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The Caicos Group
• West Caicos: The westernmost island has an abrupt coastline leading to deep water that is ideal for fishing and scuba-diving. Uninhabited, it is currently only visited by sailors, fishermen and thousands of seabirds. An ideal place to see a variety of birdlife is Lake Catherine. Ruins of Yankee Town, a railroad and a steam engine are remnants of the time when the island was habited.
• Providenciales: This island is the centre of the country's major tourist development. There are beautiful white beaches, a coral reef and an abundance of aquatic life. The main tourist centre lies around Turtle Cove, with its peaceful yacht basin, and Grace Bay. Grace Bay has a 12 mile beach and the Princess Alexandra Marine Park; also popular are the Sea Centre, Bamboo Gallery (an art centre) and the Ports of Call shopping area. Explore Blight and Blue Hills, the two main and oldest settlements on the island. Chalk Sound is a large turquoise lake in the south of Providenciales. Once a month the waters around the island light up with glow worms; take a cruise along the waters to see this magical display.
• Little Water Cay: Known for its variety of birdlife, this small cay is being developed as a nature resort.
• Pine Cay is inhabited mostly by tropical birds and iguanas, and has one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caicos Islands, if not the whole Caribbean. The northern end has many freshwater lakes with species of saltwater fish brought here by Hurricane Donna in 1960. Part of the Caicos Cays National Underwater Park is located here. The reefs of the Caicos bank, with their rich variety of corals and vividly coloured fish, are a must-see.
• Parrot Cay lies between Providenciales and North Caicos. Once a private island which used to be a hideout for legendary pirates such as Annie Bonnie and Mary Reid, it is now being developed into a modern resort.
• The fertile soils and water of North Caicos, known as the 'Emerald Isle' of the Caicos, provide good farmland. It has miles of deserted white sand beaches, along which hotels provide luxurious and peaceful accommodation. Flamingos, ospreys, iguanas and various other wildlife can be seen at the island's nature reserve.
• Also known as Grand Caicos, Middle Caicos is undeveloped. The three main settlements on the island are Conch Bar, Banbarra and Lorimers. Blessed with a lovely coastline, to the west of Conch Bar, the shoreline dips in and out with bluffs and small coves. The north and south coasts could not be more different, in the north are limestone cliffs and sandy beaches, in the south is swampland and tidal flats. Do not miss the island's spectacular caves. There is a trail linking Middle Caicos and North Caicos; in the low tide, it is safe to walk across it.
• East Caicos is uninhabited but when flying to South Caicos, look down for the salmon in the translucent green water. Some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean are to be found here. Turtles come and lay their eggs on the 17 mile beach on the north coast. In the northwest of the island, at Jacksonville, there is a series of caves with evidence of early petroglyphs.
• South Caicos: The town of Cockburn Harbour is situated on a small ridge at the extreme southwest of the island of South Caicos. It was once the chief port for the shipment of salt from the islands. The town is a quiet and pleasant place to potter around in the evening. During the day, there are numerous beaches to explore and, as everywhere in the Turks & Caicos group, there is superb diving, yachting and big-game fishing.
The Turks Group
• A few minutes from South Caicos by air, with the small metropolis of Cockburn Town, Grand Turk is the islands' seat of government and commerce, as well as their historic and cultural centre. The Turks & Caicos National Museum, situated on the waterfront, tells the story of the Molasses shipwreck discovered in the Americas and exhibits rare prints and manuscripts from all of the islands. Front Street has a number of colonial buildings, dating from the early 19th century. They have imposing entrances in the high, whitewashed walls that surround their gardens. The Lighthouse overlooking North Creek on the north coast was shipped to Grand Turk from the UK in pieces in the 19th century and re-assembled. There are many delightful bays on the eastern shores of Grand Turk. The island is also a fine base for diving and fishing. Heritage walks and guided tours are available.
• Go to Salt Cay, the most charming and atmospheric of all the Salt Islands. There are fine beaches and also still-productive salt ponds. The island is dominated by a great white house, built in the 1830s in solid Bermudian style. Salt Cay also hosts relics of the now defunct whaling industry. In the winter, spot gigantic humpback whales.
• During February, March and April, whale watching enthusiasts are able to observe large numbers of the North Atlantic humpback whale population passing through very close to the western shores of Grand Turk and Salt Cay en route to their breeding grounds at Mouchoir Bank nearby. During this period, divers can listen to an underwater concert of whale songs. Encounters with dolphins are also frequent. Other marine species that can be observed include turtles, spotted eagle rays and manta rays.
