Getting there & Getting around

Getting there

Travellers from the US have the best access to the Turks & Caicos. American Airlines, US Airways and Turks & Caicos Airways, fly direct between Providenciales International Airport (Provo) and Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boston, Charlotte, Philadelphia and New York. Lynx Air flies between Fort Lauderdale and South Caicos and Grand Turk. Canadians can book an Air Canada charter flight between Toronto and Provo. Travellers coming from Europe can fly British Airways direct to Provo from London-Heathrow.

From within the Caribbean, Bahamasair and Turks & Caicos Airways fly between Provo and Nassau, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. Air Jamaica flies between Provo and Montego Bay in Jamaica. Visitors must pay a departure tax of US$35.00 on all international flights.

Yachts can clear customs at marinas on Provo, South Caicos and Grand Turk.

Getting around

There are no public buses on any of the islands, so taxis are the best all-around transport option. Taxis are available on all the inhabited islands, and most taxi drivers double as guides. Be sure to negotiate an agreeable price before setting out; fares are usually quoted according to the number of passengers.

Cars and motorcycles can be rented on Provo and Grand Turk; elsewhere, car rental options are virtually nil. A government tax of US$15.00 is levied on each car rental, and US$8.00 on scooter rentals. Mandatory insurance costs US$15.00. Driving is on the left. Bicycles can be rented at many hotels and concessions but are limited to unwieldy one-speeders, which are fine for stunted jaunts but a hard slog on longer trips.

Getting between the islands is easiest by plane. All the islands except West and East Caicos are served by air from Grand Turk and Provo. Sky King, InterIsland Airways and Turks & Caicos Airways fly between the islands on a quasi-scheduled basis. The ferry Caicos Express, operates sporadically between Provo and Sandy Point on North Caicos. It stops en route by request at Pine Cay, Parrot Cay and Middle Caicos. Salt Cay Charters runs a bi-weekly ferry service between Salt Cay and Grand Turk.

The Provo airport 1.6km (1mi) west of Providenciales town and has plenty of taxis. The airport on Grand Turk is 3.2km (2mi) south of Cockburn Town. A taxi may be there to meet incoming flights; if not, you can call one from the airport. On South Caicos, Cockburn Harbour Airport is 2.4km (1.5mi) north of town. The sole taxi driver on the island will no doubt head for the airport when he sees your plane land.

Visa information

All travellers must have a valid passport and proof of onward transportation. No visas are required for citizens of the USA, Canada, UK and Commonwealth countries, Ireland and most Western European countries. Most other nationalities require a visa. Visitors can stay up to 30 days, which is renewable one time only.