Turks and Caicos Travel Information

Forty islands and cays make up the Turks and Caicos Islands, which lie 660 miles to the southeast of the Bahamas.

TCI is a British overseas territory like the British Virgin Islands. Their convenient location near the Bahamas have made them a mainstay of eastern Caribbean cruises.

The current population of more than 30,000 receives more than 500,000 tourists visitors a year, the majority of which are from cruise ships.

Numbers don't lie. The fast-rising tourism statistics for Turks and Caicos Islands show that this formerly quiet Caribbean destination is becoming one of the most popular places to visit, especially among cruises.

More Turks and Caicos travel information:


Because the island receives so many cruise visitors, the Grand Turk cruise center is a major attraction on the islands. The center has shopping, dining, excursions and a swimming pool.

Unique excursions include opportunities for visitors to spot a herd of 2,500 migrating humpback whales from late January through early April.

The Grand Turk Lighthouse was brought in pieces from England in 1852 and reconstructed on the island. Another option is the 200-year-old ruins of the cotton plantation at Cheshire Hall

Visitors to the Caicos Conch Farm will see conchs that are raised to adulthood and learn about the process. The Middle Caicos Caves is a series of limestone caverns, which are the largest in the Caribbean.


All U.S. visitors arriving by air are required to have a passport. All other visitors are required to have a passport. Visitors from all nations are required to have a round-trip ticket as well.


The average temperature ranges between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit from June to October. From November through May, temperatures range between 80 and 84 degrees.

Water temperatures in the summer are 82 to 84 degrees and drop to 74 to 78 degrees in the winter.

The average annual rainfall is 21 inches, and the islands have 350 days of sunshine each year.


The U.S. Dollar is the official currency of Turks and Caicos. Most hotels, taxis and restaurants accept both credit cards and travelers' checks.

Tipping is recommended at 15 percent for waiters, porters, maids and taxi drivers.


The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. The official language is English, and the capital is Grand Turk. Eight of the 40 islands are inhabited, and they receive frequent hurricanes during the Caribbean hurricane season of June through November.

• State Department
  
• CIA Factbook
  
• Caribbean Tourism Organization