The tiny island nation of Turks & Caicos has received every accolade from the travel industry for its spectacular beaches and stunning scenery.

 

Less than a 90 minutes flight from Miami will find you in Providenciales, the main island of the tropical Archipelago. Turks and Caicos is made up of about one hundred islands and cays of varying size, of which only eight are inhabited. While you might be staying on Providenciales, many of the other islands are definitely worth exploring, including North Caicos, Middle Caicos, Grand Turks, South Caicos, and the stunning Salt Cay Island. All of these islands are accessible by a quick flight and some event by boat or ferry.

The Turks and Caicos Islands are home to the world’s third-largest barrier reef, after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the Belize Barrier Reef, making it one of the best dive spots in the Caribbean. The watersport offering is also just as good, with activities to suit all abilities, from paddleboarding, to waterskiing and snorkeling.

The restaurants are top-notch, with culinary options comparable to any major city in the United States. If casual is your thing, there are lots of amazing local restaurants who create the perfect Caribbean fare ranging from jerk chicken to conch salad.

Things To Do

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Things To Do

Top 5 Instagrammable Spots on Turks and Caicos

Whether you’re on a family vacation, a honeymoon or a girls’ trip, you’re bound to come across the most spectacular backdrops and photo opportunities to brighten up your feed. We’ve narrowed it down to the top 5 places we would recommend as the most instagrammable spots in the Turks and Caicos.

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After dark, top sundown hotspots

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Things To Do

Best Turks and Caicos excursions, day trips, and tours

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5 minutes with…Mark de Fraine the co-founder of Wake to Wake

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Where To Stay

Turks and Caicos

The best luxury hotels & resorts in Turks and Caicos

Boasting some of the world’s best beaches, spectacular diving, and amazing international cuisine, it’s no wonder Turks and Caicos is one of the Caribbean’s top vacation destinations. What’s more, there is no storage of luxury accommodation on these wondrous islands – we’ve rounded up the best hotels, resorts, and villas that Turks and Caicos has

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Where To Eat

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Best Beach Bars in Turks and Caicos

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Turks and Caicos Restaurant Guide
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Turks and Caicos Restaurant Guide

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Family-Friendly Dining in Providenciales

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3 reasons Turks and Caicos should be your next weekend escape

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Real Estate

Turks and Caicos

New Year Development bargain on a beautiful Caribbean island

Looking to buy your own slice of paradise? This 11-acre tropical heaven on South Caicos can be yours for USD $1,250,000. Offering a rare beachfront development opportunity, this parcel of land includes 570 feet of beach, making it an excellent investment opportunity either for immediate development or to hold for future appreciation as a hedge against inflation.

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Destination Wedding

Turks and Caicos

The Ultimate Turks and Caicos Wedding Guide

Planning a destination wedding in Turks and Caicos? Here is our guide to the most beautiful wedding venues in Providenciales.

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When is the best time to visit Turks and Caicos?

Turks and Caicos’ climate is about as perfect as it gets. The average annual temperature is 28°C / 83°F with the hottest month being September. Rainfall is sparse, with most islands getting less than 30 inches of precipitation annually, so be prepared to dress for plenty of sunshine. April and May are typically quieter and flights and hotels tend to be cheaper. 

Getting to Turks and Caicos

The Turks and Caicos Islands are now easily accessible by dozens of direct flights from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom and the main port of entry is Providenciales. If you are connecting through to one of the sister islands such as Grand Turk, South Caicos or Salt Cay, you can easily access the domestic terminal located right in our recently renovated airport. The weekends are generally busier than during the week so be sure to allow yourself a lot of time to check in upon your departure to avoid waiting in long lines. If you are looking for an expedited departure, contact VIP Flyers Club located in this section.

American Airlines and United Airlines fly several direct flights from around the US on a daily basis American Airlines)1-800-433-7300 United Airlines)1-800-864-8331.

Immigration Matters

A valid passport is the only way to enter the Turks and Caicos Islands. All non-residents must have a return ticket to enter. 

 

Transportation

Although we do not have Uber in the Turks and Caicos Islands, we do boast a large number of friendly taxi services with drivers that can take you directly to your destination or give you a personalized tour of the islands. If you want to go ‘local’ and drive on the left-hand side of the road, feel free to rent a car at one of our many car rental agencies located at the airport and throughout Providenciales. There is a small government tax on all rental contracts.

Caicos Express Airways offer scheduled or excursion flights to North and South Caicos, Salt Cay and Grand Turk, Santiago and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic as well as Cap Haitian and Port-au-Prince in Haiti. Charter flights are also available. Contact a local representative for details.

Phone Calls

The Turks and Caicos Islands are up to date technologically speaking but be wary of roaming fees from your provider when visiting here. One way to ensure you don’t accumulate monster roaming fees is to keep your mobile on ‘Airplane Mode.’ We do have telecommunication companies such as Lime and Digicel which provides wireless data services throughout all the islands.

Free Wi-Fi Zones

Most hotels and villas provide free WiFi wireless internet. Some cafes and restaurants provide free WiFi in addition.

Religious Services

The Turks and Caicos Islands have more churches than convenience stores and proudly welcome visitors to their local services. With services representing a large array of denominations, please refer to our Yellow Pages or look online for the nearest service.

Tax and Tipping

The TCI are free of any direct taxes on income or capital (with the exception of National Insurance fees which top out at 8% on declared monthly income and mandatory government medical insurance which is a maximum of 6% of declared income). There are however, some indirect, one-time taxes that are levied on imported items and land transfers. A $35 departure tax is levied on all persons over the age of two and is included on airline tickets. Accommodation, car rental, excursion and restaurant taxes are also applied. Duty-free shops can be found at the airport and throughout the islands. 

A tip of 15% is customary in restaurants. This is usually not added to the bill but may appear as a service charge on parties of six or more. Do not confuse this with the 12% service tax that is required by government and is added to all restaurant bills. Tipping watersports crews, horseback riding guides, beauty and spa personnel and tour guides is also customary.

Currency

The official currency is the US dollar, but the local treasury also produces a TCI Crown (worth $1) and a quarter. These make great souvenirs, so check your change. Traveler’s checks are universally accepted as well as Visa, MasterCard and American Express at most locations. On the sister islands it’s a good idea to have cash.

Banking & ATMs

Local banks are open Monday- Thursday from 9:00am to 3:00pm and on Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm. A word to the wise: avoid banking on Friday if it is at all possible, as this is payroll day, and lines can be extremely long. All the banks have ATM machines. 

Medical Facilities

Providenciales and Grand Turk now have state-of-the- art hospitals, open 24/7. There are also a number of qualified private medical professionals to assist you in the event of an emergency. Your hotel will have a doctor on call who will be available to you upon your request.

In an emergency dial 911. Consult the yellow pages of the telephone directory under Doctors for private and government physicians.  Each of the other inhabited islands has a clinic which is usually staffed by a nurse. 

Map of Turks and Caicos

Explore Turks and Caicos and plan your perfect Caribbean adventure

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Fish Fry

The Bight Settlement TKCA 1ZZ, Turks and Caicos Islands

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