Turk & Caicos Cheap Flights, Crystal Clear Waters, and Ocean Tour Experiences Connecting You with Nature
With airline tickets more expensive than ever, travelers are looking to maximize bang for buck. That’s part of the reason that Turks and Caicos Islands – with daily flights from DFW and fares often under $200 – is gaining thousands of new fans among travelers this year. More and more people are visiting Turks and Caicos, and not just for the affordable airfare!
Turks and Caicos Islands is a British Overseas Territory (similar to the Cayman Islands) and lies between the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic, about 570 miles off the coast of Miami. Major commercial carriers serve the Providenciales Airport (PLS), with daily direct flights to Boston, Washington DC, Dallas, Miami, and other cities.
Once on the islands, the connection with nature is instantly palpable. The islands are home to some of the clearest waters and best reefs for snorkeling in the Caribbean. Visitors can experience swimming with a pod of dolphins and might even sneak a peek of endangered species like the Turks and Caicos rock iguana, in its only natural habitat. And today, eco-minded travelers increasingly want to make sure their enjoyment won’t conflict with crucial conservation efforts of these fragile and unique island ecosystems.
The Endangered Iguanas, Turks and Caicos, Iguana Island
That’s exactly what the Islands’ top tour operator, Caicos Dream Tours, is achieving for the thousands of families and adventure-seekers who visit Turks and Caicos through their agency every year. In partnership with the National Trust of Turks and Caicos, Caicos Dream Tours is setting out to preserve Iguana Island. They are fighting to preserve the natural beauty and wonder of the islands and to protect the rock iguana from possible extinction.
Representatives of Caicos Dream Tours and the Turks and Caicos National Trust collaborate on nationwide guidelines for tour operators and passengers to protect the area’s fragile ecosystems.
Simon Bussutil, Biosecurity Advisor at the National Trust, said, “the iguanas are a huge asset to the Turks and Caicos Islands brand and its economy, as well as an international conservation success story. We need to make sure that all visitors are aware of this and how to behave in ecologically sensitive areas.”
Enock Simmons, Head Operator at Caicos Dream Tours, said “we are humbled and delighted to be the first tour company to join this critical partnership.”
Top Locations for Wildlife and Snorkeling: Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay is a pristine three-quarter-mile beach between the uninhabited islands of Little Water Cay and Water Cay, and this is the best place in the country to see the endangered Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana.
The northern side of Half Moon Bay features a well-known beach with beautiful turquoise water, and the southern side offers a sheltered and shallow lagoon with crystal clear water and soft sand. To the east, a perfect white sand beach framed by limestone cliffs runs all the way to Pine Cay.
The area is managed by the Turks and Caicos National Trust (TCNT), and the best way to visit is with an ecologically responsible tour operator.
Half Moon Bay, Turks and Caicos Islands
Top Locations for Wildlife and Snorkeling: Grace Bay Beach
Turks and Caicos is also home to TripAdvisor’s #1 beach in the world: Grace Bay Beach, on the island of Providenciales. Clean turquoise water and soft white sand, and no rocks, seaweed, or pollution, this pristine beach is the hallmark of the Turks and Caicos Islands. An extensive barrier reef is located about a mile offshore, protecting Grace Bay from the ocean swells of the Atlantic, helps keep water at the beach calm and serene.
Bight Reef and Smith’s Reef offer a wealth of fish, turtles, stingrays, lobsters, and intricate coral topography to discover. Grace Bay Beach is part of the Princess Alexandra National Park, which also includes Bight Beach, Smith’s Reef, Leeward Beach, Little Water Cay, Half Moon Bay, and the eco-tour destination of Mangrove Cay.
Grace Bay is home to exquisite and vibrant reefs that can only be visited via boat, so the best way to visit is with a responsible tour operator.
The Turks and Caicos Islands are famous among snorkelers for their biodiversity and crystal clear water.
Best Time of Year to Visit Turks and Caicos Islands
With 355 days of sunshine and average high temperatures in the 80’s year-round. So, there is really no bad time to visit us. The busiest month is July, as Turks and Caicos Islands have become a top summer vacation destination for Americans living in Texas as well as on the East Coast.
When the islands and the waterways are busy, fish and other wildlife are more likely to stay hidden. To avoid the crowds and see even more dolphins, iguanas, stingrays, and sea turtles, Caicos Dream Tours General Manager Lloyd Lee says, “November and December are really great times to visit. Our snorkeling and wildlife tours are perfect for families, creating memories to last a lifetime. So the holidays are a perfect time to visit.”
Dolphin in Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos Islands