The Top 10 Reasons to Visit the Turks and Caicos
The Turks and Caicos is one of the finest tropical and beach vacation destinations, and there are several reasons to justify traveling to our Beautiful by Nature islands.
There’s a wide collection of incredible Turks and Caicos hotels, all-inclusive resorts, and villas to choose from, from beachfront luxury properties on Grace Bay, to romantic and boutique villas. All-inclusive options include the expansive and family-oriented Beaches Turks and Caicos, the budget-minded and adult-only Club Med Turkoise, and several more accommodations.
We Have the World’s Best Beach
The primary attraction of the Turks and Caicos are our exceptional beaches and exquisite turquoise ocean water.
Grace Bay Beach, which is located on the island of Providenciales, is the best-known, yet unbelievable and secluded white sand beaches are found throughout the archipelago. Some of our amazing beaches include Long Bay Beach, Leeward Beach, Sapodilla Bay, and Taylor Bay on Providenciales, Governor’s Beach on Grand Turk, and Mudjin Harbour on Middle Caicos.
Grace Bay Beach and the Turks and Caicos have accumulated significant recognition, earning top places in Trip Advisor’s World’s Best Beaches and winning World Travel Awards’ World’s Leading Beach Destination many times throughout the years, as well as being ranked as the top beach in the world by Condé Nast Traveler.
The Caribbean’s Finest Diving and Snorkeling
The Turks and Caicos is an incredible destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. We have the second largest barrier reef in the Atlantic, which is further complemented by countless smaller bay and banks reefs.
The Turks and Caicos sits on an underwater plateau that abruptly rises 10,000 feet (3000 m) up from the surrounding ocean floor. In many places, the transition from shallow to deep is quite impressive and sheer, and is often referred to as the wall. It’s no wonder that Scuba Diving Magazine readers have voted the Turks and Caicos as having the best diving in the Caribbean, as our wall diving, combined with the abundance of vibrant coral and sea life, is unmatched.
It’s common to spot a menagerie of marine life. Sea turtles, stingrays, eagle rays, spiny lobsters, nurse sharks, colorful fish, corals, sea fans, sponges, and much more are found throughout the country. Bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, manta rays, and the larger sharks are less common, yet can still be spotted.
There’s Always Something Exciting to Do on the Water
We have great snorkeling, scuba diving, kiteboarding, paddleboarding, parasailing, windsurfing, surfing, fishing, horseback riding (nearly all rides here include wading!) boat cruises, jet skiing, and more.
There’s always a great water sport to enjoy in the beautiful marine environment of the Turks and Caicos, and it’s easy to learn a new skill, as the islands attract motivated instructors from around the world.
Many of our top water sports are easy to learn, including the paddle sports, parasailing, snorkeling, and jet skiing. Other, such as kiteboarding and surfing, are a bit more difficult, yet are often pursued and enjoyed for a lifetime. Or you could simply relax on Grace Bay Beach.
See also Top Water Sports and Boat Charters and Excursions.
It’s Easy to Get Here
The Turks and Caicos is located 1 hour and 9 minutes from Miami, and 2 hours and 36 minutes from New York City by plane. It doesn’t get much easier than that. We have direct flights from New York, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Toronto, and London.
Entry to the Turks and Caicos is easy for many countries, and residents of the USA, UK, EU, Canada, and much of the Caribbean do not need a visa.
See also Getting to the Turks and Caicos and International Flight Routes.
We Have Excellent Weather All Year-Round
The Turks and Caicos enjoys incredible weather, with temperatures typically in the 80° F to 90° F (27° C to 32° C) range, all year. We don’t get much rain, and it’s usually sunny with blue skies.
One of the most common questions that prospective visitors have is when to visit. There are activity availability and price changes throughout the seasons due to demand, yet the weather tends to be good throughout the year. The summer months are hotter, calmer, and bring the slight chance of a hurricane or tropical depression, and the winter months have a more pleasant temperature, yet can be breezier.
We’re a Popular Destination, Without the Crowds
We don’t have the crowds of Nassau or Montego Bay, and that’s not a bad thing. 20 years ago, nobody even knew where the Turks and Caicos was, and the first resort on Providenciales was only built in the 1980s. We’re one of the countries where half the people you talk to won’t even know where it is, and 99% would never have been here.
