CARIBBEAN TRAVEL GUIDE

Turks & Caicos Travel Guide:

Some Top Providenciales Beaches For Your Turks And Caicos Vacation   by Peter R Stewart

All of this makes Providenciales a paradise vacation for families, snorkelers and divers. There is more to Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands than Grace Bay.

Grace Bay is a beautiful 11 mile stretch of rock free beach, but it is also the inevitable centre of tourism and hotels. It is a wonderful beach to walk along, or jog along, and as it faces west, a glorious place to see the sunset.

There is a lot more to see and do on your Providenciales Vacation, and a four wheel drive vehicle is recommended, so you can escape from the high season crowds. This article is mainly about the beaches of Providenciales, but there are terrific snorkelling and diving sites.

Long Bay Beach lies on the opposite shore to Grace Beach opening onto Long Bay itself. There are almost no hotels here, but the beach isn't as fine and powdery as Grace Bay, but it is relatively empty and because it is very sheltered there aren't really any waves.

You ought to visit Little Water Cay which is the only place in the world to see the Rock Iguanas in their natural habitat and you can get a glass bottomed boat out of Turtle Cove. This makes for a great family day out, and the iguanas are incredibly tame.

Sapodilla Bay of the soft white sand beaches and clear turquoise sea is beautiful and well worth a visit especially for children because the sea here is so calm and shallow. It's a bit of a drive from Grace Bay but well worth the effort because of the gorgeous sunsets.

NorthWest Point Beach is white sand, very calm sea, good diving, and is best known for its tiki-huts that line the coast. The tiki-huts were built years ago for a French game show like Castaway, but today they sit around the beach, giving it a South Pacific feel. There are no facilities at all here.

Just south of NorthWest Point you will find Malcolm's Road Beach and then south again Sam's Bay. The road to Malcolm's Road Beach is pretty bumpy at the end, and you will definitely need a four wheel drive vehicle, but the beach is stunning with fine white sand and almost always deserted. The snorkelling here is good, and there are no facilities at all.

Providenciales Beaches shouldn't be missed.

Turks And Caicos Travel - A New Experience   by Sarah White

These beautiful islands are home to the third largest coral reef system and some of the best tropical beaches in the world. With over 230 miles of beaches, Turks and Caicos is a premier destination for family vacations, adventure seekers, ecotourism and of course for romance. An ideal location for diving and snorkelling, it is considered to be one of the top 10 in the world. Perhaps this is just one of the reasons why over 60% of visitors choose to keep returning to the incredible beaches Turks and Caicos offer.

The weather is very consistent; it is hot, sunny and rarely experiences rain. October and November are the wettest months of the year and by Caribbean standards, it is not really that wet at all! Of the 40 different islands, only 8 of them are still inhabited. A great way to truly experience the Turks and Caicos Islands, is to visit each island in the chain. Most of the islands are only about 10-25 minutes by air from Providenciales and most can be reached by boat as well.

Providenciales, or more commonly known as "Provo," is the most developed island in Turks and Caicos. Found on the west side of the islands, it offers all the modern conveniences and is the most populated, while remaining a destination for those looking to escape their busy lives and relax. You can find a full service grocery store, a casino, retail shops, a golf club and offers a wide choice of Providenciales hotel and resort accommodations. One of the most beautiful beaches Turks and Caicos has to offer, Grace Bay, can also be found here.

North Caicos is the lushest of all the islands and boasts the largest flock of Pink Flamingo on the islands. Here you will find Whitby Beach, a 7 mile stretch of white sands that covers most of the northern coast. North Caicos is also home to the famous Three Mary's Cays where you can go snorkelling to find a huge Osprey Nest on the third Cay.

Grand Turk is the capitol island that features historical buildings and an unforgettable rustic charm. One of the main attractions of Grand Turk is diving. There are many dive operators and schools that cater from novice snorkels to experienced divers. Here you will find an incredible protected coral reef that drops to 8000 feet and is close enough to shore for beach dives. One of the most popular excursions just off Grand Turk is Gibbs Cay. It is an uninhabited island that is perfect for a picnic on the beach and offers you a chance to feed the beautiful stingrays that swim right up to the shore!

No matter what you are looking for from your Turks and Caicos travel, you are sure to find it among the incredible beaches and resorts that are found here. From diving excursions to fun in the sun, the friendliness and warmth found here on the islands is unparalleled. Your vacation dreams are sure to be found amongst the islands of Turks and Caicos.