Turks and Caicos Travel Information

As in the neighboring Bahamas,
a stray cold front can have real impact
in winter

Turks and Caicos Travel Information

Area: A string of more than 40 islands and cays, often described as an extension of the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands are located 575 miles southeast of Miami Florida, 30 miles south of the Bahamas and 90 miles north of the Dominican Republic.

Language: English.

Population: About 23,000, mostly on the islands of Providenciales (the tourist center) and Grand Turk (center of government).

Rainy Season: On average the T&C has 340 days of sunshine a year. Grand Turk has about 21 inches of annual rainfall, Provo closer to 40 inches, mostly during the summer and fall due to tropical fronts. Heaviest rains are apt to be August to November.

Temperatures: From Nov. to May the average temperature is 80-84 degrees (27-29 C) and 85-95 degrees from June to October (29-35 C) with August the hottest month. The T&C can be affected by cold fronts from North America, which plunge the temperatures far lower and create very windy conditions. Water temperatures in winter are 72-78 F (22-26 C) and in summer a bath tub warm 82 to 84 F (28-29C).

Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time or GMT -5. Daylight Saving Time is observed.

Electricity: 110/240 volts, 60 cycles AC, the same as in the U.S.

Currency: The T&C may be geographically close to the Bahamas, but their financial heart is with the U.S. The US dollar is the local currency.

Restaurants: Read reviews of local restaurants at Where, When & How.

Taxes & Tipping: The hotel tax is 8% and hotels often add a service fee of 10-15% on top. That's almost 25% above your quoted room price. Discretionary tipping is a standard 15%. The departure tax is US$23.

Documents: U.S. and Canadians citizens need only an original or notarized birth certificate and official photo ID, such as a driver's license. All others need a passport. Visas are necessary from former Easter Bloc countries. All visitors must have a roundtrip ticket and are limited to a 30 days stay, which may be extended once.

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