Top 10 Reasons to Visit Turks and Caicos

The World’s Best Beach

The primary attractions of the Turks and Caicos are its exceptional beaches and exquisite turquoise ocean water—and, specifically, Grace Bay Beach on the island of Providenciales.

Grace Bay Beach and the Turks and Caicos have accumulated significant recognition, earning top rankings in Tripadvisor’s World’s Best Beaches and winning World Travel Awards’ World’s Leading Beach Destination many times throughout the years. Grace Bay was also ranked the top beach in the world by Condé Nast Traveler.

Unbelievable and secluded white-sand beaches can be found throughout the archipelago, and it's certainly worth exploring beyond Grace Bay. Long Bay Beach, Leeward Beach, Sapodilla Bay, and Taylor Bay on Providenciales, Governor’s Beach on Grand Turk, and Mudjin Harbour on Middle Caicos are awe-inspiring coastlines that are worth the trip.

Amazing Diving and Snorkeling

The Turks and Caicos Islands is home to the second largest barrier reef in the Atlantic, as well as countless smaller bay and banks reefs. This makes Turks and Caicos an incredible destination for snorkeling and scuba diving (as well as liveaboard diving).

The archipelago sits on an underwater plateau that abruptly rises in some places 10,000 feet (3,000 m) from the surrounding ocean floor. In many places, the transition from shallow to deep is quite impressive and sheer, and is often referred to as the wall. It’s no wonder why Scuba Diving Magazine readers have voted the Turks and Caicos as having the best diving in the Caribbean, as the wall diving combined with the abundance of vibrant coral and sea life is unmatched.

It's possible to spot sea turtles, stingrays, eagle rays, spiny lobsters, nurse sharks, colorful reef fish, corals, sea fans, sponges, and much more while snorkeling or diving. Bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, manta rays, and the larger sharks are less common, yet can still be spotted.

A Top Water Sports Destination

There are plenty of wonderful water sports to enjoy in the country's beautiful marine environment, from snorkeling and scuba diving to kiteboarding, clear kayaking, paddleboarding, parasailing, surfing, fishing, horseback riding (nearly all rides here include wading), jet skiing, e-foiling, wakeboarding, and more.

Many of the top water sports are easy to learn, including the paddle sports, parasailing, snorkeling, and jet skiing. The islands attract motivated instructors from around the world, which can make learning some of the more difficult sports, such as kiteboarding, more straightforward and enjoyable.

See also Top Water Sports and Boat Charters and Excursions.

Easy to Get to

The location of Turks and Caicos is convenient for many North American travelers—flight time from Miami to Turks and Caicos is typically 1 hour and 40 minutes (and 3 hours and 40 minutes from New York City). The main island of Providenciales welcomes direct flights from New York, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Toronto, and Montreal. For travelers arriving from Europe, there's also a twice-weekly flight between Providenciales and London.

Entry to the Turks and Caicos is easy for many countries, and residents of the US, UK, EU, Canada, and much of the Caribbean do not need a visa.

See also Getting to the Turks and Caicos and International Flight Routes.

Excellent Weather Year-Round

As a leading tropical vacation destination, the Turks and Caicos offers incredible weather, with annual temperatures usually in the 76° F to 83° F (24° C to 28° C) range. The islands typically don’t experience much rain, and sunny blue skies are the norm.

One of the most common questions that prospective visitors have is when to visit. Prices and activity availability change throughout the seasons due to demand, yet the weather tends to be good throughout the year. The summer months are hotter, calmer, and bring the slight chance of a hurricane or tropical depression, and the winter months have a more pleasant temperature yet can be breezier.

No Big Crowds

Turks and Caicos simply doesn't have the crowds of destinations like Nassau or Montego Bay, much to the delight of many visitors. The first resort on Providenciales was only built in the 1980s. Up until 20 years ago, few people knew the location of Turks and Caicos. As a result, the beaches, restaurants, and attractions tend to be far less crowded than in many Caribbean vacation destinations.

