Overview of the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) has a history of Spanish Conquest and ribald pirates.  A vast archipelago of tiny islands and inland channels, TCI was made for keeping secrets and hiding pirated booty.  Rising from the Atlantic Ocean 500 miles southeast of Miami, the Turks & Caicos Islands comprise one of the world’s largest archipelagos consisting of thousands of islands, of which only seven are continuously inhabited.

Among the island chains known as the British West Indies (BWI), TCI is an independent British Crown Colony with a British provincial Governor.  The English influence is apparent everywhere, from the left-hand side driving, the roundabouts and the Bobby-style uniforms of the local police.

A TCI Postage Stamp

This chapter will cover the geological and natural history of the Turks & Caicos Islands, the history of human habitation and the local customs and culture of the citizens of the Turks & Caicos Islands, the Belongers.

The islands are connected via vast ocean shallows that are rarely more than 40 feet deep and extend over a hundred square miles.  The deep-water channel between South Caicos and Grand Turk is over 9,000 feet deep and serves as the superhighway for hundreds of migrating humpback whales.  It is not uncommon to see more than a dozen humpbacks during the whale migration season between January and May.

At first glance, the Turks & Caicos Islands appear to be widely distributed, but the TCI population is highly concentrated on the islands of Providenciales, called “Provo” by the Belongers, and Grand Turk, the national capital.

The Turks & Caicos Islands are one of the best kept secrets in the Caribbean, but once you find it, it is a place you will never forget.  Unparalleled in natural beauty and wildlife, the Turks & Caicos Islands are a pristine paradise of spectacular proportion.  The outlying islands are safe and friendly with a culture unspoiled by industry, pollution and mass commercialism.

Outside of Providenciales, you will not find the schmaltz and glitter of the all-inclusive resorts, and you will not find fast food, movie theaters or rude people.

Basics of TCI

Originally, the name “Turks” was a slang name for the local pirates who resided on Grand Turk and surrounding islands, feasting on the Spanish shipments of gold from Mexico to Spain.  TCI is the graveyard for many galleons used as trade vessels in the area, including the Spanish vessel that sank in Molasses reef in 1515, the oldest shipwreck in North America. 

The word “Caicos” likely finds its root in the Spanish word “Cayos” (pronounced “key-owes”), meaning a small island.  Cayos is also the source of the term “Cay” (pronounced “key”).

The following services and travel tips will give you a basic understanding of TCI:

§  Tipping: Restaurant tipping is customarily 15%.  Baggage porters at the airport and hotels expect $1 - $2 per bag.

§  Banks: Banks are open Monday-Thursday 8:30-2:30 and Fridays from 8:30-4:30

§  Taxes:  TCI is a tax-free zone for income or capital, but there is a 10% tax on hotel and car rental.

§  Car Rental:  A car rental is a convenient way to get around on TCI.  Taxis are abundant on Provo and Grand Turk but they are very expensive. Gasoline is also expensive on TCI, and there are times when entire islands will run out of gasoline.  Rental car agencies require you to return your car full and will charge $10 per gallon if you fail to top off the tank.

§  Airport Immigration:  Immigration to TCI can require a passport and a visa. It’s important to verify the requirements for immigration to TCI from your location.

§  Postage:  The Turks & Caicos Islands are known the world over for their amazing postage stamps.  Philatelists should make time to stop by a local post office for a sample of these unique and beautiful stamps.  The hard-core philatelist will likely want to visit the postage stamp museum on Grand Turk.

This is an excerpt from the book "Turks and Caicos Islands Insider Adventures" by Rampant TechPress.