North America
Powder-white beaches and some of the clearest water anywhere.
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a chain of flat, sandy islands south-east of the Bahamas. Providenciales has Grace Bay, a long, calm beach backed by resorts, and Chalk Sound, a lagoon of startling turquoise. Middle Caicos has caves and empty shorelines, while Grand Turk, home to the capital Cockburn Town, has a walkable historic quarter and a reef wall close to shore.
It is relaxed and upmarket, with conch prepared every way and fish fry evenings. Humpback whales pass Grand Turk and Salt Cay roughly from January to April. December to April is the ideal time, with dry, breezy days; September and October bring the highest hurricane risk.
January, February, March, April, December.