Welcome to the Turks and Caicos
Your Turks and Caicos Vacation
The Turks and Caicos is a small tropical archipelago nation located south of the Bahamas. Our islands offer spectacular beaches, a pristine marine environment, luxury resorts, friendly people, and fine dining.
There’s so much to do and discover. Incredible beaches, crystal clear ocean water, and abundant marine life are yours to explore. Quite simply, the Turks and Caicos is the best beach destination.
It’s easy to experience paradise. The TCI welcomes direct flights from many cities in the United States and Canada, as well as London and many countries in the Caribbean. English is our official language, and we use the US Dollar.
Incredible Beaches
Other Caribbean destinations offer giant water parks, nightlife, casinos, or the extravagant Carnival. Our tourism claim to fame is a bit closer to nature–we have the best beaches in the world. Of course, this is a tremendous assertion, but after a few steps on our powdery sand, you’ll agree too. The experts concur, as the Turks and Caicos have taken the World Travel Award’s title of Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination and TripAdvisor’s Best Beach in the World many times.
Pristine white sand beaches and ocean water with turquoise and blue hues define our coasts. And we don’t just have one or two great beaches, as every island in the country hides many wonderful and secluded beaches.
The unrivaled and world-famous Grace Bay Beach is the country’s crown jewel, and has won countless awards and recognition. The beach is true paradise, with breathtaking beauty. A full collection of all-inclusive resorts, luxury hotels, and vacation villas are on Grace Bay.
Our Beautiful Islands
The Turks and Caicos has forty islands and cays, of which nine are inhabited. With an area of 238 mi² (616 km²), the TCI is about twice the size of the Florida Keys.
Providenciales, often simply called Provo, is home to the spectacular Grace Bay Beach, luxury resorts, and hotels, and is the destination of choice for many of our visitors. It’s also where the majority of our population reside. All international flights to the islands arrive on Providenciales.
Grand Turk has the country’s capital city of Cockburn Town and our only cruise ship port. The island offers interesting historical sites and exceptional scuba diving.
North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos, and Salt Cay are our quiet outer islands, and are laid-back and a bit more down-to-earth. These hidden gems are primarily supported by low-key tourism and small-scale fishing and farming.
The Turks and Caicos also has the two large uninhabited islands of East Caicos and West Caicos, and the private boutique islands of Ambergris Cay, Pine Cay, and Parrot Cay.
Where Turks and Caicos Is Located
The Turks and Caicos (TCI) is located between the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. It’s a 90-minute flight from Miami and less than 4 hours from New York and Toronto.
The Turks and Caicos geographically is part of the Lucayan Archipelago, which includes the TCI, the Bahamas, and the marine plateaus of the Mouchoir Bank, the Silver Bank, and the Navidad Bank.
Domestic flights and passenger ferries connect the inhabited islands in the Turks and Caicos.
Perfect Weather All-Year Round
What good is a top-rated beach without sunny weather and a perfect climate? The sun is almost always shining here, temperatures are consistently warm, and there’s very little rain to dampen the mood. Throughout the year, our ocean water temperature maintains a pleasantly-warm and serene average in the mid-80°F range (29°C).
The Turks and Caicos experiences a change in tourist arrivals throughout the year. The winter months are the “high season”, and the quieter autumn months are referred to as the “low season”. Hotels and activities are often discounted during the low season, so it’s a great time to save on vacation costs.
Attractions and Things to Do
An expansive barrier reef, one of the largest in the world, protects our coasts, and is home to vibrant marine life and coral.
The sheltered mangrove channels of the Turks and Caicos are amazing spots for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking. You’ll see conch, turtles, stingrays, baby sharks, and bird life the way they are meant to be seen: in their natural environment.
Our incredible reefs and beaches aren’t the only attractions. Caves, historical sites, national parks, and the award-winning Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club await. We also have a small museum that features artifacts spanning over 1000 years of history and culture, art galleries, and the unique and friendly Potcake dog, which is the best island pet around!
Want to get your heart racing? Take in the view from above by parasailing over Grace Bay, go horseback riding on the beach, or cruise the turquoise Caicos Banks on a jet ski. For anglers, a fishing charter can be a perfect way to spend a day on the water.
On the breezier days, kiteboarding and windsurfing conditions are excellent. The shallow water of Long Bay Beach is recognized as one of the finest kite spots around.
Hotels, Resorts, and Villas
The choice of luxury hotels, all-inclusive resorts, and vacation rental villas in the islands is extensive.
Provo hosts most of the resorts in the country. Choose from beachfront suites on the award-winning Grace Bay, or comfortable luxury villas overlooking the brilliant waters of Chalk Sound Lagoon, Turtle Tail, or Long Bay.
Many of our luxury resorts have received international acclaim, including the Grace Bay Club, Amanyara, Wymara Resort, The Shore Club, West Bay Club, The Palms, and Seven Stars Resort.
