USEFUL
INFORMATION
Overview:
One
of the Caribbean's best-kept secret holiday destinations, the Turks and Caicos
Islands are located at the southeastern tip of the Bahamas, 575 miles south
east of Miami, Florida and 90 miles north of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
This beautiful coral archipelago is a British Dependent Territory, comprises 8
islands, approximately 40 cays and a total of 230 miles of pristine white sandy
beaches surrounded by crystal clear turquoise waters. The Turks and Caicos Islands
are a haven for the Rich and Famous. Dick Clark (of American Bandstand fame) and
Bruce Willis are just a few of the growing number of celebrities who have homes
here. Britney Spears, Paul & Heather McCartney, Elton John, Whitney Houston
and many other celebrities are regular visitors.The Islands are also famous for
the 1,000 square miles of coral reef that surrounds them, providing some of the
best diving and snorkeling to be found anywhere in the world. Swim with Jo Jo
the tame bottle nosed dolphin, cavort with turtles and stingrays, enjoy a dive
through a sunken Spanish wreck, or watch majestic whales migrating through the
Columbus Passage on their way to their winter breeding grounds on the Mouchoir
Banks.
The Turks and Caicos Islands take their name from the scarlet dome of the barrel
shaped Turks Head cactus and the Spanish word "cayos" which means small
islands. The two groups of islands are divided by a 22mile wide 7000 ft. deep
passage known today as Columbus Passage. How
to get here: Flying
time from Miami to Providenciales via jet is approximately 1hr 20mins. British
Airways currently flies direct from London England via Nassau on Sundays. New
flights from a variety of US destinations and carriers seem to change all the
time. Ther airport code to Provideciales is PLS. Go online to find your preferred
carrier and departure airport. There
are also various scheduled flights from other Caribbean countries such as Jamaica,
Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Haiti. Again the international airport code is
PLS. Climate:
Constant trade winds keep life comfortable in the Islands,
with the coolest months averaging 70 degrees in the winter and 90 degrees during
the summer. It doesn't rain much here, so be sure to bring plenty of high factor
sun cream.Island life is informal and most restaurants are casual, but a few insist
on more formal wear in the evenings. It is not considered appropriate to be on
the public beaches without a bathing suit. Time Zone:
is Eastern Standard Time, which is minus 5 hours GMT
Currency is the US dollar. Most hotels
and restaurants accept traveler's cheques, which can also be cashed at local banks
and stores. Most credit cards are widely accepted. Voltage:
110 volts the same as mainland USA Driving
is easy now that the main Leeward Highway has been reconstructed.We
drive on the left - mostly in American manufactured cars. There are roundabouts.
Remember to keep left and proceed with care. Driving is an exciting Island experience
and there are plenty of places to explore. Immigration
and Customs:Visitors from USA and Canada need a valid
passport in order to travel here..Visitors from other countries (such as the United
Kingdom and other EU members) also require a passport. In a very few cases, persons
travelling from certain countries may also require a Visa. Contact the nearest
British Consulate Office if you have any doubts as to whether your travel documents
are valid. Each visitor has a duty free allowance of $50 and may also bring one
carton of cigarettes or cigars, one bottle of liquor and a bottle of perfume for
personal use. There is no restriction on the import of fresh or frozen meat or
vegetables.Pets
are welcome as there are no quarantine restrictions, but valid paperwork from
your vet and the Turks Island Government is necessary. Check with the airlines
for their travel restrictions at certain times of the year.Departure tax is now
incorporated into the cost of the airline ticket.
Shopping: Many local crafts are available
for purchase through out the Islands and Providenciales in particular has a first
class supermarket.Alcohol cannot be purchased in the supermarkey on Sundays.
Churches: Many faiths are represented
here, including Adventist, Episcopal, Baptist Catholic, Methodist, Pentecostal,
Jehovah's Witness and Faith Tabernacle. Crime:
The Turks and Caicos Islands are safe and the crime rate is low,
but the usual simple common sense precautions, such as locking up and not leaving
valuables unattended on the beach or in your car, should always be observed
Providenciales
is the main tourist destination and has developed in very recent years to become
the focal point for tourism and commerce. Visitors land at Providenciales International
Airport (airport code PLS), a first class facility completed in 1996 and the hub
for onward travel to the other Turks and Caicos Islands. Providenciales is approximately
14 miles long and between 1 to 4 miles wide, a total of 37.5 square miles, has
a resident population of around 16,000 people and now boasts world-class accommodations;
one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in the world, an 18-hole championship
golf course, a multitude of water sport activities including boating, fishing
and professional dive operations and the world's only commercial Conch Farm. Most
of the bars, restaurants, hotels, condos, resorts and dive operations are concentrated
on the northern shores of Providenciales (or Provo as it is known locally), between
Turtle Cove and Leeward, which incorporates the famous, breathtaking 12 mile
Grace Bay Beach. The coral reef, teaming with marine life, is easily visible
from here and protects this part of the Island from the Atlantic Ocean. The
serene Turtle
Tail area of Providenciales is a private unspoiled haven,
offering great bone fishing (akin to fly fishing) in Flamingo Lake, wonderful
private vacation villas with fabulous ocean views and deserted cove beaches, yet
is centrally located and only a 10 minute drive to the main tourist areas.Long
Bay Beach offers yet another unspoiled 5mile stretch of pristine beach and
is still very undeveloped. Just a few fabulous designer villas grace its peaceful
shoreline. Turtle Cove Marina hosts an International Billfish Tournament
each July, when large sports fishing boats come from far and wide to compete.
