Turks & Caicos

 

With more than 200 miles of tranquil ivory sands and the most fabulous snorkelling and diving, the Turks and Caicos Islands are a real dream destination.
Most visitors come to the Turks & Caicos to dive, snorkel or lie on the beach and relax. The islands are primarily limestone and do not support a great deal of vegetation, but the waters are teeming with marine life. Dolphins, migrating humpback whales and tropical fish are just some of the spectacular sights visible from the secluded and often empty white-sand beaches. This is the Old Time Caribbean with plenty of modern amenities to make you comfortable, crazy and eager to come back.
 
Capital:            CockburnTown.

Currency:         US Dollar

Population:      67,000.

Area:                166 square miles (430 sq km)
There are eight major islands and numerous uninhabited cays. The TurksIslands include Grand Turk (the capital) and Salt Cay. The Caicos Islands include West Caicos, Providenciales, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, East Caicos and South Caicos.
 
Languages:      English.

Economy:         Tourism,
 
Religions:        Anglican and other Protestant churches.
 
Government:    Independent state within the British Commonwealth.
 
Telephone Codes:       - 1 – 649
 
Airport Departure Tax:   US$15.00.
 
Passport/Visa Requirements:   Australian passport holders do not need a visa.

Health Certificates:      None required. Contact health authorities for latest information.

Shopping Hours:          Shops open 9am-5pm every day except Sunday. Most shopkeepers take a
long lunch.
 
Banking Hours:            Banks are open 8.30am-2.30pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8.30am-5pm on
Fridays.
 
Time Zone:      14 hours behind Sydney (EST).No Daylight Saving Time is observed.
 
Electricity:        110 volts.
 
Weather:          Temperatures run near 80F in the winter and can jump into the mid-90sF during the summer. A prevalent breeze makes the islands seem a bit cooler than the temperatures indicate.
 
History:            Discovered by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1512 and settled by Bermudians, the Turks and Caicos Islands became a BritishDependentTerritory in 1962.
 
Once the Arawak Indians who lived here in Columbus's time had been rounded up and shipped away, the islands were left uninhabited until pirates used them as a stopping-off point and Bermudans arrived to rake up salt to sell to North America and Europe as a preservative. Refining sea salt remained the main industry until the late 1960s. Since then, tourism and offshore finance have gradually taken over as the main sources of revenue. Today, the islands' status as an offshore financial centre and a desirable holiday destination is growing steadily.
A British Crown colony at the south-eastern tip of the Bahamas, the Turks & Caicos became internally self-governing in 1976. The US dollar is the official currency, English is the official language and the country enjoys an enviable reputation for safety.
 
Just eight of the 40 islands are inhabited, The capital, Cockburn Town, is on Grand Turk, a favourite haunt of anglers and scuba divers, and home to the National Museum. Only 300 yards from the Grand Turk shoreline, the ocean plunges to a depth of 7,000 feet in the Columbus Passage, the 22-mile stretch of water which separates the Turks from the Caicos Islands. Wall-diving at this drop-off is a must.
On Middle Caicos, ConchBarCaves, with their impressive white stalactites and stalagmites and eerie underground salt lakes, are still barely explored. Nearby, the remains of a settlement of Arawak and Lucayan Indians have begun to interest archaeologists, as well as visitors.
Most recent development has taken place on the charming island of Providenciales – Provo for short. With the fantastic GraceBayBeach, voted best in the world on two occasions by readers of Conde Nast Traveler, it has grown from an almost uninhabited backwater to a world-renowned visitors haven. Along the Bay, there are resort hotels, a casino, restaurants and a shopping centre. The Provo Golf Course is one of the best in the region.
Provo is home to the unique Caicos Conch Farm, established in 1984 to grow conch commercially from eggs to adult, a process which takes four years. It has up to one-and-a-half-million conch at a time. Conch meat has long been a favourite in the Caribbean and huge quantities are exported to the US. Nothing is wasted – the shells provide gifts and souvenirs.