Quite a few celebrities own homes in the Turks and Caicos, including Bruce Willis, Donna Karan, Keith Richards, got married in the islands (Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner), or honeymooned here (Eva Longoria and Tony Parker, Bruce Willis and Emma Heming). Many more have enjoyed simply vacationing here, including Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Britney Spears, Madonna, Donatella Versace, Greg Norman, Bill Gates, Hugh Jackman, Michael J Fox, Kristen Stewart, Mel Gibson, Drake, the Kardashians, and the list goes on.
Stable, English Speaking, and We Use the US Dollar
The Turks and Caicos is an easy place to vacation at for visitors from the US and UK. We're a British Overseas Territory with our own culture and heritage, English is the common language, we use the US Dollar, US-style outlets and voltages, and most phone plans work here.
Providenciales has several well-stocked supermarkets, safe and reliable water and electricity utilities, a hospital, and no unusual endemic diseases.
We Have Some Great Restaurants
Providenciales is a wonderful destination for fine dining. There’s a wide array of cuisines to tempt your tastes, from local and Caribbean, to gourmet international.
Locally-caught seafood of course plays an important role in many dishes. The Turks and Caicos produces conch, spiny lobster, and fish, and fresh seafood that’s prepared expertly is unparalleled.
Many of the top restaurants are booked up for weeks, so you should make your dining selections and reservations in advance of your visit.
Off the Beaten Path
For those that appreciate nature and culture and are seeking a vacation off the beaten path, the Turks and Caicos offers some hidden gems. Our less populated islands are accessed via domestic flights and ferries aboard small craft, so most visitors stay on Providenciales and never get to experience the beautiful outer islands.
North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos, and Salt Cay each offer something unique. North and Middle Caicos are connected by a road causeway, and are expansive and sparsely developed, with miles of secluded coasts, and attractions that include the majestic Mudjin Harbour, Conch Bar Caves, and Wade’s Green Plantation. South Caicos and Salt Cay offer exceptional scuba diving and fishing, amazing views, and a quiet atmosphere.
Ambergris Cay, Pine Cay, and Parrot Cay are exclusive private island retreats, which offer privacy, boutique hotels, and unparalleled service.
See also Islands of the Turks and Caicos and Getting Around the Turks and Caicos.
A Great Place to Discover Nature
Most visit the Turks and Caicos for the beaches, however, the islands are also exceptional for hiking, outdoor photography, sports, and simply enjoying nature.
The Turks and Caicos is an incredible destination for seeing many types of wildlife and absorbing breathtaking vistas. Like some other small archipelagos, the Turks and Caicos the home of many endemic species and interesting animals, including a docile rock iguana, some of the smallest boas in the world, and a slew of small lizards. Birdwatching is excellent, and bird sightings can include flamingos, herons, egrets, ospreys, pelicans, hummingbirds, and much more.
In the ocean, fish are abundant, as well as turtles, conch, stingrays, eagle rays, sharks, dolphins, humpback whales (during the winter months), and many small and fascinating creatures.
There are numerous wonderful attractions to explore.
Why not the Turks and Caicos Islands?
The Turks and Caicos definitely isn’t perfect.
The Providenciales International Airport, where all scheduled international flights land, is undersized and the experience can be unpleasant. There is ongoing work to expand the existing terminal, as well as build a completely new terminal, yet it’ll be years before the work is finished.
Transportation can be somewhat more difficult (and expensive) than other destinations. Taxis are pricey, and for those renting a car, be advised that general driving ability in the islands is very poor. Many cars and drivers in the Turks and Caicos are not registered or insured. There is almost no enforcement of traffic law, which can result in stressful driving conditions for tourists.
Depending on the island, location, and rainfall conditions over the past week, mosquitoes can be a nuisance.
There’s no denying that the Turks and Caicos is an expensive destination. Energy, water, fuel, and food prices are very high, as nearly all essentials are imported, and the small size of the country creates inefficiencies in logistics, which further raises costs.
The Turks and Caicos has limited nightlife options, with much of what is available being centered around a few bars, restaurants, and clubs.