There are also several all-inclusive resorts, including family-oriented Beaches Turks & Caicos (part of the Sandals group), Alexandra Resort, Blue Haven Resort, and the adult-only Club Med Turkoise. Properties boast an impressive range of amenities and services, including spas and exquisite in-house dining, and are also perfect for weddings and honeymoons.
Rental villas can be an excellent choice for larger groups. Amenities may include a pool, use of a car, airport pick-up, visits to the spa, and private chef services. Great villa locations include Leeward, Long Bay, Turtle Cove, Sapodilla Bay, Chalk Sound, Taylor Bay, and Turtle Tail.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
The Turks and Caicos is home to a remarkable and vibrant barrier reef system that surrounds the archipelago. Inside the barrier reef and on the Caicos Banks are many bay reefs too, each of which is unique.
Providenciales and Grand Turk offer a range of professional dive shops, which regularly visit hundreds of lively dive sites across the country. Popular sites include French Cay, West Caicos, the Caicos Barrier Reef, and Northwest Point. For those who’d rather stay a little closer to the ocean surface, a boat snorkeling tour is a great way to experience our marine environment. We have beach reefs too, including Smith’s Reef and the Bight Reef.
There are always fascinating marine animals to spot. In addition to colorful reef fish, turtles, conch, eagle rays, and stingrays are common. You may even see Jojo, our unique and friendly Atlantic bottlenose dolphin!
Boutique Island Experiences
Grace Bay isn't the only place to find luxury in the Turks and Caicos. We have several boutique islands that feature exclusive resorts and real estate developments.
The COMO Parrot Cay Resort on Parrot Cay and the Pine Cay Resort on Pine Cay are two small yet spectacular islands. They are home to incredible beaches and a luxurious and laid-back atmosphere.
Ambergris Cay, located on the remote south-eastern edge of the Caicos Banks, is a private island retreat with breathtaking vistas, low-density development, and a spectacular ecosystem. The nearby pristine nature reserve island of Little Ambergris Cay has some of the finest beaches in the country.
Salt Cay, the longest continually inhabited island in the Turks and Caicos, is another unique getaway and offers the unique experience of a quiet atmosphere, old colonial buildings, secluded beaches, and breathtaking vistas.
Restaurants and Dining
Providenciales has become an exceptional destination for gourmet dining, and offers a diversity of cuisines. Fresh seafood, including conch, spiny lobster, and fish, factor into many dishes. However, international twists and fusions are what make the country’s restaurants so delicious. Many popular restaurants offer a menu combining the top tastes from our islands, Jamaica, the Bahamas, America, and Europe.
If you’d prefer something more authentic, pan-poached grouper and lobster, cracked conch, and fish stews have been favorite local foods for generations. If you’re looking for a complete cultural experience, try a local restaurant that features live music, such as Da Conch Shack, Omar’s Beach Hut, or Bugaloo’s Conch Crawl. Enjoy conch fritters, conch salad, grilled lobster tail, blackened or pan-fried fish, and the ubiquitous peas n’ rice. Conch is the defining seafood in the Turks and Caicos, and we once even had a conch farm!
Grace Bay is home to beachfront restaurants and bars, which are perfect places to grab a drink and watch the sunset. A sunset cruise or glowworm tour is another nightlife option.
Day Trips and Excursions
A day trip to one of the outer islands is recommended, and planning your own adventure is easy.
When in season, humpback whale watching can be incredible, and there may even be the chance to swim with these gentle giants.
An island-hopping boat cruise is the perfect family trip. Along with the stunning beaches and ocean, some of our uninhabited cays are home to a unique and friendly animal—the Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana. Boat cruises often include a little of everything: snorkeling, sightseeing, tube wake riding, and a beach barbecue.
Airports, Flights, and Vacation Packages
It’s easy to get to the Turks and Caicos. Direct flights from major US airlines fly from New York, Miami, Boston, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and other cities in the United States. Canada is also within easy reach, with direct flights from Toronto and Montreal. There are even flights from London as well. In addition, regional airlines connect the Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and other Caribbean destinations. Once your plane touches down, you can be relaxing on Grace Bay Beach in an hour or two, as you won’t have to spend hours traveling by car or train to get to your hotel.
It’s easy for those that want to rent a car. Our road system is decent, and speeds are limited to 40 mph (64 km/h). We drive on the left, though! If you’d prefer not to drive while on vacation, it’s easy to arrange a taxi or car service.
The time zone observed in the Turks and Caicos is Eastern Standard Time (UTC/GMT-5). We’re in the same time zone as the major US east coast cities, which is very convenient.
As a British Overseas Territory, the Turks and Caicos bases its entry requirements and visa policies on the practices of the United Kingdom. No visa is needed for those with a passport or valid resident or tourist visa from the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada.