Turks and Caicos Islands Travel Guide

Southwestern beach on Grand Turk

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 tranquillity 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.