When it comes to holiday destinations, the Turks and Caicos Islands (often shortened to TCI) are the perfect place to rest and recharge your batteries. A British Overseas Territory, they lie in the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean (which like the Bahamas, is not technically in the Caribbean) and they´re known for tourism as well as being an offshore financial center. The country consists of two groups of tropical islands, the Caicos Islands and the Turks Islands, and both are popular because of their climate, sun, sand, and an atmosphere which can relax both mind and body.
An Abundance of Beautiful Beaches
One of the most popular islands is Providenciales, also known as Provo – a top beach destination for people all over the world. There are miles of coral reef, breathtaking beachscapes, and upscale resorts (plus more affordable/budget options), all making Grace Bay Beach (above=¡), the perfect place for diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and more. The island of Grand Turk is also a great beach destination which offers an amazing atmosphere and crystal-clear ocean water Other beautiful beaches beyond Grace Bay which can feel like heaven on earth, include Mudjin Harbor, Long Bay, Malcolm, Sandy Point, and Whitby. All this is complemented by many fine shops and restaurants that are perfect if you are a shopaholic as well as a foodie. But there are a lot of things you can do in the TCI :
Provo Water Sports and Activities
If you´re a fan of water sports or just sports in general, Providenciales offers you a variety of activities to choose from. So if you are fond of snorkeling, then a snorkeling cruise is the best way to spend some interesting and fun time here. Of course, in order to experience snorkeling at its best, it is recommended to wait for a calm and sunny weather. Moreover, if you want to have an amazing experience, then Bight Reef and Smith’s Reef are the best and most popular sites for snorkeling, and they are great for beginners too because they are centrally located, safe and easy to access. Provo is well-known for having miles of walls and barrier reefs, abundant wildlife as well as clear waters, and therefore, it is an astonishing place for scuba diving. Places such as West Caicos, Grace Bay, and French Cay are spectacular when it comes to scuba diving and there are many professional dive operators from which you can choose. If you plan to visit during the peak tourist season (December and January) you should reserve a dive boat in advance.
Other water sports include kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, jet skiing, kiteboarding, parasailing, freediving, Hobie cat sailing, wakeboarding, swimming, surfing, windsurfing, tubing, flyboarding, snuba, and last but not least, deep sea fishing. Moreover, thanks to the clarity of Providenciales’ water, there you can experience some of the finest parasailing, and, when it comes to kayaking, the best spots on Providenciales are Chalk Sound National Park, Princess Alexandra Nature Reserve, and Frenchman's Creek and Pigeon Pond Nature Reserve. Also, if you plan an activity such as deep sea fishing, you should know that everyone over 15 years old must own a valid fishing license. According to the type of license you want to get, you will need to pay the fees for either a one day license or a monthly license.
Historical Attractions
Besides varous water sports, you can visit historical and natural sites such as the 166-year-old Grand Turk Lighthouse, the National Museum, and the rock carvings at Sapodilla Hill on the south coast of Providenciales, made by shipwrecked sailors and travelers in the mid-18th century and now a protected site; although some stones have been removed during a preservation project, you can find some replicas at the Providenciales International Airport. (anyway, even though there isn´t much left to see, Sapodilla Hill offers breathtaking views and is definitely worth visiting). On West Caicos, there´s also the ruins of Yankee Town (above), built for sisal production in 1891 but going defunct just 12 years later, likely due to financial mismanagement, leaving seven stone buildings, several cisterns and wells, and machinery including a railroad.
Abundant Nature
In South Caicos, The Boiling Hole is a subterranean underwater fissure passage connects a main saline pond to the ocean. Meanwhile, the Middle Caicos has the Indian Cave (above). With a land-of-the-lost¨ feel, this large gallery offers easy access, no entry fee, many skylights and openings, and a profusion of tropical flora including short-leafed figs, papaya trees, and many native plants. But there are dangers too; the rosary pea found near the cave’s entrance has highly poisonous seeds which if ingested can be fatal. So pay attention, especially when there are children around. Finally, Provo´s Princess Alexandra National Park is a protected area which includes Leeward Beach, Smith’s Reef, Bight Reef, Bight Beach, Grace Bay, Iguana Island, the rocks of Bird Cay and Lizard Cay, and other spots worth visiting.
For more information, have a look at VisitTCI.com.
Comments