Not long ago this string of tiny Caribbean islands was so unknown that their odd sounding name sometimes was mistaken for a Calypso band or an exotic seafood stew.

Today, the Turks and Caicos are recognized to have some of the Caribbean’s best beaches and dive sites, yet this archipelago located just a few miles south of the Bahamas remains comparatively undiscovered.

The Turks and Caicos, which consist of 40 different islands and cays, is 2 island groups separated by a 22-mile passage. The Caicos are to the west and the Turks to the east.

Development has been confined mostly to the Caicos side and the island of Providenciales, or Provo, which owes its popularity to Grace Bay Beach, a magnificent semi-circle of white sand that borders the richly colored turquoise waters of Grace Bay.

Grace Bay not only provides a visual feast that dramatically changes complexion with the shifting sun, it is the setting for Provo’s many new hotels. These range from all-inclusives such as Beaches to the ultra-exclusive Grace Bay Club.

The waters off Grace Bay also is a favorite haunt of Jo Jo, the Caribbean’s most famous dolphin. A wild bottlenose dolphin with a mind of his own, Jo Jo’s appearances are unpredictable, so it’s a surprising treat whenever he arrives to play with snorkelers or divers.

Easy snorkeling is available right off the beach at Smith’s Point, just east of the mouth of Turtle Cove Pond, with its newly marked snorkel trails. Also easily accessible are White House and Treasure Beach reefs where turtles, rays and eels inhabit the six to 10 foot depths.

However, you’ll need a four-wheel drive to reach the beautiful beach at Malcolm Roads at Provo’s northwest end. Snorkel the rocky areas south the tiki huts and the drop-offs north of the beach.

Just beyond Grace Bay the ocean floor plummets to 7,000-feet and forms a network of submarine canyons that serve as migratory highways for deep ocean dwellers.

Thanks to these drop offs, Provo and nearby islands offer outstanding wall diving as well as the chance to encounter manta and eagle rays, whale sharks and even humpback whales.

With such underwater scenery, it’s not surprising that scuba diving is Provo’s #1 vacation activity, after sunbathing. Sailing, deep-sea fishing and bonefishing are other good options.

Turks & Caicos Background: Facts & Map
Courtesy of the CIA

Arrival Briefing
What you need to know if you go

Getting Married in the Turks & Caicos
There won't necessarily be a record back home

Next Page (Turks & Caicos Part 2)

Go to Grand Turk Island