Truth is, there’s never a bad time to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands. But here (as if you needed them!) are my top reasons to go right now.
They’re Easy to Get To From Miami—where I’m based—it’s only a 2-hour flight to Providenciales (affectionately known as Provo), the most-populated in the 40-island archipelago and the destination’s tourist hub. And later this year, when American Airlines’ first-ever (seasonal) flights to South Caicos resume, it’ll take the same amount of time to reach the 8-sq.-mile outpost known as the “Big South.” Guests at all-inclusive private-island resort Ambergris Cay can bypass Provo altogether and fly straight into the resort’s own tiny airport, complete with its own Immigration and Customs facilities. Point is, with non-stop flights from the UK, U.S. and Canada, on more than 10 airlines, and a total of eight TCI airports, the Islands couldn’t be easier to reach.
The Beaches and Water Are Incredible When it comes to Windex-blue water and sand as white and soft as confectioner’s sugar, there are two Caribbean countries I recommend and the Turks and Caicos is one of them (The Bahamas’ out islands are the other). Even the pickiest beach snob will be enchanted by the TCI’s strands. From Provo’s 12-mile-long Grace Bay, to stunning Horsestable Beach on North Caicos and the wild beauty of Mudjin Harbour on Middle Caicos, there’s a beach for every bum. And if calm, warm, impossibly blue waters are your client’s thing, these islands should be your diving and snorkeling destination.
There Are So Many Islands to Choose From There’s so much more to the TCI than Provo! Eight of the Turks and Caicos Islands are inhabited, so there’s a lot to explore. For a fun day trip, recommend clients take the ferry from Provo to North Caicos, where they’ll pick up a rental car and drive to Middle Caicos, in the process “discovering” two islands that are laid-back and tranquil and feel like Provo did decades ago. Alternatively, you can book them a stay at a private-island resort: the aforementioned Ambergris Cay and Parrot Cay are posh and pricey, while Pine Cay dials it down with a toes-in-the-sand, casual vibe.
It’s Shoulder Season The Caribbean’s high season officially begins mid-December and runs through the end of April. (And, of course, there’s an uptick in traffic during Canadian and U.S. Thanksgiving holidays in October and November, respectively). So right now, as we approach high season, is an ideal time to visit. Prices are lower than they will be in a few weeks, there are fewer crowds and (most of) hurricane season is in the rear view. Tell your clients looking for a quickie escape, to run, not walk!
You Can Book a Villa With Its Own Waterslide These days, villas with butlers and private chefs, saunas, media rooms and high-tech gyms are surprisingly common. But a 2-story, 4-bedroom waterfront villa with its own waterslide? Well, that’s something I’d never seen until I checked out Wymara Villas’ swanky Amuse Villa, which has its own watersilde that descends from the sun deck into the shimmering Caribbean below.
It’s Lobster Season On my most recent TCI trip three weeks ago, I lost count of the times servers encouraged me to try the lobster, now that it’s the crustacean’s season. Obediently, I feasted on lobster tacos, lobster linguine, even lobster-stuffed Asian-style dumplings, determined to make the most of the August-through-March opportunity to have the freshest lobster on my plate. The clawless Caribbean Spiny lobster may be smaller than its hard-shell Maine lobster cousin. (Did you know there are a whopping 75 species of lobster?!) But trust me, nothing tastes better than a Caribbean lobster devoured in the Caribbean.
The Starfish Are Waiting My recent trip took me to South Caicos for the first time, and part of my island exploration included a half-day cruise organized by the new Salterra Resort & Spa. Our pontoon boat sailed past sand-fringed cays that looked straight out of a Corona beer commercial and deserted beaches strewn with conch shells. But the highlight of the morinng was wading into the clear, knee-deep waters of Starfish Alley, where Red Cushion sea stars sat on the sandy sea floor, as if waiting for me to discover them. You can’t take them out of the water (they’ll suffocate). And you’re advised not to touch them (sunscreen can kill them). But the chance to simply see them so close felt really special.
Craving more Caribbean coverage from Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon? Check out The Ultimate Caribbean Soundtrack and Caribbean Cocktails—And the Best Place to Enjoy Them.
