Turks and Caicos islands Caribbean
Travel Link Coordination to
The TURKS & CAICOS Islands
Travel Link Co-ordinators... with tlc
The world is your oyster - Turks and Caicos small but perfectly formed and tasty!
| The Awe-inspiring Archipelago of the Turks and Caicos islands |
Sporting a history rich with legend and lore – from pirates' booty to the mysterious igloo that once appeared on the national flag – Turks and Caicos is experiencing a tourism boom. Real-estate development abounds, and while this means that the islands are dense with construction, it also signifies a rich supply of accommodations, sporting outfits and fantastic eateries. Armed with little more than a snorkel and a swimsuit, I set out for some serious island hopping, resort jumping and scuba cruising, and quickly discovered that paradise exists above the water as well as below it.
Como Shambhala spas. Distinguished instructors come to host week-long yoga retreats and internationally-trained therapists offer a catalogue of signature spa treatments. The amenities are endless. All that relaxation makes one hungry. The Lotus Restaurant here features an array of delicious Pan-Asian delicacies with a focus on local and organic ingredients. The service is extraordinary, and the menu changes with a new gourmet chef every year. Dining is complemented by the nearby infinityedge pool bordering the beach. Need a hotel in the Turks and Caicos or worldwide?
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within the Turks and Caicos archipelago, just 30 minutes by speedboat from the island capital of Providenciales
(known locally as Provo). Boasting 3.2 miles of pristine white beach and the eastern-inspired elegance
of Christina Ong, Parrot Cay is simple yet absolutely extraordinary. Stark white walls trimmed with dark teakwood,
terracotta tiling housing four-poster beds, private verandas overlooking a constantly tranquil sea –
this is paradise understated. From ocean-view suites perched beside floodlit tennis courts to three-bedroom
beach villas equipped with private pools and pandering butlers, Parrot Cay exudes exclusivity.
Renowned for playing host to the likes of Bruce Willis and Paul McCartney, Parrot Cay has convinced
a number of stars to invest in their own private accommodations on the island, which can also be rented by guests.
Set over 1,000 acres of thick cacti and sprawling mangroves, the resort houses one of the four world-renowned
Como Shambhala spas. Distinguished instructors come to host week-long yoga retreats and internationally-trained
therapists offer a catalogue of signature spa treatments. The amenities are endless. All that relaxation makes
you hungry! The Lotus Restaurant here features an array of delicious Pan-Asian delicacies with a focus on loca
l and organic ingredients. The service is extraordinary, and the menu changes with a new gourmet chef every year
. Dining is complemented by the nearby infinityedge pool bordering the beach. Almost every facet of resort-living
in the Turks and Caicos offers some degree of lavish indulgence. The Palms (www. thepalmstc.com) recently
unveiled its luxury quarters and deluxe spa along the splendid yet fast-developing Grace Bay Beach on Provo.
The facility sits atop reflecting pools within a Grecian oasis, and is surrounded by Japanese gardens and individual
treatment cottages. Signature treatments worth trying are Zareeba Steam and Massage Therapy and Mother of Pearl
Body Scrub. The Palms also plays host to opulent wedding parties. Having seen the Spa converted to a discothèque
, I can say it makes for an extraordinary venue. The lovely, laid-back Coral Gardens (www.coralgardens.com)
has unveiled a more modest spa offering Ayurvedic therapies and one complimentary 30-minute massage per guest.
In addition to individually-owned condominium units, the resort offers a range of luxury guestrooms just
steps away from Grace Bay’s best snorkelling. Another noteworthy luxury newcomer, the exclusive Amanyara
(www.amanresorts.com) has just opened on a nationally protected section of land in Provo.
It will certainly rival Parrot Cay with its 40 Pavilions interspersed throughout a secluded nature preserve skirted
by white sandy beaches.
The (Underwater) Explorer After a few days of getting properly pampered, I was well ready for some serious jet-setting.
Perhaps the best thing about Turks and Caicos is the combination of luxury and nature found here.
Only eight of the 40 islands are inhabited, and there are 25 national parks, preserves and sanctuaries,
all of which offer the outward bound tourist a landscape of opportunity. Even on Provo, the busiest island,
you can jump in a 4x4 and make your way to the national park to watch the splendid sunset from a deserted beach.
(Look out for the famous green flash that lights the sky as the sun descends below the horizon.)
The real excitement, though, lies beneath the ocean, in one of the most spectacular underwater ecosystems
on the planet. Continuously rated one of the top diving destinations in the world, Turks and Caicos is surrounded
by a massive barrier reef offering stunning wall dives around the island chain. From December to April you can
swim with the glorious humpback whales on their annual migration; in the summer months, a dive with
gigantic manta rays... The best diving is done on one of the easternmost islands, Grand Turk –
just a 20 minute plane ride from Provo on any of the domestic airlines. Only seven miles long and one mile wide,
Grand Turk is a sanctuary for scuba lovers and a perfect base for those wanting to explore uninhabited islands.
A ten-minute boat ride from the western shore is the pristine Grand Turk reef wall, which starts in only
30 feet of water and has a dramatic vertical drop of nearly 7,000 feet.
Along the wall, expect run-ins with spotted eagle rays, dolphins, sharks, turtles, puffers, groupers, schools of others.
I had the pleasure of staying on one of the island’s newest installations –
Bohio Dive Resort and Spa (www.bohioresort. com). Located a short distance from Grand Turk’s main strip
and just minutes away from some of the island’s best dive sites, the resort sits on a secluded strip of the beautiful
Pillory Beach. Owners Nick and Kelly have teamed up with a fantastic chef for some of the best dining on the island,
and a top-rate sports director ensures dive and equipment standards are high. With its modest accommodations
friendly and attentive staff, and all the necessary watersport accoutrements -
(including underwater propulsion vehicles that shoot you straight out to the wall in under 15 minutes),
Bohio is an unpretentious paradise for ocean-lovers. If you opt to stay parked in Provo, however, no need to worry:
the diving is spectacular, though a tiny bit further offshore you’ll find a bit more variety for sporting enthusiasts –
from first-rate golf courses (www.provogolfclub.com) to horseback riding on Grace Bay and game fishing offshore.
Socialising on Provo
Note! Turks and Caicos is not a haven for party animals, but Grace Bay Beach on Provo makes the effort.
It is speckled with tons of hotel bars and eateries, from the signature dining at Hemingway’s at The Sands
and Coy aba Restaurant at Coral Gardens (rented condos), to the raucous beach bar at Club Med, which hosts
throngs of American tourists and local expats seeking tropical debauchery. While most guests tend to hibernate
in their respective digs, there’s much to do if you venture out. Scattered around Provo and just minutes away from
Grace Bay are restaurants, bars and nightclubs sporting local flavour. Like all of the Caribbean islands
there is always an impromptu party, somewhere...
For the tastiest conch concoctions on the island, Bugaloos is a must-try. Other mentionable's include
Tiki Hut for delicious local fare; Aqua Terrace for stunning sunset views; and Baci’s for flavoursome Italian
in a romantic setting of course – all at Turtle Cove. For booty-shakers and all-nighters, try out the local
Friday night favourite, Bambooz Bar & Grill. Cool off with a beer at the only local Irish Pub, Danny Buoys,(Really!)
or grab a drink and a game of pool (island rules!) at Bonnie’s Restaurant.
The world is your oyster - Turks and Caicos small but perfectly formed and tasty!
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