My trip to the Caribbean
A travel report

Geography

Turks & Caicos

The Turks & Caicos Islands are part of the British West Indies. The archipelago, with over 40 islands, lies just east of the Bahamas and north of Hispaniola Island (shared by Haiti and Dominica Republic), about 600 miles from Miami. There are two groups of islands, separated by the Christopher Columbus Passage, a 7,000 ft deep abyss. The Turks Islands, including Grand Turk, the nation's capital, are east of the passage, while The Caicos Islands are west. The largest islands - Providenciales, North Caicos, Middle Caicos and East Caicos - are found in this latter group.

It is said that Grank Turk was the site of Christopher Columbus' first landing. Ponce de León landed there in 1515, and later pirates lived in the islands. In the 18th century, the islands were settled by the British. Slaves were brought by immigrants from Georgia, USA, during the Civil War. Today the population is about 14,000.

The islands are well known among divers, offering extraordinary scuba diving in the reef formation that surrounds the islands. Visibility is excellent, often over 100 ft.

There are more than 230 miles of beaches in the Turks & Caicos islands, most of soft coralline sand. The 2 1/2-mile beach at Pine Cay is considered the most beautiful of the islands. Grace Bay, at Providenciales (also known as Provo), is 12 miles long with white sand, and although many hotels are found along it, it still has many untouched areas. Uninhabited East Caicos has a beautiful 17-mile beach on its north coast. Many beaches in the islands and cays are accessible only by boat.

British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands, about 60 miles east of Puerto Rico and less than one mile from the U.S. Virgin Islands, are a group of about 50 islands, islets and cays, most of which lie around the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Tortola, about 10 square miles, and Virgin Gorda, 8 square miles, are the largest ones. Most of them are volcanic, with exception of Anegada, a coral atoll 15 miles north of the rest of the archipelago. Other important islands are Jost Van Dyke, Norman, Peter and Beef Island, where the International Airport is located.

First inhabited by Siboney indians, the islands were visited by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to America, in 1493. Spaniards looked for gold and pirates took advantage of the islands' many hidden coves. Dutch settlers arrived in the 17th century, but soon the British replaced them. Nowadays the BVI have a governor appointed by England, but their constitution allows some autonomy from UK.

Sailing is one of the main activities in the islands: even in the main islands some beaches are only accessible by boat, not to mention that BVI's waters are considered excellent for both novice and experienced sailors. Smugglers Cove and Brewer's Bay, both in Tortola, and The Baths, in Virgin Gorda, are some of the plenty great snorkeling sites found in the islands. The wreck of the RMS Rhone is a must for divers. Quiet and beautiful sandy beaches abound.

U.S. Virgin Islands

The "American Paradise": this U.S. territory is located 1000 from the mainland, next to the British Virgin Islands. St. Thomas is the main island, receiving large cruise ships and housing the main airport. Next to it, the beautiful St. John has about three fourths of its area protected as a National Park. St. Croix, the larger island, lies 40 miles south of the other two. Formerly a Danish colony, street names still have their Danish names and driving is still at the left side of the road, despite of the islands having been transfered to the United States in 1917.

Snorkeling is excellent, specially at St. John's protected beaches. Trunk Bay, one of its busiest beaches, has an underwater snorkeling trail. Beaches there, usually narrow and small, are often surrounded by sea-grape trees. Magen's Bay in St. Thomas is a half-mile long arc of white sand beach, while Sapphire Beach offers good snorkeling. Cane Bay is the prime diving and snorkeling site in St. Croix.

My trip to the Caribbean
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text and photos by Maria Adelaide Silva - no reproduction is allowed without the author's agreement

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