About Turks & Caicos
Turks & Caicos is made up of forty islands and cays in the Caribbean. Only eight of the islands are inhabited. There are approximately thirty thousand year-round residents plus over two hundred thousand tourists each year. Tourism is an important part of the economy of Turks & Caicos. Salt production is also one of the major sources of revenue for the country. The islands of Turks & Caicos are surrounded by shallow waters, making them ideal for salt raking. One the downside, these waters become a nautical navigation nightmare. In the country’s history, there are more than one thousand ships that were wrecked to and from the country. The hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30 each year. Turks & Caicos boasts one of the highest crime-solved rates and the lowest crime rates in all of the Caribbean.
Family Activities in Turks & Caicos
Turks & Caicos is a well-known place for family vacations, with plenty of activities for people of all ages to do.
- Providenciales
On the island of Providencials, there are plenty of activities for families to participate in. If the family is interested in hanging out at the beach, Taylor Bay and Grace Bay are great places to go. Providenciales is also the home of Bight Reef. This reef has mini-caves to visit as well as plenty of crevices to swim into to see plenty of different kinds of fish.
- Little Water Cay
Little Water Cay is also known as Iguana Island. This cay hosts the remaining endangered population of Turks & Caicos’ rock iguanas. Another population family activity is walking along the long boardwalks on the cay and learn about the vegetation and wildlife that is native to Turks and Caicos.
- Grand Turk
Grand Turk hosts the Turks & Caicos National Museum. This museum showcases the natural history of the island as well as chronicling the lives of some of the country’s former slaves. It also shares information about the shipwrecks that have happened around the islands.
Family Vacation Packages in Turks & Caicos
The Beaches resort in Turks & Caicos offers all-inclusive vacations for the entire family. It boasts a 45000 square foot waterpark, twelve miles of beach surrounded by clear blue waters and activities for totos to tweens to teens to adults. For tots some of the activities include shows that feature Sesame Street characters. For tweens there is an XBox Play Lounge and for teens there is a disco called Liquid. Pirates Island is filled with pools, swimup soda bars and gigantic waterslides. The resort even offers vacation packages for single parents which can be uncommon in the Caribbean.
The Venetian on Grace Bay includes 1, 2 or 3 bedroom suites that overlook the ocean. All suites come complete with washers and dryers, and kitchens. There are plenty of beach and water sports that are included in the vacation packages. Families can choose to dine in the suite with just a quick call in advance to ensure that there are groceries stocked prior to arrival. There are also six restaurants on-site to choose from. before your arrival) or at one of six restaurants when staying at the Venetian.
How much will Turks & Caicos cost?
If you are traveling to Turks & Caicos on an all-inclusive package or if you are staying at a luxury resort, then the cost of your vacation increases quite a bit. Keep in mind that the Christmas time period is busy and is also one of the most expensive times of year to visit Turks & Caicos. By shopping for groceries at stores, you will be able to cut down on some of your costs however, food is fairly expensive wherever you go on the islands. For example, a gallon of ice cream is about $10 and a box of cereal could run you $8. Be prepared to pay about $20 for an entree and soda at a decent restaurant; this can increase significantly (possibly up to $50) if you are looking for a meal at a fine restaurant.