Turks & Caicos
Facts and Figures
Time Zone: GMT -5hrs
Flight Time From UK: 9-11hrs Capital: Cockburn Town Main Airport: Providenciales Int (PLS) Climate: Hot Currency: United States Dollar Population: 45,000 Native Language: English Beaches: Over 100 Travel Vaccinations Needed: Not Mandatory but recommended - Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Tetanus |
Weather Statistics - Degrees Celcius
Month |
Jan - March |
Apr - June |
July - Sept |
Oct - Dec |
High |
27 |
30 |
31 |
29 |
Low |
22 |
25 |
26 |
24 |
When To Travel
Like much of the Caribbean, the Turks and Caicos have become a year-round destination. The "season" runs roughly from mid-December to mid-April, which is generally the driest time of year in the Caribbean and the most miserable time of year in the northern U.S. and in Canada. Hotels charge their highest prices during the peak winter period, and you'll have to make your reservations well in advance -- months in advance if you want to travel over the Christmas or New Year's holidays or in the depths of February, especially around Presidents' Day weekend. The Easter holidays/school spring break is an increasingly popular time for families to visit.
The off-season in the Turks and Caicos -- roughly from mid-April to mid-November (although this varies from hotel to hotel) -- is a perfectly nice time to come to the TCI: Yes, the temperatures are somewhat higher, but the southeasterly trade winds work to temper the heat, as do the brief but more frequent rain showers. The off-season is also one big sale. In most cases, hotels, inns, and condos slash 20% to 50% off their winter rates. Airfares are generally cheaper, and air/hotel packages can be very reasonable -- even for stays at the top luxury lodgings. For many Europeans, who generally have longer vacation times, the summer is already a favorite time to visit the TCI.
Water temperature in the summer is 82° to 84°F (28°-29°C) and in winter about 74° to 78°F (23°-26°C). A constant easterly trade wind keeps the climate at a very comfortable level.
The off-season in the Turks and Caicos -- roughly from mid-April to mid-November (although this varies from hotel to hotel) -- is a perfectly nice time to come to the TCI: Yes, the temperatures are somewhat higher, but the southeasterly trade winds work to temper the heat, as do the brief but more frequent rain showers. The off-season is also one big sale. In most cases, hotels, inns, and condos slash 20% to 50% off their winter rates. Airfares are generally cheaper, and air/hotel packages can be very reasonable -- even for stays at the top luxury lodgings. For many Europeans, who generally have longer vacation times, the summer is already a favorite time to visit the TCI.
Water temperature in the summer is 82° to 84°F (28°-29°C) and in winter about 74° to 78°F (23°-26°C). A constant easterly trade wind keeps the climate at a very comfortable level.
Things To Do
- Grace Bay (Provo) - 12 miles of soft ashen sand and open crystalline water to placate sunbathers. There's little shade, so come early in the morning to get your choice of umbrellas. Some of the island's most well-liked restaurants are sheltered along Grace's shore, as are the most popular hotels of the island.
- Governor's Beach (Grand Turk) - this beach is a laid-back respite with an outstanding view. Under the sea there are some spectacular tropical fish and coral. Consider visiting Governor's Beach toward sunset in hopes of catching the "green flash," a visual phenomena where the sun's hue changes from reddish orange to bluish green before setting from sight.
- The Hole (Provo) - Adventurous swimmers should venture down "The Hole," a limestone swimming hole that's 40-feet wide and 80-feet deep. Swimming at the Hole doesn't pump the adrenalin quite like being lowered by rope into its depths (this isn't an excursion for your kiddies), so you could probably spend less than an hour enjoying this natural wonder before popping over to nearby Long Bay for a proper swim.
- Turks & Caicos National Museum - The museum's exhibits range from showcasing the island's natural history to chronicling the lives of its former slaves to displaying information about local shipwrecks. It's located in a historic (though some say run-down) building in Cockburn Town, Grand Turk.
- Pillory Beach (Grand Turk) - Professional travel writers and real life travelers advocate for the excellent swimming conditions and bevy of stingrays, spotted drums and eagle ray fish visible just about 300 to 400 yards off this northwestern Grand Turk coast. And if you're only on Grand Turk for the day, keep in mind that Pillory Beach is a quieter beach to enjoy than Governor's Beach, which sees a lot of cruise traffic.
- Salt Cay - It's a small island that beckons to low-key vacationers; top activities range from lounging to beach bumming, and of course, scuba diving and snorkeling. Salt Cay has a reef that's part of one of the largest reef systems in the world. Most entry sites are less than 20 minutes from the main boat dock and feature wall slopes of as much as 7,000 feet in some places. One of the most popular spots to dive to, the HMS Endymion, is a British war ship that's made its final home in about 40 feet of water. If you visit Salt Cay between December and April, you might even see some North Atlantic humpback whales migrating for the winter. Diving aficionados claim you can hear the songs of the whales from underwater
Luxury Hotels - Click On The Hotel To See What The Tripadvisor Ratings Are
- Aquamarine Beach Houses, Providenciales
- The Tuscany, Providenciales
- The Regent Grand, Providenciales
- Seven Stars Resort, Providenciales
- Villa Renaissance, Providenciales
- Harbour Club Villas & Marina, Providenciales
- Blue Horizon Resort, Middle Caicos
- Gansevoort Turks + Caicos, Providenciales
- The Meridian Club, Pine Cay
- Windsong Resort, Providenciales