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General
Information
The beautiful Turks and
Caicos Islands are situated
575 miles (or 75 minutes) southeast
of Miami. Covering 193 square
miles of the Atlantic Ocean, the
Turks and Caicos Islands has the
third largest coral reef system
and the best tropical beaches
in the world, making it a premier
beach, diving and snorkelling
destination and an ideal location
for romance, family vacations,
ecotourism and adventure seekers.
 There are eight inhabited
islands: Salt Cay, Grand Turk,
South Caicos, Middle Caicos, North
Caicos, Providenciales, Parrot
Cay and Pine Cay. East Caicos
and West Caicos along with several
other fascinating cays are uninhabited.
The Columbus Passage, 22 mile-wide
channel, separates the Turks Islands
from the Caicos Islands. This
8,000 foot deep passage serves
as major transit lines for migrating
*Humpback Whales, Spotted Eagle
Rays, Manta Rays, Turtles and
Dolphins.
 Excellent visibility,
pristine reefs, abundant tropical
flora and fauna, fish and other
marine life, quality diving services
and easy conditions make the Turks
and Caicos Islands a world class
dive destination. World famous
walls are lushly landscaped in
rich marine decor and play host
to a tremendous variety of sea
creatures. Shipwrecks, old and
new further enhance these islands
as an outstanding diving destination.
Turks and Caicos has assured that
for generations to come, divers
will be able to enjoy this underwater
wonderland. A series of marine
parks and nature reserves have
been set aside to protect these
beautiful and fragile areas. A
system of moorings is in place
which protect the reef from anchoring
damage at popular dive sites.
*From late December through April,
the entire Atlantic herd of 2,500
Humpback Whales pass through the
shores on their annual migration
to the Mouchoir Bank, just 20
- 30 miles southeast. During this
period divers can listen to an
underwater concert of the whale's'
songs.
Climate 75 - 90F 24 - 32C
Water Temp 77 - 85F 25 - 29C
Visibility 100+ ft 30+ m
Getting
There
The Turks and Caicos is only 75
minutes from Miami, less than 3
hours from Charlotte, North Carolina,
3 hours from New York and 3 and
a half hours from Boston and can
easily be reached with direct flights
from the US, the UK, Canada, the
Bahamas, Jamaica, Dominican Republic
and Haiti.
There are several regular direct
flights to the island of Providenciales
from the US, Canada and Europe:
- American
Airlines www.aa.com
flies from Boston, Miami and New
York
- US
Airways www.usairways.com
flies from Philadelphia, Boston,
Washington DC, Pittsburgh, Raleigh
and Richmond, VA through Charlotte,
North Carolina
- Delta
www.delta.com
offers seasonal weekly flight
from Atlanta to Provo.
- Charter
flights are available from Toronto,
Detroit, Boston, Miami, Philadelphia,
Chicago and Ft. Lauderdale
- British
Airways www.britishairways.com
operates direct flights from London
- Flights
are also available through connections
in Canada www.aircanada.com,
the Bahamas www.bahamasair.com,
Jamaica www.airjamaica.com,
Dominican Republic and Haiti
Arriving in Grand Turk, Middle Caicos,
North Caicos, South Caicos and Salt
Cay.
Sky
King and Air
Turks & Caicos fly international
and domestic flights to these islands.
Provo Airport is 1 mile (1.6km)
west of Providenciales town and
has plenty of taxis. The airport
on Grand Turk is 2 miles (3.2km)
south of Cockburn Town. A taxi may
be there to meet incoming flights;
if not, you can call one from the
airport. On South Caicos, Cockburn
Town Airport is 1.5 miles (2.4km)
north of town. The sole taxi driver
on the island will no doubt head
for the airport when he sees your
plane land.
Entry Requirements
Visitors require passports,
visas are necessary for noncommonwealth
countries of the former Eastern
Bloc. You are advised to contact
the nearest British Consulate Office
for visa applications.
All visitors must hold a round trip
ticket.
