These little islands are a rare, undiscovered, unspoiled paradise. The Turks and Caicos comprise two groups. A half-dozen small islands to the south and east of the Bahamian archipelago make up the Turks, of which Grand Turk and Salt Cay are the ports of entry. To the west and north are the larger islands of the Caicos group, for which Providenciales (locally known as Provo) is the port of entry, and the islands' center of tourism. Comprised of about 40 small islands and cays, the Turks and Caicos Islands are ecologically pure. The waters are unpolluted; the beaches are clean and pristine; the population is friendly and outgoing. These islands offer excellent diving and deep-sea fishing. For the beachcomber, there are acres of pristine coral sand, much of it deserted. There are almost 230 miles of beaches. The coral reefs upon which these islands sit are home to a vast undersea population of colorful marine life, most of it friendly and inquisitive. The reef system, more than 200 miles long and 65 miles wide, offers opportunities for divers and snorkelers at all experience levels. There are coral flats at depths varying from a couple of feet to more than 20 feet where a vibrant fish community will provide endless hours of fun under the sea. There are ledges and walls where the depths plunge hundreds of feet offering more experienced divers a variety of choices to explore one of the last unspoiled reef systems in the western hemisphere. There are wrecks, some only recently discovered and still on the secret list. Some were discovered long ago, but still make for an exciting morning or afternoon of exploration. This guide tells you everything you need to know: where to stay, where to eat, how to get around, what to see and do. Here are some reviews of the complete guide to the Bahamas, from which this is drawn: "This is a highly informative guidebook that reviews both the obvious and obscure. The Bahamas has so much to offer and this book really manages to cover quite a bit. I highly recommend it for someone that wants an insight into each of the islands that make up the Bahamas." -- Globehound "Now in an updated fourth edition, The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos is a travel guide to the 700+ islands of the Bahamas as well as the Turks and Caicos. Fabulously illustrated with full color photographs on virtually every page, The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos lists the best hotels in different price ranges, restaurants, dive sites, dive operators, tours, fishing guides, historic forts and pirate hideouts, where one can walk through tropical forests or play with dolphins, find duty-free shops with bargains, and much more. An easy-to-use, reader-friendly field guide. Highly recommended for tourists and business travelers alike." -- Midwest Book Review
