The
Turks & Caicos Islands - Paradise Found
The Turks and Caicos Islands are one of the Caribbean's
secret hideaways. More than 40 islands and cays are locked
inside the world's most spectacular continuous coral
reefs. Islands far from the neon and noise of cities;
where life is simple, warm and welcoming, where there's
no need to lock your doors. Feel like you've never felt
before! Sunning, swimming, beachcombing, sailing, diving,
fishing, or searching for sunken treasures off our 230
miles of gold and white sand beaches.
Our islands lie
southeast of Nassau, halfway between Miami and Puerto
Rico, and are separated from the Bahamas,
our nearest neighbors, by a 30 mile wide ocean passage.
The two groups of islands, the Turks Islands and Caicos
Islands, are 200 square miles. The Caicos group consists
of six principle islands: Providenciales, North Caicos,
South Caicos, Middle Caicos, East Caicos and West Caicos,
and numerous small cays, some of which, like Pine Cay
and Parrot Cay, are inhabited. The Turks Islands are
smaller and are separated from the Caicos Islands by
the 22 mile wide deep-water channel (the Turks Island
Passage) and consist of two main islands, Grand Turk
and Salt Cay, and a number of small uninhabited cays.
How to Get to North Caicos
American Airlines arrives on the island of Providenciales
2-3 times daily throughout the year from Miami and on
weekends from Boston and New York. US Airways flys direct
from Charlotte, North Carolina, British Airways from
London, Delta from Atlanta, and Air Canada from Toronto.
There are also direct weekly charters from Toronto, Montreal,
Boston and New York. For a complete list click here.
Once
you arrive on Providenciales, you will be flown in
a six-seater airplane to North Caicos ($30/person
each way). The flight is a mere 12 minutes and offers
a spectacular panoramic view of our beautiful Islands.
Upon arriving on North Caicos, M&M, a local taxi
driver, will escort you to the Ocean Beach Hotel ($6/person)
where Karen, the manager, will be awaiting you with a
glass of island rum punch.
North Caicos Climate
Our
climate can best be described as an eternal summer
with almost continuous ocean breezes from the trade
winds
and with constant sunshine, making the islands an ideal
year-round vacation destination. The temperature rarely
drops below 25° C (77° F) or rises above 28° C
(83° F) average. The cool breezes make for comfortable
sleeping without air conditioning. North Caicos has a
rainfall of about 40 inches per year and the vegetation
is more lush compared to the neighboring islands. North
Caicos is known as the Garden Island.
Clothes to Bring
Dress is informal. Light sweaters are useful for breezy
evenings. Our Island is in the tropics and the sun is
much hotter than in Florida, so bring your sun protection
creams!!!!!!
Currency and Banking
The
U.S. dollar is legal tender. There are no currency
control regulations and full international banking
facilities
are available on Providenciales and Grand Turk at Barclays
Bank, the Bank of Nova Scotia and CIBC. Credit cards
are not extensively used in North Caicos. US dollar travelers
cheques are always accepted. The Turks & Caicos Islands
are a British Crown Colony and tax haven.
Some Reminders
Electricity is .35 per kW, water is precious--please
help us to Conserve it.
Our reefs and marine life are our heritage, please look
after them so that we can all continue to enjoy their
beauty. Please help us to keep the islands as you would
wish to find them.
There is a departure tax of US $23.00 per person when
you leave the Islands.