EXPLORE
Turks & Caicos
Picture-perfect beaches and bays, crystal blue waters, and immaculate white beaches make the Turks and Caicos Islands a top Caribbean luxury holiday destination. Smith’s Reef on Providenciales Island is an extremely popular snorkelling spot thanks to its diverse marine life. Little Water Cay, also known as Iguana Island, is a must-see to explore the tropical terrestrial wildlife, and boating opportunities from Grace Bay make sunsets on Turks and Caicos even more incredible. Travellers can explore the many islands in Turks and Caicos in one trip, with each island only a short ferry ride away. Traditionally a haven for well-heeled US travellers, the islands are now opening up to the UK market with direct flights now operating from London.
Travelling in Turks & Caicos
Ground Transportation
Visitors can navigate Turks & Caicos using ground transportation, including private transfers, rental cars or taxis to explore the island's beautiful beaches and attractions at their own pace.
Boats
Visitors can travel from the island of Providenciales to other Caicos and Turks islands via boat transfers, such as the 35-minute boat ride to reach COMO Parrot Cay.
Weather
The beginning of the year has some of the coolest temperatures, with average temperatures of 25-26°C. These months also experience the fewest rainy spells.
Best Time for Mild Weather Exploration and Outdoor Activities
25-26°C
AVG Temperature
7-9 HRs
Sunshine
1-2"
AVG Monthly Rainfall
25-26°C
AVG Sea Temperature
Temperatures rise to 27°C in the later spring months; by June, the average temperature is 29°C. The spring and early summer months are slightly wetter than the previous, though still quite dry.
Best Time for Beach Activities and Water Sports
28°C
AVG Temperature
8-10 HRs
Sunshine
2-3"
AVG Monthly Rainfall
26-27°C
AVG Sea Temperature
Turks and Caicos reach their hottest in the late summer months, with an average temperature of around 29-30°C. The island heads towards the climax of its wet season, which is still drier than many of the Caribbean Islands.
Best Time for Indoor Activities and Cultural Exploration
29-30°C
AVG Temperature
6-8 HRs
Sunshine
5-6"
AVG Monthly Rainfall
29-30°C
AVG Sea Temperature
It’s still very hot in October, but by December, the average temperature has fallen slightly to an average of 26°C. The late autumn months are the wettest, with 120mm of rainfall in October, dropping to an average of 55mm of rainfall by December.
Best Time for Exploring Lush Landscapes and Mild Weather Activities
26-29°C
AVG Temperature
6-8 HRs
Sunshine
3-5"
AVG Monthly Rainfall
29-30°C
AVG Sea Temperature
Geography
Turks and Caicos are two groups of islands sitting southeast of The Bahamas island chain. The territory comprises 40 islands and cays, though just eight are inhabited. Caicos is the largest of these island groups, with 32 of the total 40 island cays belonging to this group. The Turks Islands are separated from the Caicos by an ocean channel more than 2,000m deep, with only two inhabited islands.
History
The first people to inhabit the Turks and Caicos Islands were the Arawakan-speaking Taino tribe, who lived there from around 500-800 AD. Some historians believe Christopher Columbus first sighted the islands in 1492 on one of his voyages to The New World. However, the first concrete evidence of Europeans visiting the islands was in 1512, when Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León landed there. The French eventually claimed the Turks and Caicos Islands in 1783, though the British soon took the archipelago, which officially became a British colony. The islands finally became a British Overseas Territory in 2002.
