The beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands are situated 575 miles southeast of Miami. Covering 193 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean, the Turks and Caicos Islands has the third largest coral reef system and the best tropical beaches in the world, making it a premier beach, diving and snorkelling destination and an ideal location for romance, family vacations, ecotourism and adventure seekers. Moray Eel Moray Eel The name Turks is derived after the indigenous Turk's Head "fez" cactus, and the name Caicos is a Lucayan term "caya hico," meaning string of islands. Only eight of the 40-plus islands are inhabited - so if you want sun, sea and tranquility, with 200 miles of almost deserted ivory sands and fabulous snorkeling and diving, this is the destination of your dreams. The islands are relatively flat but vary from sand dunes to lush green vegetation. The eight inhabited islands are: Salt Cay, Grand Turk, South Caicos, Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Providenciales, Parrot Cay and Pine Cay. The capital, Cockburn Town, is on Grand Turk, a favorite haunt of anglers and scuba divers. Just off Grand Turk, the 20-mile wide Turks Island Passage that separates the Turks from the Caicos plunges to great depths. In the last decade on Turks and Caicos, divers have begun to discover some of the finest coral reefs and walls in the world. From the legendary walls of Grand Turk, West Caicos and Provo's Northwest Point to the historic wrecks south of Salt Cay, a dozen world-class walls have become Mecca for the serious diver. From late December through April, the entire Atlantic herd of 2,500 Humpback Whales pass through the shores on their annual migration to the Mouchoir Bank, just 20 - 30 miles southeast. During this period divers can listen to an underwater concert of the wale's' songs. During the summer, divers encounter Manta Rays cruising the face of the walls. Encounters with Dolphin are not uncommon. Beach on Salt Cay Turks and Caicos.jpg Beach on Salt Cay Turks and Caicos The island of Providenciales, Provo for short, is our main tourist island, you will find International style hotel accommodations, each one has its own unique set up and surroundings with most of them being located on the beach as well as world class spas and cuisine. The Turks and Caicos has a wide selection of restaurants that serve local cuisine. Some of the most popular dishes are conch dishes such as conch Creole, Curried Conch, Conch Fritters, Conch Chowder, Cracked Conch, and Dried Conch. Lobster is also regularly served and is one of the main exports of the country. Most recent development has taken place on Providenciales. This charming island, with a fantastic beach, has grown from an almost uninhabited backwater to a resort island with a population of almost 10,000. At Grace Bay, for instance, there are luxury resort hotels, a casino, a variety of restaurants and a tourist-oriented shopping complex. There is also a golf course. More casual, rustic and intimate accommodations can be found on the other islands and smaller cays. Parrot Cay and Pine Cay are privately owned islands and are home to the most exclusive resorts Parrot Cay Resort and Spa and the Meridian Club. Most of the islands are only about 10 to 25 minutes by air from Provo and most can be reached by boat too. There are also regular ferries from North to Middle Caicos. The Turks and Caicos is only 75 minutes from Miami, less than 3 hours from Charlotte, North Carolina, 3 hours from New York and 3 and a half hours from Boston and can easily be reached with direct flights from the US, the UK, Canada, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Haiti. American Airlines, US Airways, Delta Airlines, Air Canada and British Airways offer direct routes from Miami, New York, Boston, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Toronto and London. In addition those wishing to travel from within the region can make it easy by flying with BahamasAir, Air Jamaica Express, SkyKing and Air Turks and Caicos from Nassau, Montego Bay, Puerto Plata, Cap Haitien or Cuba. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Turks_and_Caicos/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:32:26 EST http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Turks_and_Caicos/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:32:26 EST Average 83 degrees - tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry. Our climate can best be described as an eternal summer with almost continuous ocean breezes from the trade winds and with constant sunshine, making the islands an ideal year-round vacation destination. The temperature rarely drops below 25° C (77° F) or rises above 28° C (83° F) average. The cool breezes make for comfortable sleeping without air conditioning. North Caicos has a rainfall of about 40 inches per year and the vegetation is more lush compared to the neighboring islands. North Caicos is known as the Garden Island. The islands receive approximately 21 inches of rainfall annually. The Turks and Caicos's mean monthly temperature is 80°F, and the winter water temperature ranges from 72°F to 80°F. Since the climate is largely the same as that in The Bahamas. As part of the fall rainy season, hurricanes occasionally sweep through the Caribbean. Check the news daily and keep abreast of brewing tropical storms. The rainy season consists mostly of brief showers interspersed with sunshine. You can watch the clouds come over, feel the rain, and have the sun to dry you off, all while remaining on your lounge chair. A spell of overcast days is unusual, as everyone will tell you. Casual resort and leisure wear is accepted attire for daytime; light sweaters or jackets may be necessary on some breezy evenings. Visitors are advised to wear protective clothing and a sunhat and use waterproof sunscreen when out in the tropical sun. The following are the normal daily temperature ranges for Turks and Caicos: January 62-77°F (17-25°C); February 63-78°F (17-26°C); March 64-80°F (18-27°C); April 66-82°F (19-28°C); May 70-87°F (21-30°C); June 74-90°F (23-31°C); July 75-91°F (24-32°C); August 75-92°F (24-33°C); September 74-89°F (23-31°C); October 72-85°F (22-29°C); November 68-82°F (20-28°C); December 64-79°F (18-26°C). The Caribbean high season is traditionally winter -- from December 15 to April 14 -- when northern weather is at its worst. During this season, travelers are guaranteed the most entertainment at resorts and the most people with whom to enjoy it. It's also the most fashionable, expensive and popular time to visit. As a result, most hotels are heavily booked. Make reservations at least two or three months in advance for the best places (sometimes a year in advance for the most exclusive spots). Hotel prices drop 20%-50% after April 15. The only time to consider not going to the Turks and Caicos is the sweltering four months of August to November, when the daily average high is 32°C (90°F); when the trade winds die it nudges over 38°C (100°F). Probably the best time to visit is between mid-April and July. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/weather/Turks_and_Caicos/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:32:26 EST http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/car_rentals/Turks_and_Caicos/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:32:26 EST Restaurants and Dining: http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/restaurants/Turks_and_Caicos/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:32:26 EST