Destination Overview
Time difference: GMT -4 hours
Capital: Cockburn Town
Currency: United States Dollar
Flight time: 12 hours
Just imagine: 230 miles of white sand beaches, coral reefs in a kaleidoscope of colours and historic villages barely touched by time or tourism. And the best bit? It’s all just a 90 minute flight from Miami. The islands of Turks & Caicos are regularly touted as one of the hidden charms of the Caribbean, an exquisite jewellery box of azure waters, emerald jungle and golden sands laced together by lapping waves.
Depending on where you stay you’ll find a different landscape, from dry brush on the coral islands of Grand Turk and Providenciales, or lush greenery on Parrot Cay. Simple pleasures mark out your itinerary in Turks & Caicos, from scrunching your toes in the sand, drink in hand, on the milky beach of Grace Bay, wandering the ruins of a 200 year old cotton plantation, Cheshire Hall, or diving in Chalk Sound National Park. Adventure seekers will find solace in the lunar-like caves of Middle Caicos, begging to be explored, or whale watching in season from the lighthouse at Grand Turk or on a boat trip.
Marine life is a huge draw, and you’ll find the world’s only conch farm, an island home to Potcake puppies that you can take home, should you fall in love, and snapper and lobster that not only graces the seas around the islands but can also be found on many a restaurant menu, along with Caribbean spiny lobster.