Visitors are allowed to stay for
30 days; this is renewable one time
only.
DEPARTURE TAX: $23 is levied on
all persons over the age of 2.
For luggage restriction, individual
airlines should be consulted.
Duty free goods that may be brought
in to the Islands include: 50 cigars,
200 cigarettes, 1.136 liters of
spirits or wine and perfume for
personal use.
There are no restrictions for travellers
on the import of cameras, film or
sports equipment except spear guns.
To bring in firearms of any type
(including spear guns and Hawaiian
slings), you must have written approval
from the Commissioner of Police.
Controlled drugs and pornography
are illegal.
Travel
Tips
Getting Around
 There
are no public buses on any of the
islands, so taxis are the best all-around
transport option. Taxis are readily
available in the Turks and Caicos.
All fares are priced according to
the distance traveled. It is always
best to verify the cost to a particular
destination before the taxi takes
off. You can also hire taxis as
guides for a day of sightseeing.
Most hotels offer complimentary
airport transfers (check with the
hotel first).
Cars and motorcycles can be rented
on Provo and Grand Turk; elsewhere,
car rental options are virtually
nil. A government tax of $10 is
levied on each car rental, and $5
on scooter rentals. Driving is on
the left. Bicycles can be rented
at many hotels and concessions but
are limited to unwieldy one-speeders.
They're fine for tooling around
but a hard slog on longer trips.
A valid driver’s license from your
place of residence is required when
renting a vehicle.
Getting between the islands is easiest
by plane. All the islands except
West and East Caicos are served
by air from Grand Turk and Provo.
Sky King, InterIsland Airways and
Turks & Caicos Airways fly between
the islands on a quasi-scheduled
basis. A sole ferry, the Caicos
Express, operates sporadically between
Provo and Sandy Point on North Caicos.
It stops en route by request at
Pine Cay, Parrot Cay and Middle
Caicos. Sand Dollar Tours has a
private boat service between Salt
Cay and Grand Turk.
Clothing
 Shorts
are worn in town as well as on the
beach, but bathing suits should
be restricted to beach and pool
areas. During the day, it is advisable
to wear sun hats and sunscreen.
In the evenings, light sweaters
and jackets can occasionally be
worn, and those wishing to visit
some of the island's more elegant
eating establishments may want to
bring along more formal attire.
Nudity is illegal throughout the
islands but some hotels do allow
it.
Electricity
Electricity follows the U.S. standard:
120/240 Volts/60 Cycles.
Water
The water is safe to drink, but
it tastes different.
Phone Service
The Islands enjoy direct worldwide
telephone access. Available telecommunications
devices include fax machine, telexes,
cellular phones, and Internet connections.
Public phones operate by phone cards.
Country code is 649. Network is
through Cable and Wireless. Pay
phones, calling cards, facsimile,
Internet, cell phones for rent at
various locations.
If you have cell service in the
USA please bring your phone with
you because if you have International
Roaming service with a cellular
carrier that has a roaming agreement
in the Caribbean then your phone
will be able to make a receive calls
while in the Turks and Caicos. If
you do not have roaming then you
will be able to make calls using
the credit card platform.
Time Zone
Turks and Caicos is on EST and Daylight
Savings Time is observed from April
to October.
Weather
 Bring your sunscreen.
The Turks and Caicos average 350
days of sunshine per year. The tropical
climate and cool island breezes
are comfortable year round. Temperatures
range from 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Water temperatures rarely dip below
74 degrees. It’s like taking a bath.
There is an annual rainfall of 21
inches on Grand Turk and South Caicos,
but as you go further west the average
rainfall could increase to 40 inches.
In an average year the Turks and
Caicos has 350 days of sunshine.
Hurricane season can vary but usually
runs from June to October.
Tipping
15 percent gratuity is standard
for wait staff, drivers and housekeeping
personnel.
Medical Assistance
There is a hospital on Grand Turk,
and an emergency care facility on
Provo.
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