Turks and Caicos isn’t the place for anyone who loves wild nightclubs, cheap resorts and glitzy casinos.

It is, however, the perfect place for anyone who loves serene beaches, unique wildlife and tranquil vibes. As a bonus, it’s easy to reach, with several direct flights from East Coast cities.

About halfway between the Bahamas and the island of Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos is technically in the Atlantic Ocean, not the Caribbean. It’s a collection of about 100 islands, most of which are unpopulated. The largest is Providenciales (Provo), where the famous Grace Bay most of the resorts are found. 

We’ll take you on a quick tour of Turks and Caicos: what to see, where to stay, and where to eat.

3 Reasons to Buy Travel Insurance for Turks and Caicos

1. Travel insurance is mandatory for Turks and Caicos. As part of the island’s TCI Assured tourism restrictions, all visitors must carry insurance that can cover COVID-19 medical costs, including hospitalization, doctors’ visits, prescriptions and air ambulance.¹ (as of February 2022). Allianz Global Assistance is one of the TCI Assured suggested insurance providers.
2. Travel insurance can save your vacation investment. Turks and Caicos isn’t a cheap destination. The average cost of a week’s vacation there is $3,671, according to Budget Your Trip — and that doesn’t include airfare.² If you must cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason, travel insurance with trip cancellation/interruption benefits can reimburse you for non-refundable trip costs.
3. 24-hour assistance is there for any emergency. Sudden illness? Sunstroke? Missing passport? Car accident? If anything goes seriously wrong on your vacation, 24-hour assistance — which can be accessed from the Allyz® TravelSmart app — is there to help make things right.

What’s the best travel insurance plan for Turks and Caicos? You’ll want one that (like most of our plans) includes the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, which adds covered reasons to select benefits for certain losses related to COVID-19 and any future epidemic. (Benefits vary by plan and are not available in all jurisdictions).

OneTrip Prime is our most popular pick for vacations and international travel, and it covers kids 17 and under for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents). Frequent travelers can save money with an AllTrips annual travel insurance plan.

3 of the Best Things to Do in Turks and Caicos

1. Take a day trip to one of the Outer Islands. You could see the unique Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana on Little Water Cay, visit the stingray sanctuary at Gibbs Cay, or explore the scenic beach at Half Moon Bay.
2. Paddle your way through Mangrove Cay. This protected island consists of dense thickets of red mangroves, a species of salt-tolerant tree known for its aerial roots. Mangroves serve as nurseries for all kinds of species, so you may spot baby sharks, stingrays, turtles and fish.
3. Say hi to JoJo. In the 1980s, a wild dolphin struck up a friendship with dive instructor Dean Bernal. Now JoJo is a local celebrity, beloved for his antics and often seen swimming off Grace Bay Beach.³

3 of the Best Resorts in Turks and Caicos

Seven Stars Resort & Spa, located right on Grace Bay Beach, is one of Turks and Caicos’ top resorts. Why? In a word: Service. Seven Stars offers an online concierge to plan your stay and beach attendants with cocktails and cool towels at the ready.

A lovely resort that’s half the price of Seven Stars is Windsong on the Reef. This Turks and Caicos is notable for the snorkeling reef just 20 yards offshore. Watersports — including kayaking, paddleboards and Hobie Cat sailing — are free.

Want to get away from the crowd? Find perfect serenity at COMO Parrot Cay, a luxury resort on a private island. Each beach house and villa has its own pool and 24-hour butler service. The Shambhala Retreat spa has an impressive list of offerings, including an open-air yoga studio, an outdoor Jacuzzi garden, a Pilates studio, double massage rooms and Japanese baths.

3 of the Best Restaurants in Providenciales

Fancy resort restaurants abound in Turks and Caicos, but true foodies prefer to eat like the locals. Provo is known for traditional dishes like peas 'n' rice, codfish cakes, curries, lobster, and conch fritters, chowder and ceviche.⁴

Famous for its housemade hot sauces, Mr. Grouper’s Restaurant is the place for local food, live music and a laid-back atmosphere. Definitely try the grouper (grilled or coconut-crusted), the jerk wings and conch fritters.

Omar’s Beach Hut is a favorite for beachside dining, rum drinks, conch and flavorful fish roasted in foil. As they say, “If you haven’t tried our jerk lobster yet… you’re not living.”

Looking for some romantic fine dining? Book a table at Coco Bistro (well in advance, we suggest). Seated outdoors, in a grove of softly swaying palms, you’ll enjoy specialties like grilled lobster tail, pepper-crusted tuna with tropical salsa, and West Indian-style shrimp curry.

Don’t wait to buy travel protection! See affordable plan options from Allianz Travel Insurance.

What Do I Need to Travel to Turks and Caicos?

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