TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
By Jenny Peters
GETTING THERE
UNITED AIRLINES OFFERS NONSTOP SEASONAL WEEKLY SERVICE TO PROVIDENCIALES ( PCI ) FROM WASHINGTON DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ( IAD ).
There are few places in the world that are more gorgeous than the Turks and Caicos Islands ( TCI ), the country that sits just below the southernmost island in the Bahamas archipelago . It ’ s east of the southern tip of Cuba , north of Hispaniola ( Haiti / Dominican Republic ) and incredibly beautiful .
To experience its beauty , begin with a walk or jog on the spectacular 12-Mile Beach at Grace Bay , the country ’ s justifiably worldfamous sugar-white sand beach located on the main island of Providenciales . It is a sight to behold as it curves around the bay , filled with incredibly hued turquoise-blue water , and a place to simply relax and enjoy the sun , sand and vast Atlantic Ocean that surrounds it .
Flying to TCI from Dulles International Airport is easy . United Airlines offers a weekly direct flight to Providenciales ( with an airport code of PLS ) through April 26 , 2017 . The trip will take about 3-4 hours , giving you plenty of time to map out all the different adventures you can have during your stay in this lovely tropical destination that uses the U . S . dollar as its currency .
Dolphins frolic in those warm , clear waters all year ; and humpback whales migrate by from January to April , singing their eerie songs and happily breaching with breathtaking beauty . It is always warm enough for water skiing , kayaking , sailing , sport fishing , stand up paddling , parasailing and scuba diving . Start your adventurefilled trip under the water with Provo Turtle Divers for a top-notch diving experience to incredible , world-class coral walls just off the coast and if you ’ re lucky , perhaps a few stingrays , sea turtles and reef sharks will wander past during your dive .
Out on Middle Caicos , the Conch Bar Caves Park awaits explorers . Commonly referred to as the Bat Caves , this protected area dates back to pre-Columbian times , and encompasses 15 miles of underground caverns filled with stalactites , stalagmites and bat colonies . Hire a local guide to show you the intricacies of the caves — and be sure to bring a powerful flashlight !
While still a somewhat off-the-beaten track kind of place , Turks and Caicos is growing up fast , with accommodations springing up all along the 12-Mile Beach . It ’ s now dotted with elegant and welcoming hotels including the award-winning all-suite Grace Bay Club , the Somerset and the Point Grace , making it hard to go wrong choosing a place to call home the famed beach . What ’ s much harder is leaving , once you ’ ve spent any time in this welcoming slice of tropical heaven .
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