Turks & Caicos Tips: 5 Things to Know Before Visiting

If you’re thinking about visiting Turks & Caicos, you’re not alone. This island paradise is a breathtakingly beautiful and popular destination in the Caribbean, especially for people who like to scuba dive and snorkel. It features some of the clearest water in the Caribbean and plenty of thriving coral reefs and underwater spots to check out.

It also features soft white sand beaches, a laidback vibe, delicious local cuisine, and warm hospitality.

We loved our visit there and have compiled these Turks & Caicos tips to help you make the most of yours.

Turks & Caicos is great for US visitors

Located just about a 2-hour flight from Miami, Florida, Turks & Caicos has plenty of direct flights from the US so it’s easy to get to. It also uses the US dollar as its official currency and English as the official language. And while US citizens will need their passport, they don’t need a visa.

Turks & Caicos is also known to be quite safe. However, driving is on the left, since this area is a British Territory, so be careful if you plan to rent a car.

The weather is beautiful all year

No matter what time of year you want to visit Turks & Caicos, you’ll find gorgeous warm weather. While temperatures range up to 95 degrees in the summer months, they rarely drop below the mid-70s so the islands make the perfect winter escape.

The average air temperature is around 85 degrees, and the water temperature remains warm enough for swimming and watersports year round.

Rainy season in Turks & Caicos is late August to early December, but showers tend to be short and infrequent. And although hurricane season is June to November, storms are rare. However, we recommend purchasing travel insurance if you are coming during this time.

No matter when you visit, be sure to bring a sunhat, sunglasses, and plenty of good (reefsafe) sunscreen! The sun is very intense.

Travel during the week if possible

While there are multiple islands in Turks and Caicos, the main airport is in Providenciales and this is where most international flights land. It’s a small airport and easily overwhelmed, so for the best experience try to arrive on off-peak days and times. Weekends are busiest, and the winter is the high season. Easter/Spring Break is another peak travel time.

Beaches are open to the public and free

Across the Turks & Caicos islands, there are plenty of beautiful white sand beaches, and they are all free and accessible to the public. This makes it easy to beach hop on your vacation.

Grace Bay Beach is one of the best-known and most dazzling beaches in the islands (and has been named one of the world’s top beaches); it’s located on the main island of Providenciales.

Turks & Caicos can be expensive

Turks & Caicos is known as one of the more expensive Caribbean islands. Pretty much everything has to be imported, such as most liquor brands. If you have a particular kind that you like to drink, you may want to bring some with you. Food, while delicious, is also quite expensive.

There isn’t any public transportation and taxis can be pricey, so if you want to explore the island a rental car is best. However, be sure to book with a reputable company and get plenty of insurance. Some of the roads are in bad shape, and there are break-ins. (And remember that they drive on the left.)

Because Turks & Caicos can be pricey and difficult to get around (and frankly, there isn’t much to see there), it can make sense to stay at an all-inclusive resort where all your meals, drinks, and activities are covered under one rate.

One of our favorite Turks and Caicos all inclusive resorts is Beaches Turks & Caicos. A family friendly resort owned by Sandals, it offers the same extensive inclusions and excellent service. Plus, it features unique amenities and activities for kids and teens such as a huge waterpark, Kids Camps with certified nannies, teen activities including a “nightclub”, an Xbox Play Lounge, and interaction with Sesame Street characters.

At the same time, it’s also popular with couples and adults traveling without children because it’s set on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Grace Bay Beach. It also features some adult-only areas and dining options.

When we visited, we were amazed at how beautiful and clear the water was. Since Turks & Caicos is a top snorkeling and diving spot, we loved being at Beaches because both scuba diving and snorkeling are included in your rate.

Beaches Turks & Caicos Tips

If you’re headed to Beaches Turks & Caicos, here are our tips for a great stay:

Accommodations are divided into different villages and the styles, prices, and surrounding amenities vary depending on location. We have some overview articles on the villages to help you find the right spot for you.
If you’re traveling with adult children (or just adults), book your stay when school is in session for a less-crowded atmosphere.
Peak season is the winter months, so prices are highest then. You’ll find the best prices in the offseason months of September and October, as well as the shoulder season of April and May (except for Easter and Spring Breaks).
All watersports are included, along with equipment, so you don’t need to bring anything or worry about paying extra for those.
Make any dinner reservations that you want as soon as you arrive to make sure you get your desired spots and times
Order as much food as you want! It’s all included, and they are happy to bring you extra appetizers, entrees, and desserts. We love doing this so we can try new things.
Bring insulated cups/tumblers to keep your drinks cold while at the pool or beach
If you’re bringing young children, pack floaties for the pools and waterpark
Some of the restaurants require nicer clothes, so take a look at where you want to eat and be sure to pack appropriately
Tipping is included at Beaches so you don’t need to worry about bringing a lot of cash for that, but you might want to bring some for the airport transfer drivers and any off-resort activities you do. Also, if you get any spa services or stay in a butler suite, those staff members should be tipped.

What not to bring to Turks and Caicos?

The list of what not to bring to Turks and Caicos is fairly short and commonsense. It includes things you can’t fly with, like firearms and ammunition. Pornography is also forbidden.

You can bring a limited number of cigarettes in with you, but marijuana is illegal (as are other controlled and narcotic drugs). This includes medical marijuana and all related substances like CBD and THC products. Be sure to have your prescriptions for any prescription drugs you pack.

Home-packed meats and food products are not allowed, but you can bring prepackaged food in.