TURK & CAICOS ISLANDS
Welcome To Turks & Caicos Islands
With water so turquoise that it glows, you may find it difficult to stray far from the beach in the Turks and Caicos. Museums, ruins, and other area attractions may not seem nearly as compelling as the beaches, which are among the most incredible you will ever see. Don't be surprised if you wake up on your last morning and realize that you didn't find a lot of time for anything else.
More About Turks and Caicos
Just 7 miles (11 km) long and a little more than 1 mile (1½ km) wide, this island, the capital and seat of the Turks and Caicos government, has been a longtime favorite destination for divers eager to explore the 7,000-foot coral-encrusted wall that drops down within yards of the shoreline. This tiny, quiet island is home to white-sand beaches, the National Museum, and a small population of wild horses and donkeys, which leisurely meander past the white-walled courtyards, pretty churches, and bougainvillea-covered colonial inns on their daily commute into town.
But things aren't entirely sleepy: a cruise-ship complex at the southern end of the island brings about 600,000 visitors per year. That said, the dock is self-contained and is about 3 miles (5 km) from the tranquil, small hotels of Cockburn Town, Pillory Beach, and the Ridge and far from most of the western-shore dive sites.