rainy season is from late August to early December. Hurricane season is from beginning of June to end of November.
The lowest tourism time seems to be between September and November so that will be when lowest
crowds and best deals.
where to stay Providenciales
The most popular area to stay in is around Grace Bay due to the number of restaurant and bars and luxury resorts. There is also the most shopping, art galleries and many tours can be booked from here. If you rent a car, you have more flexibility to stay in other more isolated areas on the island. Other common areas to stay are around Chalk Sound, Long Bay Beach, Turtle Cove and more. There are also some all inclusive resorts if that is what you are looking for such as Beaches, The Palms, Alexandra, Club Med and more.
The lowest tourism time seems to be between September and November so that will be when lowest
crowds and best deals.
Things to do Turks and Caicos
Beaching, water-sports, snorkeling, and relaxing will be what you are doing while visiting the Turks and Caicos. Here are some of the top rated beaches and attractions on Providenciales: Taylor Bay Beach, Chalk Sound National Park, Sapodilla Bay Beach, Grace Bay Beach, Long Bay Beach, the Thursday Fish Fry, Smith’s Reef, Bight Reef, ferry and day trip to North and Middle Caicos, Cheshire Plantation tour, Turk’s Head Brewery and so much more.
