Luxury Vacations to Turks and Caicos

A byword for tropical beauty, this Bahamian neighbor-nation of low-lying coral islands is scattered in the topaz-blue waters of the Atlantic, east of Florida.

A long-held secret among divers who sought out the extraordinary sights that swimming on what is the world’s third-largest coral reef brings, with added drama from the megafauna that ply the deep-sea drop-offs here at the continental shelf. More lately, hub islands including Providenciales have welcomed some of the region’s most luxurious hotels, and yet this 40-strong chain of coral cays remains a place defined by pristine marine experiences. And beaches. Some stretches of sugary white sand run to dizzying lengths, like 12-mile Grace Bay with its sleek line-up of hotels, while boat-only access defines most. Try the 400 foot-wide sandbar at Half Moon Bay on Water Cay, home to the endemic Turks and Caicos Rock iguana. Protected by a marine national park, these islands have the stunning natural beauty of Robinson Crusoe lore.