Archive for the ‘South Pacific’ Category
Turks and Caicos Attractions
Turks and Caicos Attractions – Turks and Caicos Island Things to do
Visitors come from all over the world to enjoy the water sport offerings available on Turks and Caicos. The islands are surrounded by an extensive coral reef system which is 65 miles wide and 200 miles long. This coral reef system along with outstanding visibility makes the Turks and Caicos a premiere destination for scuba diving, snorkeling, boating and sailing.
The Turks and Caicos offer unparalleled opportunities for scuba divers. In addition to the reef system, divers can observe and experience tropical flora and fauna and a variety of marine life.
For those who love the excitement of wall diving, you can start in shallow turquoise water and then take a dip into the deep blue sea. Have an undersea adventure, exploring shipwrecks from the Turks and Caicos’ rich pirate history. Dive sites are convenient to the shore and abundant throughout the islands. Lessons and dive tours are readily available by various companies throughout the islands.
For those who want to experience the undersea life of the Turks and Caicos but wish to stay a bit closer to the surface, snorkeling is another available activity. The crystal clear water offers amazing visibility for snorkelers. Snorkelers will observe a wealth of marine life.
On a snorkel trip, you may get to see moray eels, sea turtles and eagle rays. Visitors return to the Turks and Caicos just for the opportunity to get up close and personal with the marine life. Most snorkeling in the Turks and the Caicos is close to the shore but dive tour operators also offer wonderful snorkeling trips further off shore. For those enjoying an all inclusive honeymoon or vacation, snorkeling is almost always included in the pricing.
Turks and Caicos consist of forty islands and cays. Only eight of those are inhabited. A great way to see more than just the island you are visiting is by boat. Boat travel offers a view of the islands and cays you just can’t get from the air.
Boating and sailing can be serene or exciting activities on the waters surrounding Turks and Caicos. Drop anchor to do some diving, snorkeling or swimming or spend the day sunbathing on deck. However you take part in the Turks and the Caicos’ water adventures, you will come away from your romantic getaway or family vacation with a broader definition of beauty and an appreciation for nature and marine life.
Contact our travel agents to assist you with your Turks and Caicos holiday travel arrangements. Our specialists are knowledgeable with travel requirements, discounts, specials and custom vacation and honeymoon requests. Let us do the work so you can focus on having fun on your Turks Caicos Travel to the Caribbean.
Turks and Caicos Resorts
Turks and Caicos’ Top Resorts-Something for Everyone
With long stretches of pristine, uncrowded beaches, world class diving and breathtaking views, the Turks and Caicos is the natural choice for romantic getaways and family vacations.
The islands have no shortage of resorts featuring a variety of vacation and honeymoon packages.
For all inclusive honeymoons or vacations, Turks and Caicos features Club Med and Beaches. Each offers a different type of all inclusive experience.
For an all inclusive family vacation, look to Beaches Turks and Caicos. Beaches features a wide array of exciting activities for all ages. Your family will enjoy a 45,000 square foot water park, the Xbox 360 GameGarage and Liquid at Beaches, a teen disco.
Club Med Turkoise is the premiere, adults only all inclusive resort. Spend your time relaxing on the gorgeous beach or take advantage of activities like sailing, scuba, snorkeling or tennis. At Club Med Turkoise, you can even fulfill your childhood circus dreams by learning to fly on a trapeze. Whether you are looking for an all inclusive honeymoon or family vacation, Turks and Caicos has something for you.
Beyond the all inclusive resorts, Turks and Caicos also has a bevy of resorts with a variety of vacation and honeymoon packages. Grace Bay offers a wide variety of resorts from which to choose.
The Regent Palms and Spa offers world class amenities and a variety of water sports and an infinity pool. The Tuscany Resort is another Grace Bay Resort. The Tuscany Resort is a luxury resort just minutes away from the Providenciales International Airport.
The resort is surrounded by beautiful coral and a twelve mile stretch of white sand beach. Grace Bay is also home to the Villa Renaissance at Grace Bay. This beachfront resort boasts gorgeous ocean views, grand atriums and luxurious suites. Grace Bay, indeed, has much to offer those looking for a beautiful, relaxing location for their family vacation or romantic getaway.
Grand Turk and Salt Cay offer accommodations with a different Turks and Caicos perspective. The Island House on Grand Turk overlooks the beautiful blue sea and North Creek. This Mediterranean style inn offers studio and one bedroom suites. Each suite is well equipped and has a stunning ocean view. On Salt Cay, the Pirates Hideaway is a full service guesthouse. During your stay at Pirates Hideaway can include scuba diving and whale watching, both specialties on Salt Cay. The Pirates Hideaway captures the intimate character of Salt Cay.
Contact our travel agents to assist you with your Turks and Caicos Club Med holiday travel arrangements. Our specialists are knowledgeable with travel requirements, discounts, specials and custom vacation and honeymoon requests. Let us do the work so you can focus on having fun on your Turks Caicos Travel to the Caribbean.
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Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos – Island Vacations
The Turks and Caicos Islands are made up of 40 islands. Eight of the islands are inhabited. The islands are a diverse mix of people, activities and attractions.
Each area, from the tourist center of Providenciales to the serene North and Middle Caicos islands to the historical Grand Turk, there is something to see and do wherever you go.
History buffs will want to check out Cheshire Hall in Providenciales. The ruins of a former cotton plantation have been preserved and give a glimpse into life was like on the island 200 years ago.
