The islands are surprisingly divergent in terms of flora and fauna and geography. And each island has its own unique history.
Grand Turk
Bermudian colonial architecture abounds on this string bean of an island, 7 miles long and a little more than a mile wide. Buildings have walled-in courtyards to keep wandering horses from nibbling on the foliage. The island caters to divers, and it's no wonder: the Wall, a slice of vertical coral mountain, is less than 300 yards from the beach.
West Caicos
The 2002 dredging of the previously uninhabited island's natural harbor was the first step in the proposed "Isle of West Caicos" project. Plans are for a very exclusive island retreat centering around a harbor town (re-created with 18th-century atmosphere) and three coastal residential settlements. For many years the island was accessible only by boat, but developers have restored an old 3,000-ft airport runway. Fortunately, offshore diving here remains among the most exotic in the islands. The "Wilds of West Caicos" encompass a pristine wall, about ¼ mi (½ km) from shore, which starts at 35 ft to 45 ft and cascades to 7,000 ft. Sharks, eagle rays, and turtles are commonly seen on the many dive sites. It's about an hour's boat ride from Provo, but well worth the trip. Most dive operators depart from satellite locations on the south side of Provo for the journey.
Salt Cay
Fewer than 100 people live on this 2½-square-mi (6-square-km) dot of land, maintaining an unassuming lifestyle against a backdrop of quaint stucco cottages, stone ruins, and weathered wooden windmills standing sentry in the abandoned salinas. There's not much in the way of development, but there are splendid beaches on the north coast. The most spectacular sights are beneath the waves: 10 dive sites are just minutes from shore.
Providenciales
In the mid-18th century, so the story goes, a French ship was wrecked near here, and the survivors were washed ashore on an island they gratefully christened La Providentielle. Under the Spanish, the name was changed to Providenciales. Today about 25,000 people live on Provo (as everybody calls it); a considerable number are expatriate British, Canadian, and American businesspeople and retirees, or refugees from nearby Haiti. The island's 44 square mi (114 square km) are by far the most developed in the Turks and Caicos.
Middle Caicos
At 48 square mi (124 square km) and with fewer than 300 residents, this is the largest and least developed of the inhabited Turks and Caicos. A limestone ridge runs to about 125 ft above sea level, creating dramatic cliffs on the north shore and a cave system farther inland. Middle Caicos is best suited to those looking to unwind and who enjoy nature.
North Caicos
Thanks to abundant rainfall, this 41-square-mi (106-square-km) island is the lushest of the Turks and Caicos. Bird lovers can see a large flock of flamingos here, and fishermen can find shallow creeks full of bonefish. Bring all your own gear; this quiet island has no water-sports shops. Although there's no traffic, almost all the roads are paved, so bicycling is an excellent way to sightsee.
Parrot Cay
Once said to be a hideout for pirate Calico Jack Rackham and his lady cohorts Mary Reid and Anne Bonny, the 1,000-acre cay, between Fort George Cay and North Caicos, is now the site of an ultra-exclusive hideaway resort, a holistic health spa, and upscale homesites. Bordered by a wild stretch of pristine beach to the north and mangrove-lined wetlands to the south, tiny Parrot Cay is a natural wonder.
Little Water Cay is a small uninhabited cay protected under the Turks and Caicos National Trust; Pine Cay is one of a chain of small cays linking North Caicos and Provo; Middle Caicos has fewer than 300 residents and is the largest and least developed of the inhabited Turks and Caicos. South Caicos is known for its fishing industries, long white beaches, quiet backwater bays, and jagged bluffs. It is also paradise for snorkelers and divers.
