Grace Bay Beach 

Photo: Courtesy of @straubmuller 

Visit the Exquisite Islands of Turks and Caicos 

Are you suffering from the stress of your hectic lifestyle? If so, a vacation to the peaceful, upscale Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos is the perfect remedy. The U.S. News and World Report describes Turks and Caicos as a gorgeous, secluded destination that is "nearly abandoned" and has "blindingly white sand fringed by shimmering azure water, colorful coral reefs, crispy conch fritters, and a sleepy, lighthearted atmosphere" (travel.usnews.com). 

Turks and Caicos is an archipelago of many low-lying coral islands in the Atlantic Ocean--a British Overseas Territory southeast of the Bahamas (google.com). There are about 100 named islands and cays in Turks and Caicos, nine of which are inhabited (visittci.com). As the country's name suggests, there are two island groups: the Turks Islands of Grand Turk and Salt Cay to the east and the more extensive Caicos Islands archipelago of Providenciales, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, East Caicos, South Caicos, and West Caicos to the west (visittci.com). The 20 mile (32km) wide and 5000 foot (1.5km) deep Columbus Passage divides the two island groups (visittci.com). 

According to U.S. News and World Report, this network of islands and cays has three dominant personalities (travel.usnews.com):  

• Providenciales (Provo)--home of luxurious hotels 
• Grand Turk—a laid back, historic and cultural nucleus (and cruise ship hub) 

• Salt Cay—famous for the best diving opportunities and exploration of one of the largest reef systems in the world 

Providenciales (Provo) 

1. Exquisite Beaches 

"A jewel in the Caribbean," the island of Providenciales offers some of the most spectacular, high-quality beaches and ocean water in the world, such as world-famous, internationally acclaimed Grace Bay Beach, secluded Leeward Beach, and calm Taylor Bay and Sapodilla Bay beaches (visittci.com).  

Several of Providenciales' beaches boast vibrant reefs close to shore, which make perfect snorkeling sites to see coral, fish, stingrays, starfish, conch, and turtles (visittci.com). 

As Visit Turks & Caicos Islands describes it, "Some coasts offer wide swaths of soft white sand, and others are framed by low limestone cliffs, yet the common and awe-inspiring theme is unmatched turquoise and blue ocean water" (visittci.com).  

2. Chalk Sound National Park 

"An eye-popping shade of turquoise, Chalk Sound is a beautiful lagoon with limestone deposits separated from the ocean by a thin stretch of sand... Sprinkled throughout the sparkling waters are tiny green-topped rock islands, which are home to many iguanas" (planetware.com). Located about a 20-to-30-minute drive away from Grace Bay, the area is an ideal place to take photographs (planetware.com). You can explore the clear waters by renting kayaks or stand-up paddleboards, or you can hop aboard a pontoon cruise (planetware.com). 

3. Little Water Cay  

Locally known as "Iguana Island," Little Water Cay is about 456 meters across the sea from Providenciales and is home to rare and endangered rock iguanas. Hop aboard a sightseeing cruise to see these friendly creatures up close (planetware.com).   

The island offers two boardwalk trails that loop around the island's north and south side, so you can view the iguanas without disturbing their natural habitat (planetware.com). 

While there, you can also enjoy the stunning beaches and water. Kayaking is also available, but be mindful of the strong currents in the channel (planetware.com).   

4. Cheshire Hall Plantation 

Join a guided tour around the 200-year-old ruins of this cotton plantation, and hear stories about the challenges faced by the owners, Thomas Stubbs and his brother Wade, as they battled soil depletion, drought, and hurricanes (planetware.com). A few cotton plants still survive among the ruins (planetware.com). 

5. Thursday Fish Fry 

Local food, arts and crafts, music, and a backdrop of stunning beach sunsets make for a fun night and the best party in town (tripadvisor.com). 

6. Bight Reef  

Just offshore near the Coral Gardens resort, a footpath winds down to floating buoys that will guide your snorkel adventure. A series of signs will help you identify the different species you find along the way (tripadvisor.com). No matter which of the reef's mini-caves and crevices you decide to explore, many varieties of colorful fish can be seen poking in and out of their habitat, and you may even spot a sea turtle swimming nearby (travel.usnews.com).  

7. Provo Golf Club 

The only 18-hole course in Turks & Caicos, this beautiful course with a Caribbean flair allows guests the opportunity for a hole-in-one amidst palm trees and jutting limestone (travel.usnews.com). According to U.S. News and World Report, "Turks & Caicos' indigenous plants surround the fairways, and pink flamingos can be spotted near the greens...The near-perfect weather of Providenciales makes it easy for golfers to spend the day outside mastering this lush, 20-year-old course" (travel.usnews.com).  

Grand Turk 

1. Diving and Snorkeling 

Surrounded by one of the most extensive coral reef systems globally, the Turks and Caicos Islands sit on a vast underwater plateau with dramatic drop-offs not far from shore (planetware.com), which makes it an excellent destination for wall dives--especially in Grand Turk. 

Many of the top snorkel and dive sites are accessible from shore, and shipwrecks, old and new, are sprinkled throughout these waters (planetware.com). East of Grand Turk is the 35-kilometer-wide Columbus Passage, which separates the Turks from the Caicos Islands and is a popular migration route for marine animals (planetware.com). Depending on the time of year, divers can see whales, dolphins, turtles, and rays (planetware.com). 

2. Gibbs Cay 

A short boat trip from the eastern coast of Grand Turk, uninhabited Gibbs Cay boasts clear waters full of stingrays so accessible "they swim up to you like puppy dogs" (planetware.com).  As well as feeding, petting, and swimming with the stingrays, you can snorkel along the coral reefs surrounding the beach and enjoy a picnic lunch while observing a large population of seabirds (planetware.com). 

Salt Cay 

This historic island was once the world's largest producer of salt, the mainstay of the Turks and Caicos’ economy from the late 1600s until the early 1960s (planetware.com). 

With a low human population, seclusion seekers come to Salt Cay to relax on the white-sand beaches, dive or snorkel the coral reefs, learn about the island's fascinating history, and spot humpback whales on their annual migrations from late January through early April (planetware.com). 

What little development exists on Salt Cay is found in Balfour Town, where the key tourist attraction is The White House, a stately salt merchant's manor, built in 1835 with ballast stone and furnished with antiques (planetware.com). 

In Summary 

Regardless of what you end up doing in Turks and Caico, your visit is sure to be steeped in beauty and respite.  

Sources: 

google.com 

planetware.com 

travel.usnews.com 

tripadvisor.com 

 visittci.com