The island of south caicos is approximately eight square miles, has the highest point in all the islands, a lofty one hundred sixty feet above sea level, an international airport, the nation’s finest natural harbour, world class beaches, world class fishing, world class diving, and world class wind and water sports. South caicos is home to a friendly relaxed english speaking population and lacks the crowds, cars, pollution and “hustle n bustle” found in most other resort areas. Direct flights from The Turks and Caicos Islands, formerly part of the Bahamian Islands Chain is a member of the British Commonwealth, with the Islands fostering a growing off-shore financial centre akin to The Cayman Islands, another British Crown Colony. The British Governor as well as the local government are seated on the Capital Island, Grand Turk, with the other main named islands being The Caicos (string of Islands) Islands comprised of South Caicos, East Caicos, Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Providenciales and West Caicos, hence the name Turks and Caicos Islands. Salt Cay, southeast of Grand Turk, comprises the remainder of the named islands.
In the late 1960′s Seven Millionaires discovered The Turks and Caicos Islands, purchased land from The Crown and built a tiny airstrip and marina for their friend’s planes and yachts, eventually evolving into The Third Turtle Inn. With the islands “discovered”, they remained a secluded playground for the wealthy elite, enhanced, naturally by the British Territory’s Banking Laws. In 1984 however, lured by the international airports located on Grand Turk, Providenciales and South Caicos, together with the pristine, sparkling beaches and tranquility of The Islands, Club Mediterranean developed a large Club Med Resort Development in The Turks and Caicos Islands spurring the beginnings of tourism to the area. Today, hotels and hotel condominiums are thriving within the business and tourism climate offering condominium (strata plan) accommodations as well as condominium rental services for owners. The Crown and the Turks and Caicos Government are committed to developing the islands as a tourist destination point and off-shore financial centre, having spent millions of dollars within the past few years in these areas, particularly Infra-structure development, an example of which is the new airport terminals in Grand Turk, Providenciales and South Caicos (South Caicos Terminal presently under construction).
Some thirty-five years ago Bermuda was the first of The British West Indies to develop into an off-shore financial centre focusing primarily on the insurance aspects of off-shore finance and naturally, tourism. Twenty years ago The Cayman Islands were the play-ground of the wealthy with little tourism and off-shore financing; today, The Cayman Islands have a thriving tourism industry and off-shore financial centre coupled with the exorbitant property prices these two facets of industry bring with them. The Turks and Caicos Islands are the last untamed islands of the Crown Colonies in this part of the world, offering you an undiscovered hideaway at undiscovered prices. Today, The Turks and Caicos Islands is the jewel of the Caribbean on the cusp of greatness!