Quite a few celebrities own homes in the Turks and Caicos, got married in the islands, or have honeymooned here. Many more have enjoyed simply vacationing here, including Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Britney Spears, Madonna, Donatella Versace, Greg Norman, Bill Gates, Hugh Jackman, Michael J Fox, Kristen Stewart, Mel Gibson, Drake, the Kardashians, and the list goes on.

English and Uses the US Dollar

The Turks and Caicos is a British Overseas Territory, and as such, English is the official language. Due to the country's proximity to the US, however, the islands are somewhat Americanized. Turks and Caicos uses the US dollar, US-style outlets, and carries many popular American brands at its supermarkets. Most phone plans work here.

The Turks and Caicos Islands is also a stable place to visit compared to some other Caribbean destinations. The main island of Providenciales has safe and reliable water and electricity utilities, healthcare facilities that include a hospital and private walk-in clinics, and no endemic diseases (such as malaria).

Exceptional Restaurants

Providenciales is a wonderful destination for fine dining. There’s a wide array of cuisines to tempt your tastes, from local and Caribbean to French, Italian, and Mediterranean, served in settings that range from gourmet beachfront restaurants to cozy candlelit bistros. Some of the country's best restaurants can be found at its hotels and resorts, making great dining convenient for visitors to access.

Reservations are generally recommended, as the top Turks and Caicos restaurants can book up weeks in advance.

Locally caught seafood, of course, plays an important role in many dishes. The Turks and Caicos produces conch, spiny lobster, and fish that, prepared expertly, is simply unparalleled.

Off the Beaten Path

For those who appreciate nature and culture and want to vacation off the beaten path, Turks and Caicos delivers. There's much more to explore beyond Providenciales, and several of the country's less populated islands are accessible via short domestic flights and ferries (or on a day trip from Providenciales).

Grand Turk, North Caicos and Middle Caicos, South Caicos, and Salt Cay each offer something unique. North and Middle Caicos are connected by a causeway and are sparsely developed, with miles of secluded coasts and attractions that include Mudjin Harbour, Conch Bar Caves, and Wade’s Green Plantation. South Caicos and Salt Cay offer exceptional scuba diving and fishing, amazing views, and a quiet atmosphere. Grand Turk has the quiet capital of Cockburn Town and the country's national museum.

There are also the private islands of Ambergris Cay, Pine Cay, and Parrot Cay, which offer luxury boutique resorts and unparalleled privacy. See also Islands of the Turks and Caicos and Getting Around Turks and Caicos.

A Great Place to Discover Nature

While most visit Turks and Caicos for the beaches, the islands are also exceptional for hiking, outdoor photography, sports, and simply enjoying nature.

Like some other small archipelagos, the Turks and Caicos is home to many endemic species and interesting animals, including a docile rock iguana, some of the smallest boas in the world, and a slew of small lizards. Birdwatching is excellent, and bird sightings can include flamingos, herons, egrets, ospreys, pelicans, hummingbirds, and much more.

The turquoise waters that surround the islands are home to sea turtles, conchs, stingrays, eagle rays, sharks, dolphins, humpback whales (during the winter months), and many small and fascinating creatures.

Why Not Turks and Caicos?

The Turks and Caicos definitely isn’t perfect.

The Providenciales International Airport, where nearly all scheduled international flights land, is undersized and outdated, and the experience it offers visitors can be unpleasant. There is ongoing work to expand the existing terminal, as well as build a completely new terminal, yet it will be years before the work is finished.

Transportation can be somewhat more difficult (and expensive) in Turks and Caicos than in other destinations. Taxis are pricey, and for those renting a car, be advised that general driving ability in the islands is very poor. Many cars and drivers in the Turks and Caicos are not registered or insured. There is almost no enforcement of traffic law, which can result in stressful driving conditions for tourists. See Driving in the Turks and Caicos Islands for more information.

There’s no denying that Turks and Caicos is an expensive destination. Energy, water, fuel, and food prices are very high, as nearly all essentials are imported. The country's small size creates inefficiencies in logistics, which further raises costs. See Vacation Prices for a list of common tourism expenses.

The Turks and Caicos has limited nightlife options, with much of what is available being centered around a few bars, restaurants, and clubs.