Turks and Caicos

You’ll find plenty to do on a holiday to Turks and Caicos. Nature-lovers will love diving among offshore reefs, and swimming in shallow waters with stingrays and bottlenose dolphins. You can search for humpback whales, and get to know the islands’ resident iguanas.  

On the main port island of Grand Turk, you can wander the quaint capital of Cockburn Town. See the lighthouse at its northern edge, which was moved piece by piece from Britain in the 1800s. Uncover tales of slavery, salt and shipwrecks at the Turks and Caicos National Museum, where there’s a fascinating collection of messages in bottles.

On Middle Caicos, you can hike or bike the five-mile path Crossing Place Trail. It winds all the way from Lorimers village to Mudjin Harbour, where you’ll find Instagram-worthy limestone cliffs and a half-moon lagoon. Or head to Providenciales to hear the old stories of Cheshire Hall Plantation, where Thomas and Wade Stubbs battled the elements more than two centuries ago.

With more than 40 islands and the world’s third-biggest coral reef system, it’s no surprise Turks and Caicos has a reputation as one of the best snorkelling and diving destinations on the planet. And, if you visit in spring, you might even see humpback whales passing by on their epic annual migration.

You can swim side-by-side with wild bottlenose dolphins at the edge of shallow bays. Dive among colourful corals to discover a thriving underwater world. And feed stingrays as though they were puppies in Gibbs Cay, just a short boat ride from Grand Turk.

If you’re heading to Providenciales, make sure you visit Grace Bay and Princess Alexandra Marine Park. Here, you can access Bight Reef and Smith's Reef, straight from the powdery sands of one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches. Travelling with little ones? The protected waters of Sapodilla Bay are perfect for young swimmers testing their skills.

If you prefer to stay on dry land, never fear – there’s plenty more adventures to be had along the incredible coasts of Turks and Caicos.

You can walk along five miles of soft sand beside the blue waters of Grace Bay. Spot iguanas resting on tiny rock islands at Chalk Sound, or stroll the Iguana Island boardwalks to see them up close. Read messages scratched by shipwrecked sailors at Sapodilla Bay, and perhaps even find a coded treasure map.

If you really want to get away from it all, venture towards the old pirate hideout of Pine Cay, where phones, TVs and cars are all banned, so nature can take centre stage. Make the short hop over to the ruined British battlements of Fort George Cay, or explore 15 miles of underground limestone caverns at Conch Bar Caves on Middle Caicos. Want to step back in time? Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Salt Cay, which is now home to Balfour Town alongside a community of donkeys, wild cattle, and chickens.

Like much of the Caribbean, the peak time for visiting Turks and Caicos is between December and April. During this period, the dry, sunny days with an average temperature of 25°C offer the perfect conditions for activities in the sea, on the beaches, or in the island countryside.

April to June sees fewer crowds. The temperature rises up to 30°C, making the islands tempting to travellers who don’t mind the occasional short shower. The wet season officially begins in late-June and lasts until early-December – but the southerly location of Turks and Caicos means that most hurricanes will pass by, and the weather is largely good. Whale-watching season in Turks and Caicos runs from January to April, when majestic humpbacks pass through on their migratory journey.

• Visas: British passport holders do not require a visa for Turks and Caicos
• Currency: United States Dollar (US$)
• Time difference: GMT -4 hours
• Flight duration from London: Approximately 12 hours, connecting in Antigua
• Capital city: Cockburn Town (Grand Turk)