The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory of about 40 islands and cays scattered across a broad shallow bank in the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of the Bahamas. Most are uninhabited. The ones that are not have become, improbably, some of the most sought-after beach destinations in the Caribbean.
The draw is simple: Grace Bay on Providenciales is routinely ranked among the finest beaches in the world, with powder-white sand and water so clear it reads turquoise from above. Offshore, the third-largest coral reef system in the world drops into walls that attract serious divers from across the globe. Humpback whales pass through between January and March.
The islands divide roughly into two groups: the Caicos Islands to the west, which include the main tourism hub of Providenciales, and the Turks Islands to the east, anchored by Grand Turk, the quiet capital. Between them lie a handful of smaller islands ranging from the accessible — North Caicos and Middle Caicos are connected by road — to the truly remote.
The territory uses the US dollar, English is spoken everywhere, and citizens of the US, Canada, UK, and most EU countries need no visa. Getting here is straightforward from the eastern US. The catch is cost: Turks and Caicos is not a budget destination, and accommodation prices during the December–April high season are among the highest in the Caribbean.
Destinations
- Providenciales — the main island, home to Grace Bay and most restaurants, diving, and nightlife
- Grand Turk — the capital, with a colonial centre and good diving on its western wall
- Salt Cay — a sleepy, windmill-dotted island popular for whale watching
- North Caicos — lush and rural, good for birding and flamingos
- Middle Caicos — the largest island, connected by road to North Caicos, with caves and an empty beach
- South Caicos — a fishing community with excellent diving
- East Caicos — uninhabited, reachable only by boat
- West Caicos — uninhabited, exceptional diving on its western wall
- Pine Cay — private island with a single small resort