The Turks and Caicos is an archipelago nation consisting of six main islands – Providenciales, Grand Turk, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos and Salt Cay.
Providenciales and Grand Turk host most of the country's population, and consequently flights and ferries mainly operate around these two hubs.
Domestic flights and passenger ferries are the primary means of transport between islands.
North Caicos and Middle Caicos are the only two islands in the country connected by a road causeway.
On land, hire cars and taxis are the main means of getting around. There are no public transport services in the Turks and Caicos.
There are more than 120km (75 miles) of roads on the islands, of which an increasing number are sealed. Traffic drives on the left-hand side of the road. Traffic at major junctions is controlled by roundabouts, not traffic lights.
On Providenciales, the main route east of downtown is the Leeward Highway; to the west is the Millennium Highway. On Grand Turk, Lighthouse Road is best to reach northerly destinations, and Osborne Road when travelling south.
Seat belts must be worn at all times. Speed limits are 32kph (20mph) in town and 64kph (40mph) elsewhere.
Use caution while driving – traffic laws are loosely enforced and some drivers can be aggressive or reckless.
Air: Both Caicos Express Airways (caicosexpress.com) and InterCaribbean Airways (intercaribbean.com) offer charter and scheduled flights between islands.
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.
Note: At present, there are no airports on East and West Caicos.
Sea: Domestic ferry routes in the Turks and Caicos include Providenciales – North Caicos, Providenciales – South Caicos, and Grand Turk – Salt Cay.
All of these routes are serviced by small passenger ferry vessels. There are no scheduled large car ferries in the country.
The ferry service between Providenciales and North Caicos offers multiple trips per day, with a journey time of 30 minutes. Travel is between Heaving Down Rock Marina (Walkin Marina) on Providenciales and either Sandy Point Marina or Bellefield Landing on North Caicos.
The Providenciales and South Caicos ferry route runs several times per week. This ferry docks at Heaving Down Rock on Providenciales and Cockburn Harbour on South Caicos.
The ferry service between Grand Turk and Salt Cay operates three times per week. However, there are no ferries between Providenciales and any of the Turks Islands (Grand Turk and Salt Cay).
You can also charter boats at any of the inhabited islands.
Car hire: Car hire agencies include Budget, Avis and Hertz as well as several local firms on Providenciales, Grand Turk and North, Middle and South Caicos.
In addition to cars, some agencies also rent scooters, dune buggies, 4x4 wheel-drives and three-wheel roadsters. On Salt Cay, the main form of motorised transport is electric golf carts. Most of agencies offer free pickup and drop-off.
A national driving licence, plus an International Driving Permit if your licence isn't in English, is required.
Taxi: Taxis are available at most airports, however, demand is often high and you may need to share.
Taxis are metered and the rates are set by the government, however you should negotiate the fare beforehand.
There are no designated taxi stands. You can hail a passage taxi, but it's best to ask your hotel or restaurant to call one for you.
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 it pays to use caution when biking on main roads outside resort areas.
The Grace Bay area roads are paved with sidewalks running on both sides. Many resorts, including Somerset, the Grace Bay Club, and the Sands at Grace Bay, offer complimentary bikes for their guests.
Bus: 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.
Latest update: How to get around the Turks and Caicos: 14 May, 2022
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