Turks & Caicos: Sun, Sand, and Azure Seas

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Experience the sun, sand and a stunning view overlooking azure seas.

Many islands have scenic spots and pristine beaches. None are like what you find on Providenciales Island in the Turks and Caicos.

The azure waters are breathtaking. The clear water absorbs the sun’s rays and reflects the blue in the light, creating an incredible blue, like an immense clear blue sapphire.

Fans of snorkelling will find marine life galore. The clear, warm waters take your breath away. You will swim with dolphins, manta rays, and schools of colorful tropical fish. Don’t forget to pack fins, snorkel, and mask.

Photo byTurks and Caicos Tourism

The view from your villa will change with the time of day. It’s the interplay of the sun and the sea. As the sun moves west, the intensity of the rays changes to blue hues. Wait for the sun to set. The sunsets in Turks and Caicos are nothing short of spectacular.

Ripsaw is a musical scraping sound made by drawing a screwdriver over the teeth of a saw blade. Ripping The Saw is often accompanied by guitar, drums, and the triangle. It’s the music of the islands!

These islands stretch some 2,000 miles across the Caribbean Sea. Each island has its style, topography, and attractions.

Providenciales Island is Perfect for the Adventurer

There are many great ways to make your stay memorable. Take your pick of hiking, diving, and snorkeling. If you can’t decide, you can enjoy all three on the same day. After a fun-filled day, head back to your hotel and get ready for dinner in the Turks and Caicos culinary center.

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Visitors from January through April can experience the migration of Caribbean humpback whales.

Providenciales Island is Perfect for the Beach Bum

Wander idyllic white-sand beaches, splash in warm water as it washes onto the beach, and spend the entire day beachcombing, swimming, paddling, and snorkeling.

Is there a better way to unwind than on a palm tree-lined beach in the Caribbean?

Photo bySapodilla Bay Beach Snorkeling

There is plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the sunny surroundings. Why not make the centre of your day watching schools of tropical fish or chasing lobster and conch? Two hundred thirty miles of beaches across the 40 islands are ready to explore.

Providenciales is Perfect for Foodies

Some of the world’s best chefs call Turks and Caicos home. Serving up spectacular dishes to delight your palate. You’ll have plenty to choose from! Fine dining, island cuisine, bars, pubs, and bakeries welcome you to explore new dishes. Your taste buds can’t wait to get there!

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A Word to Expert Scuba Divers

Turks & Caicos lie on the edge of two undersea mountaintop plateaus. Stare into the dark, where the ocean floor drops to 7,000 feet. Divers know T&C for its spectacular walls. If walls are on your bucket list, you are in the right place.

There is plenty of underwater life to observe. Bonefish and barracudas are common in the water. You will see stingrays and small lemon sharks on occasion, too.

Photo byTurks and Caicos Tourism

Chalk Sound National Marine Park

The weathered marine limestone along the coasts is called Ironshore by the locals. Small sinkholes and caves develop over time as the water beats against the shore, a feature unique to the islands.

Iguanas on the islands make their homes by cleaning out the existing holes and crevices in the rock. You’ll see them foraging for fruits, plants, and prickly-pear cacti. Birdlife isn’t as abundant here as in some of the other wetland areas in the country. Lagoons across the chain tend to fill up with large populations of gulls, terns, and herons.

Culture

Cultural awareness is growing in importance on the islands. An ongoing effort is being made to document and preserve the local culture.

The Turks and Caicos share many cultural elements with the Bahamas. Residents have Bahamian ancestry and have lived or were born in the Bahamas.

The Conch Festival is an annual event with a festival-like atmosphere, delicious food, and vibrant energy. It also features local elements like live Ripsaw music and Junkanoo.

Photo byTurks and Caicos Tourism

Music

If the vivid turquoise water or conch fritters don’t get you, the rhythms of the islands will—Ripsaw anchors T&C music, which is heavily influenced by Bahamian music.

Ripsaw is a scraping sound made by drawing a screwdriver over the teeth of a saw blade. Ripping The Saw is often accompanied by guitar, drums, and the triangle. Junkanoo, a Bahamian music genre, is also popular.

Photo bywikipedia

Cuisine- The Conch is King!

Not surprisingly, the T&C cuisine features fresh seafood. Nearby Jamaica and the Bahamas heavily influence it. Conch (pronounced CONK) is a tropical marine mollusc native to the Caribbean islands.

It’s served in everything from salads and curries to conch burgers and chowder. Fans of calamari will love crispy conch fritters. Try it with salt, pepper, and the right amount of hot sauce.

Refuge and Hideout for Pirates and Buccaneers

For hundreds of years, the islands have attracted those seeking refuge. What better setting than this remote and beautiful paradise? The islands were a compelling hideout for pirates and buccaneers. You’ll find maps and markings etched in stones around the islands.

Photo bybritannica.com

Many a Pirate Called the Cays Home

Legend has it that Captain William Kidd buried his treasure somewhere in the islands—huge caches of gold, silver, and gems—the treasure that inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.

The tiny island of French Cay was once a hideout for buccaneer Françoise L’Olonnais. He raided passing Spanish ships, then took cover in the Cay with his loot. Anne Bonny and Mary Reade captured a Spanish ship loaded with treasure. Pals of Calico Jack Rackham, the pair later settled in what is today Parrot Cay.

Anne BonnyPhoto byPirates Info

Explore the Cannons at Fort George Cay

Fort George Cay, once home to a small British fort in the 1800s, has a rich pirate history. Plantation owners dotted the area with massive cannons meant to protect from pirate ships’ many threats. Those cannons are now visible in a few feet of clear water in the bay.

The Best Thing About Turks and Caicos

So, what is the best part of jetting off to T&C for a Caribbean island getaway? It’s the feeling you get with loved ones on vacation. Spend time with friends. Get as much sun, sand, and salt air as possible.

Get all the kids back together again for a fabulous reunion. Special memories won’t be hard to create. Now is the time to plan to welcome everyone to this incredible island. Make it happen in unforgettable Turks and Caicos.

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Douglas Pilarski is an award-winning writer and journalist based on the West Coast. His writing resonates with those passionate about luxury goods, exotic cars, horology, tech, food, agriculture, lifestyle, historical events, equestrian and rodeo, and millionaire travel.

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