Turks and Caicos Islands

The friendly Turks and Caicos islanders, known as the 'belongers', rely almost solely on tourism for their livelihood and therefore welcome visitors to this Caribbean British Crown Colony with open arms.

The 'TCI', as the archipelago is known colloquially, is situated at the end of the Bahamas chain, 575 miles (925km) southeast of Miami, Florida. The Turks, with their dry, scrubby landscape, are divided from the more lush Caicos Islands by the Christopher Columbus Passage.

The pristine white beaches, vast coral reefs and crystal clear warm waters that surround this set of eight inhabited islands and numerous deserted cays draw honeymooners, divers and vacationers in droves. Everyone leaves smiling and de-stressed, and most return again and again to enjoy the tranquility of this tropical island paradise.

The most popular islands for holidaymakers are Grand Turk (site of the quaint capital, Cockburn Town) and Providenciales ('Provo' for short), both well equipped with modern hotel, condominium and spa complexes offering every tourist amenity. The other islands offer more rustic accommodations suited to romantics who want to get away from it all. Clocks, televisions and radios are hard to find on the laid-back cays, and nightlife consists of stargazing.

If you have ever dreamed of escaping from the rat-race and becoming a castaway, this is the place to lose yourself in.

Basics

Time: Local time is GMT -5 (GMT –4 between April and October).
Electricity: Electricity is the same as in the US: 120/240 volts, 60 Hz.
Money: The US dollar (USD) is the official currency. Local banks and most hotels, restaurants and taxi services accept travelers cheques. Most credit cards are accepted and banks offer ATMs as well as cash advances on credit cards.

 

Note: This is not updated daily and should be used as a guide only.

Language: The national language is English, but some words are pronounced in a way unique to the islands.
Entry Requirements for Americans: Visitors from the United States may enter without a visa for a stay of up to 30 days. A valid passport is required.
Entry Requirements for UK nationals: British nationals require a passport but no visa to enter the islands for a stay of up to 30 days.
Entry Requirements for Canadians: Canadians may enter without a passport if they have an original birth certificate or notarized copy, and a photo identification document, such as a driver's license. Voter Registration cards are not deemed valid. A visa is not required for a stay of up to 30 days.
Entry Requirements for Australians: Australians require a passport but no visa for a stay of up to 30 days.
Entry Requirements for South Africans: South African citizens require a passport but no visa for entry for a stay of up to 30 days.
Entry Requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a passport, but no visa, for a stay of up to 30 days.
Passport/Visa Note: All visitors must hold a return or onward ticket, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds. From 23 January 2007 all US citizens travelling to and from Turks and Caicos Islands by air will require a valid passport; by 1 January 2008 the requirement will be extended to include all land and sea border crossings as well.
Health: There is no risk of disease on the islands and no vaccinations are required for entry. Medical facilities are limited. Serious cases are usually evacuated to Miami or Nassau. There is a small hospital on Grand Turk and some private general practitioners on Providenciales. Adequate insurance to cover air ambulance charges is highly recommended.
Tipping: Tips of around 15% of the bill are the norm for waiters. Taxi drivers are all private operators and appreciate a gratuity for good service. Hotels usually include a service charge of 10-15%.
Safety: Visits to the Turks and Caicos Islands are usually trouble-free. The crime rate is low, but on the favorite tourist island of Providenciales there have been incidents of burglary and theft, so visitors should take precautions with valuables. Robberies have occurred on Grace Bay Beach. Hurricane season generally runs from June to November.
Business: The Turks and Caicos Islands are subject to English Common Law and business is conducted in a similar manner to the United Kingdom, however suits are only necessary for the most formal of occasions. Business hours are generally 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Communications: Cable & Wireless Ltd. provides the island, and most of the Caribbean, with a digital network of telecommunications, including GSM cellular coverage and Internet connections. The country direct dialing code is +1 followed by 649. The outgoing code is 011 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01144 for the United Kingdom). Public phones operate with phone cards.
Duty Free: Travelers may enter the Turks and Caicos Islands with the following goods without paying customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 125g of tobacco products; and 1 litre spirits or 2 liters wine. Spear guns are strictly prohibited.
 

Activities

Diving

The Turks and Caicos Islands are famous for the reef system that surrounds them, the third most extensive coral reef in the world, making it a prime destination for divers and snorkelers. Visibility and an abundance of marine life, as well as excellent dive facilities ensure that diving is the number one activity on the islands. Coral reefs, particularly on the western shores, provide some outstanding vertical walls, such as the Grand Turk Wall west of Grand Turk that drops from 20ft (6m) to over 6,562ft (2,000m). The channel that separates the Turks Islands from the Caicos Islands is a deep passage that is a major route for humpback whales, dolphins, and eagle and manta rays. The reef wall around the southern edge of South Caicos Island is supposed to be the finest diving in the archipelago, and is known as the big fish capital. The shallow reefs close to the shore are excellent for snorkelers and with visibility up to 200ft (61m) there is no need to be underwater to appreciate all the sights.

 

Providenciales

Jo-Jo, a friendly bottle-nosed dolphin, greets visitors in the unbelievably clear and warm turquoise waters off beautiful Grace Bay on this paradise island, where miles of sugary white dunes and pristine beaches are protected by a healthy coral barrier reef. It is hardly surprising that this tropical wonderland has become the most developed of the Turks and Caicos Islands, alluring to thousands of diving enthusiasts and holidaymakers intent on getting away from it all. Although well equipped with tourist facilities like an international airport, superb hotels, a casino, golf club and small shopping malls, Providenciales remains largely unspoiled. The beaches stretch for miles and on some of the little offshore cays it is still possible to imagine you are Robinson Crusoe. Unlike the famous literary castaway, however, visitors to Providenciales (known usually as 'Provo') have purely pleasurable pursuits to occupy themselves with. Most find it difficult to tear themselves away from the beach, but when they do there are hundreds of activities on offer, from scuba diving to kayaking, parasailing to windsurfing, fishing and sailing. Not everything is water-based, however. It is great to hop on a bike and go exploring to see the sights. Among the attractions on the island is 'The Hole', billed as 'a beautiful bottomless pit', near Long Bay Beach. One can also wander up the hillside above Sapodilla Bay to read the graffiti on the scattered rocks left by shipwrecked sailors in days of yore. At the Island's Sea Center visitors can see how Conch is grown, before settling down to sample this delicious mollusk along with some fiery rum punch. Just offshore, more interesting creatures await on Little Water Cay, a haven for rare Rock Iguanas that can be viewed from raised boardwalks.

 

Airports

Providenciales International Airport (PLS)

Location: The airport is centrally located about 15 minutes drive from the coastal tourist accommodation establishments. Time: Local time is GMT -5 (GMT -4 between April and October). Contacts: Tel: +1 649 941 5670. Transfer to the city: Most resorts and hotels offer an airport transfer service. Taxis are freely available and a trip between the airport and most major hotels costs about US$15. Car rental: Avis and Provo Rent-a-Car are on site at the airport. Facilities: The airport has a restaurant, bar, cafeteria, VIP lounge, duty-free shop, newsagent, gift shop and travel agency. Parking: There is paid parking in the main parking lot in front of the terminal. No overnight parking available. Departure tax: US$35, excluding children under 2 years of age. Website: www.provoairport.com

 

Climate

Trade winds ensure that the islands maintain a comfortable warm temperature, which varies little between winter and summer. Between June and October the temperature hovers between 85°F and 90°F (29°C to 32°C), dropping only a few degrees in winter. The water is almost as warm as the air. The westerly islands have a high annual rainfall, and hurricanes are possible between June and October, but on average the islands have 350 days of sunshine a year.