At the northern tip of Grand Turk is another historical attraction, the Grand Turk Lighthouse. Legend has it that the Turks and Caicos was the first landing spot for Columbus in 1492. Many argue that the lighthouse hill and the inland body of water fit Columbus’ description of the island he first discovered on his voyage. Grand Turk is also where you will find the National Museum. The museum’s collection includes the world’s only gallery dedicated to the Lucayans. The Museum also features a natural history gallery and a shop with books, crafts and other items.
The Turks and Caicos is heaven for nature lovers. The inland marshes and salt ponds are feeding grounds for beautiful birds. Both resident and migratory birds can be seen on the islands. Bird watchers can search for Pelicans, Herons, Egrets and Flamingos in the National Parks system. Over twelve cays have been protected for breeding grounds. There are over 170 species of birds in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Whale watchers are also in for a treat in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Around the islands of Grand Turk and Salt Cay, North Atlantic Humpback Whales can be seen from late January to early April during their annual migration. You may also experience a JoJo sighting during your time in the Turks and Caicos. JoJo is an Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin that has made the water off the Turks and Caicos his home and playground since 1980. JoJo has been named a National Treasure and is known to be one of the few dolphins to interact with humans in his own habitat.
The greatest attraction in the Turks and Caicos may well be the beaches. Although the Turks and Caicos have come to be a popular destination for family vacations and romantic getaways, the beaches remain a sense of seclusion and privacy. The pristine sand and blue Caribbean are a draw for anyone looking for relaxation and/or adventure.
Contact our travel agents to assist you with your Turks and Caicos holiday travel arrangements. Our specialists are knowledgeable with travel requirements, discounts, specials and custom vacation and honeymoon requests. Let us do the work so you can focus on having fun on your Turks Caicos Travel to the Caribbean.
Cook Islands Vacations
Manuae – An Uninhabited Beauty in the Southern Cook Islands – South Pacific
Manuae is a small atoll in the midst of the Southern Cook Islands in the South Pacific. Today, the atoll is completely uninhabited. In the middle part of the twentieth century, a copra industry was in place on the western islet of Manuae.
Copra is the dried meat of coconuts from which producers can extract coconut oil. A settlement was in place to support this industry. However, by 1976, those that inhabited that island were gone. The island now has no human inhabitants. No boats or airplanes visit on a regular basis. To get there you need to hook up with a charter.
Manuae is now a marine reserve. Sea birds and turtles use the atoll for breeding and nesting. Sometimes, inhabitants of Aitutaki will charter a fishing expedition to take advantage of the rich fishing available off the coast of the atoll.
There are dive operators in Aitutaki that will take diving expeditions to explore the lagoon waters as well as the reefs off shore. Since the human population left, the flora and fauna have thrived without them. Visitors can find some of the best fishing as well as the most beautiful scenery. Expeditions are available from Rarotonga as well for diving, filming, and eco-tourism activities. Its untouched beauty makes it an ideal day trip.
Manuae holds the distinction of being the first of the Cook Islands that Captain Cook encountered in 1773. The first name selected for this newly discovered island was Sandwich Island. However, that distinction eventually went to the Hawaiian Island. Instead, Captain Cook named it Hervey’s Island after Lord Admiral Augustus Hervey. In fact, he named all the islands in the Southern Group after Hervey. That changed in the early 1800’s when Cook became the island group’s namesake.
Sitting atop a volcanic mountain, Manuae consists of two larger islets on the edge of the lagoon. The one to the west is Motu Manuae. The one to the east is Motu Te Au Otu. Motu Te Au Otu is the larger of the two. However, the only known human settlement was on the smaller one to the west. The highest point of land is only about sixteen feet above sea level. A coral reef encompasses the atoll on all sides. This makes boat passage impossible. The lagoon, itself, is shallow with drifting sand banks. The atoll sits about half way between Aitutaki and Atiu. It falls under the legal jurisdiction of Aitutaki, however.
South Pacific Manihiki Island
What can a visitor do when visiting Manihiki Island in the South Pacific? The first thing that jumps to mind is taking a tour of the pearl culture industry that dominates the island. The lagoon waters house pearl farms that produce the world’s best-cultured black pearls.
People around the world prize these pearls for their elegant luster and quiet beauty. Tours take visitors to see how the workers seed the pearls and harvest the results. They can see pearl carvers in the villages making treasures out of them. This industry is the mainstay of the island’s economy and most people have a part in some fashion.
Deep-sea fishing is another favorite activity for those visiting Manihiki. Boats take those willing to cast their line out and give the opportunity to catch game fish of many types.
For those wanting a more intimate experience, spear fishing works inside the rim of the lagoon. Some visitors take to the waters at night in hopes of grabbing a flying fish or two. Others want to catch a crab or crayfish while out and about. Many times, they go out and fish then enjoy their catch at lunch or dinner. That is the best way to go native.
Swimming and snorkeling take the visitor up close and personal with the fish that inhabit the lagoon waters. They can dive down and see the strings that hold the maturing oysters that produce the world-renowned black pearls. For those craving a deeper experience with the sea, scuba diving is an option.
Those considering the activity will need to get a permit from the island administrative office. There are boats available to setup scuba gear and tours. Dives can happen in the interior of the lagoon or in the deeper waters outside the rim. Tropical fish swim alongside those that venture down into the blue depths.
For those that want a more leisurely pace, there are tours available of the lagoon by boat. The boats often take visitors out to the small-uninhabited islets and let them explore. The boat captain catches lunch offshore while visitors swim and snorkel around the islets.
They can explore the local crafts and see if they can find a coconut fiber that fits their head. The island is gradually becoming a destination of choice for those looking for something outside of the tourism of Rarotonga. Even with the long flight time, many come back time after time to explore this island beauty.