Many beautiful vacation villas are located on the quiet, but accessible southern
part of the Island, overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Other
Islands Grand
Turk has been the seat of government for over 400 years
and is the political capital of the Turks and Caicos and home to the Governor's
residence. In 1492 Christopher Columbus landed here on his first voyage in search
of the Far East. Today Grand Turk is a quiet island offering old world charm
and excellent diving. Bermudian colonial architecture is still in evidence and
a visit to the Turks and Caicos National Museum is a must. Look out for wandering
donkeys. Salt Cay is known locally as "The Land That Time Forgot".
Little has changed since 1900, when the salt industry flourished on this tiny
island and the Salinas are still in evidence. This is the place to come between
January and March to watch the migrating whales. Just to the south of the island
lies the Endymion Wreck, a 140 ft wooden hulled British warship, which sank in
1790 after hitting the reef. A must-see for diving enthusiasts. South Caicos
lies 22 miles to the west of Grand Turk and is the nearest of the Caicos Islands.
Once a flourishing producer of salt and sisal (a plant for making rope) South
Caicos is now a very quiet island, whose economy is sustained by the export of
conch and lobster. Due to its very protected harbour, South Caicos hosts the Turks
and Caicos Islands annual sailing regatta each May. East Caicos despite
its size is completely uninhabited, with no plans at this time for development.
There is a 17-mile stretch of pristine deserted beach on the north coast. Middle
Caicos is perhaps the most dramatic and picturesque of all the Caicos Islands
and has a population of about 200 people living in the settlements of Conch Bar,
Bambarra and Lorimers. Visit Mudjin Harbour for spectacular scenery. The limestone
caverns, dating back to Lucayan times are a must see part of the local tour of
this lush island. North
Caicos is know locally as the breadbasket of the Turks and Caicos and is the
greenest of the islands and the local population is concentrated into four settlements,
Sandy Point, Kew, Whitby and Bottle Creek.British loyalist fled here in 1789 during
the American War of Independence and established cotton plantations. One of the
most successful was Wades Green and a visit to the well-preserved ruins is a must.
Today, North Caicos, with its beautiful deserted beaches is beginning to
develop into a very attractive and peaceful tourist destination, with small hotels
and guesthouses. Flamingos, osprey and pelicans abound. West Caicos is
currently an uninhabited island and nature reserve. In the late 1800 this was
home to a thriving sisal plantation and some railroad tracks still remain. It
is a favourite diving site and its small sandy beaches are excellent for finding
shells and perfect for secluded picnics. Look for Osprey nests amid the old Haitian
sloops. Other
notable Cays include Parrot Cay now home to an exclusive 5 star resort
and spa, this small island was once a pirate hideout in the 1700's; Pine Cay
a private Island boasting exclusive homes, with nine miles of nature trails and
no cars. Residents travel around on golf carts; Dellis Cay an excellent
place to find shells, including sand dollars; Little Water Cay asanctuary
for the Turks and Caicos Rock Iguanas and a popular stop off point for beach cruises;
Fort George Cay a national historic site where Loyalist cannons can be seen
in the shallow waters close to the shore. All are easily accessible by boat from
Providenciales and well worth a visit. THE
STORY BEHINDTHE NAME - SEA FEATHERS..a true history On
the 18th of January 1687, the "Henry of London" with her captain Francis
Rogers, second mate William Covell, three divers and salvage equipment, arrived
off the coast of Grand Turk to search for the wreck of a Spanish galleon. On the
first day, they searched the north side of the island to no avail, so they set
off early the following morning to try their luck on the south side.Rogers took
a small canoe and one diver and Covell took the other two divers in a slightly
larger boat. After many hours of searching, Captain Rogers had become very discouraged,
as neither he nor Covell had found any sign of the wreck.Since it was late afternoon
and the light was failing, Rogers gave the order to head back to the ship. Just
at that moment, Covell looked down into the crystal clear waters and saw a sea
feather of "extraordinary colour and beauty" and as he had nothing better
to bring his captain, Covell sent one of his divers down to fetch it. As the diver
tried to pluck the sea feather, a current of water moved it aside to reveal the
rusted guns of the sunken Spanish galleon. The
crew worked the wreck for three days, recovering treasures that included silver
artifacts and over 3000 gold pieces of eight. Captain Rogers kept the sea feather
with him for good luck on all his subsequent voyages. We
were inspired to chose this name for our company for many reasons, including our
love for these beautiful Islands which have been our home for over twenty years.
Heartfelt
thanks to the remarkably talented Turks and Caicos Island band Tropical Soul
for their inspirational song "Turks & Caicos We Love You".
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