The Turks and Caicos Islands, archipelagos comprised of 40 low-lying and mostly undeveloped islands boast miles of white powdery beaches, superb diving, accommodations, and gourmet restaurants.

Much of the underwater excitement is found off the Turks, where wall dives are outstanding, and along West Caicos and Provo. Sport fishing is a big international draw, and the mangrove salt flats offer a prime habitat for bonefish.

Providenciales (known as Provo) is the hub for tourism

The island’s crowning glory is Grace Bay, a 12 mile stretch of velvety sand. Also on Provo, bird watchers enjoy acres of inland lakes frequented by white herons and pink flamingos. Just a dozen miles from Provo is North Caicos, which receives the most rainfall, making it notably greener with tall trees and lush vegetation. The southern part of North Caicos is swampy, with broad estuaries that are home to a vast colony of West Indian flamingoes. North Caicos is popular with holiday-home buyers, especially around Whitby, with its stunning seven mile beach.

On Middle Caicos, you can sign up with a local guide and head for a settlement called Conch Bar where a labyrinth of caves are home to limestone formations and resident bat populations. Elsewhere, recent archaeological excavations have uncovered ancient Lucayan artifacts dating back more than 1,200 years. Uninhabited West Caicos and East Caicos are lined with fine beaches accessible by boat, and South Caicos was once a salt-producing island. Today it has a fishing port and a yachting centre, along with miles of deserted beaches.

Grand Turk

The capital and centre of government lies east of the Columbus Passage on Grand Turk, where visitors can tour several restored churches and the Turks and Caicos National Museum. From January to March, visitors flock to nearby Salt Cay to spot humpback whales on their annual migration to the Silver Banks off Hispaniola.

AIRPORTS/FERRIES/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:
Airports: GDT: Grand Turk. PLS: Providenciales (XSC). Gateway/Flying Times: Atlanta 2.5 hours. Boston: 3 hours. Charlotte: 3 hours. Miami: 1 hour. 20 minutes.

Nassau: 2 hours. New York: 4 hours. London: 8 hours. Grand Turk to Provo: 25 minutes. British Airways fly from Gatwick via Nassau in the Bahamas, to Providenciales (PLS). Connections are also available via Miami and New York with American Airlines and via Jamaica with Air Jamaica Express. There are two other local airports; Grand Turk (GDT) and South Caicos (XSC).

CLIMATE:
Summer: high/low 90/83 degrees F. Winter: high/low 75/70 degrees F. Avg. humidity - 35%. Avg rainfall 21 inches. Approx sunrise: Summer 0600. Winter 0630. Approx sunset: Summer 1900. Winter 1700.

DINING:
Restaurants available: International. Local, Chinese, Caribbean, Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, French. Tip where no gratuities are stated.

LANGUAGE:
English.

NIGHTLIFE:
Discos. Nightclubs. Dinner/Dances. Live Music. Casino. Festivals throughout the year.

SIGHTSEEING:
• Grand Turk: Governor’s Beach. Victoria Public Library. Lighthouse. Whale watching between January and April. Turks and Caicos National Museum on Front Street. The cultural history of the Islands, their discovery and the impact of early European settlement, natural and political history, and the role played in twentieth century space exploration are all recorded at the museum. Turks Inn. Waterloo Governor’s House. Governor’s Beach.
• Middle Caicos: Mudjin Harbour Beach. Bambarra Beach, craft demonstrations, sail boats races and the Caves. Salt Cay: The remains of the Salt Industry Sites – like the White House, North Shore Beach, underwater shipwreck and whale watching between January and April.
• Provo: The Hole. Conch Farm. Rock Carvings – made by shipwrecked sailors on Sapodilla Hill. Island Tour is recommended.
• North Caicos: Cottage Pond. Wades Green. Plantation ruins. Flamingo Pond. Island Tour recommended.
• South Caicos: Boiling Hole. Cockburn Harbour. Lobster Plants. Long Cay.

***** WEDDING REQUIREMENTS IN TURKS & CAICOS *****

Requirements for obtaining a marriage license in The Turks and Caicos Islands:
• Passport.
• Original Birth Certificate.
• Both parties must be in The Turks and Caicos Islands at the time of the application.
• Persons wishing to be married in the Turks and Caicos Islands may do so after one day (24 hours). Before an application for a Marriage License can be made to the Registrar in Grand Turk. The ceremony can then take place after a period of 2-3 days or at any time after the application has been granted.
• Proof of marital status - If single a sworn affidavit is required.
• If one of the parties is a divorcee, then a Divorce Decree is required, either the original or a notarized copy, sealed by a Court Clerk. In the case of a Widow/Widower a Death Certificate of the previous spouse is required. In the case of change of name by Deed Poll or Adoption, then proof is required.
• If either party is unmarried, being a citizen or resident of a country other than the U.S.A., a declaration certifying this fact must be sworn before a Notary Public or other person authorized to administer oaths in that country and must accompany the application for the Marriage License.
• If under the age of 21, then consent of one or both parents or guardian, in the form of an affidavit stamped by the Notary Public.
• The marriage parties must not be within the prohibited degree of relationships to each other. Include a letter stating both parties occupations, marital status, age as of last birthday, present address of residence and fathers full name.
• For church weddings Ministers may require proof of membership.
• The parties must produce evidence of the date of their arrival in The Turks and Caicos Islands.
• No blood test is necessary.
• The fee for the license is $100.00.

Note: Marriage Licences are issued at the office of the Registrar in Providenciales. This office is open to the public Mondays to Fridays between the hours of 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Please be advised that any Passports or documentation written other than in English should be translated in advance and notarized by the applicable consulate.

Registrar Office:
Providenciales,
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tel: 649-946-2800

Please Note: Wedding requirements above are for information purposes only and may be out of date as of this print. Only use this information on this page as a guideline, and for more current and up to date information, please contact the countries Consular Affairs, Embassy, or the countries Tourism Bureau.