Located just south of the Bahamas, and a quick 2-hour flight from Miami, Turks & Caicos is a well-known island chain, but still remains off the radar for the typical Caribbean vacationer.
The islands are surrounded by Atlantic waters, rather than the Caribbean, which makes it unbelievably blue, and warm. You will find spectacular white-sand beaches, as well as one of the world's largest networks of coral reefs, making it the perfect destination for those who want to explore the underwater world, relax on the beautiful beaches, or explore the unspoiled tropical beauty. There’s something for everyone in Turks & Caicos.
Here are some fun facts you might not know about Turks & Caicos…
Those who live in Turks and Caicos call themselves "Belongers."
How did the island get its name? There’s a lot of speculation about the origin, however, the most popular version is that ‘Turks’ came from Turks Head, an indigenous cactus on the island. While ‘Caicos’, came from “caya hico”, a Lucayan term meaning “string of islands”.
In 1962, after astronaut John Glenn’s historic orbital flight, he first touched land on Grand Turk Island (which was then the location of a NASA station).
On Grand Turk, a site was excavated by archaeologists, and there they found the oldest Lucayan Indian artifacts found in the Turks & Caicos and Bahamas Islands area. It dated back to AD 750.
The local's favorite dish, the Conch, is actually a giant sea snail! It begins life as a tiny larva and a full-grown conch can reach up to 12 inches in length. Locals also consider it to be an aphrodisiac when eaten (preferably raw).
When you visit Middle Caicos, look around for ‘love vines’. These yellowish-orange flowers are planted by a boy in his beloved’s yard and residents predict the outcome of their relationship based on how well the vine grows.
The islands' national music is known as rake 'n' scrape, where you rake a metal scraper or nail over a handsaw's teeth as the blade is bent. It is accompanied by drums, accordion, acoustic guitar, and/or maracas.
We call them mixed-breed dogs, on the island they're called ‘Potcakes’, which comes from the word describing the delicious different flavors of scrapings found at the bottom of a pot of stew.
Ready to experience the fun of Turks & Caicos? Schedule your FREE Travel Consultation today and start planning your trip with the ELx Travel Team.