I STOPPED paddling for a [...]
| Published date | 24 April 2024 |
| Publication title | Wishaw Press |
I was only halfway through this self-pitying thought when a school of silver fish whooshed past underneath my kayak, clearing to reveal not one, not two, but three huge turtles effortlessly pushing themselves through the water.
One surfaced right in front of me to take a big gulp of air and check us out before slipping back beneath the water.
The truth about the Turks and Caicos is that despite my sub-par observational skills, I needn't have worried about not being able to spot the natural beauty. It was everywhere.
On our three-hour kayak eco-tour of the complex mangrove root systems, we saw more than a dozen curious turtles navigating the waterways. Paddlers can also spot nurse and lemon sharks, stingrays and fish, as well as egrets, herons, raptors and small species of birds above the vegetation.
With turquoise waters and white sand beaches, Turks and Caicos could take the easy route and retire comfortably at the top of the world's best luxury fly-and-flop destinations.
But with breathtaking natural parks, nature reserves, coral reefs teeming with life and a culture of quality and sustainability, the islands deserve to be so much more than just a lounging zone.
The British Overseas Territory is southeast of The Bahamas and consists of 40 low-lying coral islands and uninhabited cays in two island groups. The British ties mean everyone speaks English and drives on the left, but they use US dollars and you'll need a US plug adapter.
Popular islands include Providenciales (known for the beautiful Grace Bay Beach), Grand Turk, North Caicos, South Caicos, Middle Caicos, Pine Cay, Ambergris Cay, Parrot Cay and Salt Cay.
The doors to this tropical para- dise have been thrown open by Virgin Atlantic, which launched direct flights from Heathrow to Providenciales last November.
Turks and Caicos prides itself on being a luxury location and fans include Paul McCartney, Oprah, Heidi Klum and the Kardashians.
An extensive barrier reef about a mile offshore protects many of the most popular beach spots from the swells of the Atlantic, keeping the waters at the shore calm.
Grace Bay Beach, the World Travel Awards' World's Leading Beach Destination, is breathtaking.
I made the most of my jet lag after waking at 5am to sit on its soft white sand. There wasn't a single rock, piece of seaweed or...
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