There’s a reason why the Turks & Caicos
are sometimes called the Forgotten Islands, or why a magazine poll once
graced them with the distinction of having the least name recognition of
any nation in the world: this island group is truly off the beaten path. Most people
heading for this part of the Caribbean end up in the more well-known (more crowded, more expensive)
Bahamas. If they knew about the Turks &
Caicos’ reputation for tranquil beauty and relatively modest prices,
they’d travel a bit further.
A group of eight
large islands and forty
cays, the Turks & Caicos are located less than 600
miles southeast of Miami. Composed of two island groups—the Turks are
smaller and less populated than the Caicos—the entire chain contains
almost 250 miles of pristine, white-powder beaches. The physical landscape of the islands
varies greatly. Flat coral islands such as
Salt
Cay,
Providenciales,
Grand
Turk,
and
South Caicos are dry, dotted with scrubby bush and cactus,
while islands with richer soil (Middle
and North
Caicos,
Pine and
Parrot
Cays) are slightly hilly and lushly green.
And, because the
islands sit smack dab on the world's third-biggest coral reef system—65
miles wide, 200 miles long—they are consistently ranked among top diving
locations. Huge areas have been set aside as underwater parks, affording
protection to coral and underwater plants and wildlife. You’ll experience
visibility extending to 200 feet, extensive tropical marine life, a 7000
foot diving wall, shallow azure waters turning into deepest blue as you
descend, and many shipwrecks dotting the floor.
Honeymoon splurge:
Hire a local fisherman to drop you off on a deserted
cay in the morning
and pick you up at the end of the day. In those in-between hours, play at
being shipwreck survivors washed up on your own tropical island. As the
only residents, you’re free to construct a lasting honeymoon legend: run
naked through the palm trees, swim in the altogether with the porpoises,
dine nude beneath flowered trees on the picnic prepared by your hotel.
»»Read about
other honeymoon splurges around the world
Providenciales
(aka Provo), on the western edge of the chain, is the most populated and
developed of the islands; perhaps that’s because international flights
land here. For many people, it's also the ultimate T&C destination; they
never move on to other islands. Provo, after all, not only offers all the
comforts and conveniences of luxury hotels and resorts (spas, restaurants,
nightlife, shopping, an 18-hole golf course, etc.)—it's also known for its
beautiful white-sand beaches and easy-going atmosphere. And it has a
variety of fun things to do (be sure to visit the one-of-a-kind
conch farm).
But if the two of
you have a yen for getting around, you won’t be disappointed. The outlying
islands contain smaller, more intimate accommodation, move at a far slower
pace, and offer bargains. And each has its own distinct personality. Many
islands are minutes by air from Provo and can also be reached by boat; in
addition, ferries ply the waters between North and Middle Caicos.
Each, too, offers
unique treasures. In the National Museum
on
Grand
Turk, you can learn all about the island’s dramatic history: it
was owned by the Spanish, French, and British and served as a haven for
pirates. You'll also see artifacts from John Glenn's historic 1962
space-capsule splashdown in the local waters. The museum is located in ancient Guinep
House, which dates from the early 1800s—Grand Turk is known for its
colorful, Bermuda-style houses.
Local Comfort
Food: You will see the word conch on nearly every menu set before you,
as conch fritters, conch stew, conch chowder, even conch tacos...
Pronounced "konk," not "conch," this large sea snail has a sweet,
clam-like taste. Conch grown naturally in the wild is endangered. However,
the conch eaten in these parts comes from the world's only conch farm,
right on Provo, so you needn't feel guilty. If you're nervous about
eating conch, try the chowder; it will seem familiar. The adventurous, of
course, are going to want to find out what those conch tacos are all
about.
»» Conch Chowder recipe
~
Check out
other comfort foods
in the
USA and
around the world
On sleepy
Salt
Cay, once the center of a thriving salt
industry, you’ll find remnants of abandoned wooden
windmills. Salt Cay and its waters are also the best spotting site for
Humpback whales during their annual winter migration, which runs from
January into April. You'll see them from shore, and local skiff owners
will be happy to take you for a closer look. Divers often hear the
distinctive "singing" of Humpback males passing by.
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A short boat ride
from Provo brings you to Little Water Cay, a
protected sanctuary for more than 2000 endangered Rock Iguanas. Boardwalks
and observation decks allow you watch the friendly creatures showing off
without harming them (or their eggs, buried in the sand). The sight of rose-colored flocks
of wild flamingos on tiny
South Caicos, hunting in the shallows for brine shrimp, is
thrilling. Check out the ruins of former cotton plantations on
Middle Caicos. Many celebrity couples, including Eva Longoria &
Tony Parker, and Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck, have honeymooned on posh,
privately-owned
Parrot Cay.
Also
See: Caribbean Index |
Antigua & Barbuda |
Aruba |
Bahamas |
Barbados |
Bermuda |
Caymans |
Curaçao |
Grenada |
Jamaica |
Martinique |
Puerto Rico |
St. Croix |
St. John |
St. Lucia |
St. Thomas |
Virgin Gorda/BVI
More Info:
Turks & Caicos Tourism
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