Airplane: Two airlines offer scheduled flights within the Turks and Caicos Islands: Skyking flies several times a day between Providenciales and South Caicos and Grand Turk, as well as between Grand Turk and South Caicos.
Air Turks & Caicos flies six times a day from Providenciales to Grand Turk, three times a day to North Caicos, daily to Salt Cay and four times a week to Middle Caicos. It also flies daily between Grand Turk and Salt Cay.
Ship: TCI Ferry Service operates ferries between Leeward Marina on Providenciales and North Caicos, making it possible to avoid the expensive flight. There are four trips a day per route.
There is also a ferry between Grand Turk and Salt Cay every few days.
It is possible to rent boats on most of the inhabited islands.
Car: The road network on the Turks and Caicos Islands has a length of more than 120 km, about a fifth of it is paved.
If you are on the Turks and Caicos Islands for a long time, taxis can be quite expensive. If you are planning to explore Grand Turk or Providenciales, it makes sense to rent a car. The local rental companies in Grand Turk, Providenciales, South Caicos and North Caicos are very good and often cheaper than the international rental companies (including Budget, Avis, Hertz and National). It is also possible to rent motorbikes.
Car rentals start at $ 80 a day and vehicles are usually in good condition. In addition, there is a tax of $ 15 and compulsory insurance of $ 15. The minimum age for renting a car is 25 years. A national or international driver’s license must be presented.
There is left-hand traffic on the Turks and Caicos Islands. Speed limits on the Turks and Caicos are 20mph (about 32 km / h) inside built-up areas and 40mph (about 65 km / h) outside of built-up areas.
There are enough petrol stations on the islands, opening times are usually from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Some petrol stations are closed on Sundays. Credit cards are only accepted at petrol stations in larger towns, otherwise only cash.
Buses of the transport company Gecko shuttle ride on Providenciales. There is no set schedule. You can buy tickets in hotels. From here they call Gecko Shuttle, who then send a bus over.
Taxi:There are taxis on all inhabited islands, mostly minivans. This means that you can expect to share the taxi with other passengers. The taxis drive without a taximeter, the fare should be negotiated with the taxi driver before departure.
Bicycle: Cycling is an inexpensive, environmentally friendly and, above all, fun way to travel in the Turks and Caicos Islands. In hotels, bicycles are often lent to guests free of charge. It is also possible for non-guests to borrow bikes (around US $ 20 per day).
Turks and Caicos Islands – How to get there
Airplane: The airline Air Turks & Caicos flies most frequently to the Turks and Caicos Islands (from Nassau, Bahamas and Miami, USA). Other airlines that have the islands in their program are American Airlines (from Miami and New York), Delta Airlines (from Atlanta, USA), British Airways (from London), Air Jamaica, Spirit Air (from Fort Lauderale, USA), US Airways (from Charlotte, USA) and Bahamasair (from Nassau). On flights from Europe, stopovers are normally made in Miami (USA), but from London in Nassau (Bahamas).
Airports: international Flights to the Turks and Caicos Islands can land at three airports. The airport Providencials International Airport (PLS) receives the most international flights.
The airport Grand Turk International Airport (GDT) is located 3 km to the southeast of Cockburn Town. Taxis run from the airport to the city.
A smaller international airport is South Caicos International Airport (XSC). There are runways for small planes on several smaller islands.
Ship: The most important ports on the Turks and Caicos Islands are Cockburn Harbor on South Caicos, Grand Turk, Providencialis and Salt Cay. Fred Olsen is one of the cruise companies offering the islandsCruises and Carnival Cruise Lines.
Turks and Caicos Islands: Visa and Entry Requirements
The Turks and Caicos Islands has the same entry requirements as for Great Britain.
Passport
is generally required for entry into the Turks and Caicos Islands. Upon entry, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
Entry with children
For those traveling with your children the same visa requirements apply as for their parents.
Germany: You need your own passport for children. Child ID cards are no longer issued in Germany, existing child ID cards remain valid until the expiry date.
Austria: up to the age of 12, it is possible to enter the child in the passport of an accompanying parent. Your own passport is also accepted.
Switzerland: Children need their own passport.
Visa
Citizens of EU countries (with the exception of Romania and Bulgaria) and Switzerland do not require a visa for a stay of max. 3 months on the Turks and Caicos Islands. This applies to both tourists and business travelers.
Turks and Caicos Islands climate
The Turks and Caicos Islands are relatively dry compared to many other islands in the Caribbean. In winter the temperatures are between 20 and 25 ° C, in summer temperatures of 32 ° C can be reached. The lows do not fall below 5 to 6 ° C.
Less than 1,300 mm of precipitation falls annually, most of the precipitation falls during the hurricane months from September / October to November.
Best travel time for the Turks and Caicos Islands
The sun shines around 320 days a year on the Turks and Caicos Islands. Possibly the only time that is not an ideal time for a vacation is the four hot months from August to November. During the northern winter, spring and summer (December to July), the weather is milder. The winter is the best time to visit, since then the weather is mild and there are fewer mosquitoes. The humidity on the northern islands is relatively high all year round, on the southern islands it is lower. The rainy season extends from the end of May to November, the hurricane season is at the end of this period – from September to November.
The high point of the holiday season is between winter and spring (mid-December to mid-April). Some hotels are fully booked around Christmas and Easter, so if you plan to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands during these periods it is advisable to book in advance. Hotels are a little cheaper between mid-April and July.