Turks and Caicos
Providenciales
‘Provo’ (pop: over 30542) is 25 miles long and about three wide and the third largest in area. Twelve mile Grace Bay on the north shore has many hotels and condominiums but you can walk and snorkel without feeling crowded. A surge of building work has transformed Grace Bay in the last 10 years as a string of hotels and a golf course have sprung up.
North Caicos
The lushest of the islands, North Caicos, (pop: 1,895), has taller trees than the other islands and attracts more rain. Like Middle and East Caicos, the south part of the island comprises swamp and mangrove.The population has declined to 1,275 inhabitants living at the settlements of Bottle Creek, Whitby, Sandy Point and Kew.
Middle Caicos
Also known as Grand Caicos, (pop: 275), this is the largest of the islands, with an area of 48sq miles. Its coastline is more dramatic than some of the other islands, characterized by limestone cliffs along the north coast, interspersed with long sandy beaches shaded by casuarina pines or secluded coves. The south part of the island is swamp and tidal flats.
Little Water Cay
Little Water Cay is the nearest island to Provo and inhabited by iguanas (it's usually called "Iguana Island"). The endangered Turks and Caicos rock iguana is now protected from threatening human presence by boardwalks which protect their burrows and nesting chambers, and there are strict rules against feeding them. A visitor’s fee is charged to continue their protection.
Grand Turk Cruise Center (GTCC)
The Grand Turk Cruise Center not only provides guests with a memorable landside experience but has also proven a success from a navigational perspective due to its superior protected area and easy access.
Grand Turk
Grand Turk, (pop: around 3720 people) is not a resort island although there are hotels and dive operations which concentrate mostly on the wall just off the west coast. The vegetation is mostly scrub and cactus, among which you will find wild donkeys and horses roaming.
French Cay
French Cay is found in the Caicos Bank, straight south from Provo and southeast of West Caicos, all alone in the middle of the blue. In the 17th century the island served as a hideout for a brigand of the sea, Nau L'Ollonois, who ambushed and captured passing sailing vessels.
East Caicos - Sisal Island
The Turks and Caicos Islands comprise about 40 low-lying islands and cays covering 193 square miles, surrounded by one of the longest coral reefs in the world. They are separated by the Columbus Passage, a 22-mile channel over 7,000 ft deep which connects the Atlantic and the Caribbean, contributing to the area’s profusion of marine life.
Dellis Cay
Dellis Cay is uninhabited but frequently visited for its shells. This island sits south of Parrot Cay and north of Pine Cay and can be easily noted in the chain of Caicos Islands. Dellis Cay is located a few miles from Providenciales and is accessible by a 20-minute boat ride.
Golf & Other Sports
Waterloo Golf Club is a 9 hole, 2,758yds, par 54 course built in the grounds of the Office of the Governor of the Turks & Caicos Islands. Officially opened on January 3, 1998, it was designed by His Excellency the Governor and built entirely by volunteers, including the Governor himself.
Places to Eat - South Caicos
Love’s has local dishes. Café Columbus, T9463245. For drinks and conversation with English bartender, Jack, good selection of beer, frozen yoghurt. Muriel’s, native dishes. Pond View, T9463276. Native dishes. Dora’s Lobster Pot at the airport.
Places to Eat - Providenciales
Club Latino Bar & Grill, open 24 hrs, slots, chicken ‘n’ ribs, nightclub and disco after 2000 behind Ward Construction building. Lamont’s, T9416115. Pink building, native and absolutely-everything- American menu, to go, 0600-2300 Mon-Sat, 0900-2300 Sun. Nyammings, on Old Airport Rd, T9413709. New, native food with Jamaican twist.
Places to Eat - North Caicos
Simple local restaurants include Club Titter’s Restaurant and Bar, near the airport, and Marina View on Kew Rd, very simple, not always open. Italian at the private Club Vacanze, reservations necessary. Papa Grunt’s Restaurant, Whitby Plaza. Open 0830, credit cards accepted, indoor or screened veranda dining, native and American cuisine, fresh seafood, lots of conch, sandwiches with homemade bread US$5.75, pizza, salads, vegetarian platter, open Sun 1100-1400 for lunch. Phone, fax and email service offered in the office area.
Places to Eat - Middle Caicos
Canned foods and sodas are available from the few small stores in Conch Bar and fresh food arrives weekly on the ferry from Provo. However, it is advisable to bring your own food. Annie Taylor is known for her cooking and runs a restaurant on demand in her house. Johnson’s Bar is open in Conch Bar most afternoons and evenings for cold beer, dominoes and music. T&J Boutique in Conch Bar has ice creams, cold drinks and fried chicken on Fri.
Places to Eat - Grand Turk
The best restaurants & bars are at the hotels. The Poop Deck at front street grand turk is a tiny bar. Set back from the road in the center of town by the sea, local food and hamburgers at lunchtime, amazing fried chicken, carry-out only and chips in the evenings. Regal Begal- a native conch specialties; serves local food, on the road north of town on the west side of North Creek, a favorite lunch place.
