Getting Around Turks and Caicos Islands

Air

In addition to the international airports on Grand Turk and Providenciales, there are landing strips on Middle Caicos, North Caicos, South Caicos, Parrot Cay, Pine Cay and Salt Cay.

interCaribbean (intercaribbean.com) and Caicos Express Airways (caicosexpress.com) cover domestic destinations.

Air Note

There are currently no airports on East and West Caicos. However, an airport at West Caicos is under construction as part of a long-delayed development project to bring a luxury resort to the island.

Road

Grand Turk and Providenciales have the most developed road systems and can be easily covered by car. Roads in rural areas can be poor.

Side of the road

Road Quality

There are over 120km (75 miles) of roads on the islands, of which an increasing number are sealed. Road signage, which generally follows UK protocols, has been improved in recent years. Traffic at major junctions is controlled by roundabouts, not traffic lights.

Use caution while driving; traffic laws are only loosely enforced and some drivers can be aggressive or reckless.

Road Classification

On Providenciales, the main route east of downtown is the Leeward Highway; to the west is the Millennium Highway. On Grand Turk, use Lighthouse Road to reach northerly destinations, and Osborne Road when travelling south.

Car Hire

Available from some local firms on Providenciales, Grand Turk, and North, Middle and South Caicos. In addition to cars, agencies may rent scooters, dune buggies and three-wheeled roadsters. On Salt Cay, the main form of motorised transport is electric golf carts.

Taxi

Available at most airports, but the supply may be limited and you often need to share. Negotiate the fare beforehand.

Bike

Bike hire is available on Grand Turk, Providenciales, North Caicos and Salt Cay. There are no designated bike routes or bike lanes in Turks & Caicos, so use extreme caution when biking on main roads outside resort areas.

Coach

There are no public buses on Turks & Caicos, and you should avoid using the illegal jitneys that are common on the island that at best, overcharge tourists and at worst may be unsafe.

Regulations

Seat belts must be worn at all times. Speed limits are 32kph (20mph) in town and 64kph (40mph) elsewhere.

Documentation

A national driving licence, plus an International Driving Permit if your licence isn't in English.

Urban travel

Taxis and hire cars are the main form of transportation in Turks & Caicos. Hiring a car is recommended if you're planning to do any substantial independent sightseeing.

Rail

Water

The TCI Ferry operated by Caribbean Cruisin (www.caribbean-cruisin.com) is a daily ferry service between Providenciales and North Caicos, and twice-weekly to South Caicos. A commuter ferry runs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays between Grand Turk and Salt Cay. You can charter boats at most of the inhabited islands.