• Birdwatching is widespread as rare birds and butterflies are found throughout the islands.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
• West Caicos: The westernmost island has an abrupt coastline leading to deep water that is ideal for fishing and scuba-diving. Uninhabited, it is currently only visited by sailors, fishermen and thousands of seabirds. An ideal place to see a variety of birdlife is Lake Catherine. Ruins of Yankee Town, a railroad and a steam engine are remnants of the time when the island was habited.
• Providenciales: This island is the centre of the country's major tourist development. There are beautiful white beaches, a coral reef and an abundance of aquatic life. The main tourist centre lies around Turtle Cove, with its peaceful yacht basin, and Grace Bay. Grace Bay has a 12 mile beach and the Princess Alexandra Marine Park; also popular are the Sea Centre, Bamboo Gallery (an art centre) and the Ports of Call shopping area. Explore Blight and Blue Hills, the two main and oldest settlements on the island. Chalk Sound is a large turquoise lake in the south of Providenciales. Once a month the waters around the island light up with glow worms; take a cruise along the waters to see this magical display.
• Little Water Cay: Known for its variety of birdlife, this small cay is being developed as a nature resort.
• Pine Cay is inhabited mostly by tropical birds and iguanas, and has one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caicos Islands, if not the whole Caribbean. The northern end has many freshwater lakes with species of saltwater fish brought here by Hurricane Donna in 1960. Part of the Caicos Cays National Underwater Park is located here. The reefs of the Caicos bank, with their rich variety of corals and vividly coloured fish, are a must-see.
• Parrot Cay lies between Providenciales and North Caicos. Once a private island which used to be a hideout for legendary pirates such as Annie Bonnie and Mary Reid, it is now being developed into a modern resort.
• The fertile soils and water of North Caicos, known as the 'Emerald Isle' of the Caicos, provide good farmland. It has miles of deserted white sand beaches, along which hotels provide luxurious and peaceful accommodation. Flamingos, ospreys, iguanas and various other wildlife can be seen at the island's nature reserve.
• Also known as Grand Caicos, Middle Caicos is undeveloped. The three main settlements on the island are Conch Bar, Banbarra and Lorimers. Blessed with a lovely coastline, to the west of Conch Bar, the shoreline dips in and out with bluffs and small coves. The north and south coasts could not be more different, in the north are limestone cliffs and sandy beaches, in the south is swampland and tidal flats. Do not miss the island's spectacular caves. There is a trail linking Middle Caicos and North Caicos; in the low tide, it is safe to walk across it.
• East Caicos is uninhabited but when flying to South Caicos, look down for the salmon in the translucent green water. Some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean are to be found here. Turtles come and lay their eggs on the 17 mile beach on the north coast. In the northwest of the island, at Jacksonville, there is a series of caves with evidence of early petroglyphs.
• South Caicos: The town of Cockburn Harbour is situated on a small ridge at the extreme southwest of the island of South Caicos. It was once the chief port for the shipment of salt from the islands. The town is a quiet and pleasant place to potter around in the evening. During the day, there are numerous beaches to explore and, as everywhere in the Turks & Caicos group, there is superb diving, yachting and big-game fishing.
The Turks Group
• A few minutes from South Caicos by air, with the small metropolis of Cockburn Town, Grand Turk is the islands' seat of government and commerce, as well as their historic and cultural centre. The Turks & Caicos National Museum, situated on the waterfront, tells the story of the Molasses shipwreck discovered in the Americas and exhibits rare prints and manuscripts from all of the islands. Front Street has a number of colonial buildings, dating from the early 19th century. They have imposing entrances in the high, whitewashed walls that surround their gardens. The Lighthouse overlooking North Creek on the north coast was shipped to Grand Turk from the UK in pieces in the 19th century and re-assembled. There are many delightful bays on the eastern shores of Grand Turk. The island is also a fine base for diving and fishing. Heritage walks and guided tours are available.
• Go to Salt Cay, the most charming and atmospheric of all the Salt Islands. There are fine beaches and also still-productive salt ponds. The island is dominated by a great white house, built in the 1830s in solid Bermudian style. Salt Cay also hosts relics of the now defunct whaling industry. In the winter, spot gigantic humpback whales.
• During February, March and April, whale watching enthusiasts are able to observe large numbers of the North Atlantic humpback whale population passing through very close to the western shores of Grand Turk and Salt Cay en route to their breeding grounds at Mouchoir Bank nearby. During this period, divers can listen to an underwater concert of whale songs. Encounters with dolphins are also frequent. Other marine species that can be observed include turtles, spotted eagle rays and manta rays.
• Birdwatching is widespread as rare birds and butterflies are found throughout the islands.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
