Here you will find all the essential advice and information you will need before and during your stay in the Turks and Caicos.
These breeze-swept isles are pleasant year-round, although the best weather is from December through April, when there is hardly any rain and the temperatures are near perfect – 73–84°F (between 23–28°C). The midsummer months can be torrid, while the weather can get sticky during the hurricane season (June through November). Cultural events are mostly held during the winter months, but rates tend to be higher then than in summer.
Charter and regular scheduled flights arrive at Providenciales International Airport from North America. There are a few direct flights from North America to Grand Turk International Airport. Private charter planes connect all the other islands to Grand Turk and Providenciales. Delta, US Airways, JetBlue, United Airlines,
and American Airlines fly to Providenciales from various US gateways. British Airways serves Providenciales via the Bahamas and Antigua. The Bahamas is also served by Bahamasair. Air Canada has direct flights from Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto to Providenciales. WestJet also offers direct flights from Montreal and Toronto.
Theft and crime affecting tourists is rare in Turks and Caicos, but it is best to keep valuables in a hotel safe, and to avoid wearing expensive jewelry when out and about.
There are public clinics on each island, and a general hospital on Grand Turk, but many may not meet the standards that most people are used to. Private clinics such as Grace Bay Medical Centre and Cockburn Town Medical Centre are usually preferred by tourists. Some all-inclusive resorts have a nurse on staff. Providenciales also has a hyperbaric chamber.
Most visitors do not require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days but must have a valid passport and a ticket for onward travel.
Same-sex sexual activities have been legal in the Turks and Caicos , a British overseas territory, since 2001, through an order of the UK’s Privy Council. However, marriage and civil unions of same-sex couples have not been legalized and the culture of the island is not very LGBT+- friendly. There are a number of high-end resorts that are non-judgemental and offer luxurious holidays and privacy to LGBT+ visitors.
The US dollar is the official currency of Turks and Caicos, which also issues its own crown and quarter. Traveler’s checks in US dollars are accepted in most hotels, taxi services, and restaurants in Providenciales, and can be cashed at local banks. However, cash and credit cards are preferred on other islands, where banks may be fewer. Most major credit cards are accepted. There is no limit on the amount of money that visitors may bring to the islands.
The Turks and Caicos has efficient mobile and telephone services operated by Digicel and LIME. To call abroad from the Turks and Caicos, dial 011 and the country code, then the area code and number. To call Turks and Caicos from North America, dial 1, then 649 and the local number; from the UK, dial 00 for international access, then 649 and the local number. Calls within the islands require only the seven-digit number. Visitors bringing their own mobile phones should check with their service providers to determine if they will work in the Turks and Caicos. Most hotels and restaurants offer Wi-Fi. There are also Internet cafés on the islands.
The Turks and Caicos has a total land area of 166 sq miles (430 sq km) scattered across 100,000 sq miles (26,000 sq km) of ocean. The isles are connected by a few ferry services and scheduled, small plane charters. A bridge connects North and Middle Caicos. Providenciales is served by tourist taxis and cars.
Holders of an International Drivers License and citizens of the UK, US, and Canada are permitted to drive on their own license for up to 30 days. Reputable rental companies are AVIS, Hertz, and Grace Bay Car Rentals. Hotels can also arrange for car rentals. Scooters can be rented from companies such as Tony’s Car Rental on Grand Turk, which also hires out bicycles. It is advisable to wear helmets. Minivans operate taxi services on all islands and can be used for touring. Rates can be expensive, so be sure to negotiate an agreed fare before setting off. The concierge or front desk staff of most hotels will help visitors call for a taxi from a reputable company.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board has offices in the US, Canada, and the UK. Within the Turks and Caicos, it has offices on Grand Turk and on Providenciales (at the airport and at Turtle Cove Marina). Hotel tour desks can also give advice on organized excursions and entertainment. The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association and Visit Turks and Caicos Islands websites provide helpful information and recommendations.
Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board
Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association
Visit Turks and Caicos Islands
Need to know Turks and Caicos
US Dollar (US$)
Need to know Turks and Caicos
Eastern Standard Time (EST), 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Daylight Savings is in effect the first Sunday of March through the first Sunday of November
Need to know Turks and Caicos
English
Need to know Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos operates on 110 volts. Outlets use US two-prong plugs
Need to know Turks and Caicos
TEL
Need to know Turks and Caicos
In most cases it is safe, yet bottled water is the common choice due to the poor taste of piped water