Matador's Ultimate Guide to the Lucayan Archipelago

Pink sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, and a relaxed island life ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Turks and Caicos]( Matador's Ultimate Guide to the Lucayan Archipelago Hi there, The Lucayan Archipelago includes two of the most popular islands in the Caribbean: the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. The latter makes our list of [must-visit islands in 2024](. Whether you’re into diving, pool lounging, or beach trekking, [the Bahamas]( is a destination that thrives on those who seek nature’s beauty. It’s home to stunning pink sand beaches and some of the world’s best waterslides. But what is often overlooked is its incredible food and rich culture of family and hospitality. Over forty islands and cays make up [Turks and Caicos]( a ridiculously picturesque spot just east of Cuba and a few hours from Miami. Providenciales — aka "Provo" — is the most populous island, and it's where you'll find the airport and the stunning resorts of Grace Bay. Stumble upon smaller islands like Pine Cay and Parrot Cay, and it’ll seem like you’ve found your own private island. Can't decide which one to travel to? Check out our recommendations for the [best Caribbean islands for every type of traveler](. [START HERE: THE BAHAMAS]( [GuideGeek]( Get Inspired [Turks and Caicos]( The Best Island in the Caribbean for Every Type of Traveler We tend to talk about the Caribbean like it’s one big white-sand island. But the archipelago is made up of more than 7,000 islands that draw an arc through the Caribbean Sea, from just south of Florida to the coast of Venezuela. Though some 90 percent are uninhabited, dozens are full of life and open to tourism, each with its own personality. [READ MORE]( [colorful history of junkanoo]( Go Beyond the Beach With These Historic Things to Do in Turks and Caicos On your next trip, do yourself a service: take the time to leave those comfy resort confines and you’ll quickly learn Turks and Caicos is full of vibrant culture. It takes surprisingly little effort to discover the island’s fascinating history and culture. [READ MORE]( [Balearia Caribbean ferry]( You Can Take an Easy Day Trip to the Bahamas on This Florida Ferry The Bahamas is nothing short of paradise, just a hop, skip, and jump away from the shores of Florida. [READ MORE]( [Mudjin Harbour Middle Caicos]( The 15 Best Caribbean Beaches to Avoid the Crowds Most visitors don’t see much of it past Grace Bay or the cruise port in Grand Turk. But if you’ve got some time, hop on a boat out to this lesser-visited beach. [READ MORE]( [lazy river]( An Inside Look at Baha Mar’s Massive Water Park Across 15 tropical acres, it has 24 waterslides, a beachy 500,000-gallon wave maker, a lazy river, multiple restaurants, and the Caribbean’s first water park casino. [READ MORE]( [Margaritaville at Sea cruise]( What It’s Like to Go on a Two-Night Cruise for $200 If you’re down for a quick (and cheap) cruising experience, the two-night Bahamas Getaway should be right up your alley. [READ MORE]( [Club Med Turkoise — Providenciales, Turks and Caicos]( 13 of the Best Adults-Only All-Inclusive Caribbean Resorts Stunning (and kid-free) resorts in the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos, along with other popular Caribbean islands, where your meals, activities, and peace of mind are all taken care of. [READ MORE]( Nature + Adventure [Harbour Island]( The 13 Most Stunning Pink Sand Beaches in the World While all beaches are beautiful, it’s hard to find a natural sight prettier than the cerulean blue of the ocean lapping against the shore of a vivid pink sand beach. [READ MORE]( [lemon shark]( Forget Jet Skis and Paddle Boards, Go Shark Tagging You can head out with marine biologists on shark-tagging missions, catching sharks, tagging them, and collecting essential data to help with their conservation. [READ MORE]( [swimming with pigs]( The Best Things to Do in the Caribbean’s Most Popular Cruise Ports Make the most of your limited time in the Caribbean with these off-boat activities to fill out your day. [READ MORE]( Food + Culture [conch]( 8 Traditional Bahamian Dishes to Get a Taste of the Islands Some of the most famous dishes are based around conch (pronounced “konk”), which is the chewy, textured meat from a sea snail. [READ MORE]( [flamingos]( This Bahamas Resort Helps You Unwind With Flamingo Yoga We’ve heard about alpaca yoga, dog yoga, rage yoga, and even nude yoga. And yes, now we’ve got flamingo yoga. [READ MORE]( [Guava Bubble]( The 5 Best Tropical Caribbean Cocktails Other Than Piña Coladas Here are five tropical cocktails to try besides the piña colada, which you can find in the Bahamas, Saint Lucia, and more. [READ MORE]( Epic Stays Take the headache out of planning and check out our staff picks for places to stay [Bahamas places to stay]( [Turks & Caicos places to stay]( [Bahamas places to stay]( [Cruise Ship]( [Bahamas places to stay]( [Bahamas places to stay]( [Epic Stays TikTok]( [Open email in your web browser and bookmark for your next trip]( EXPLORE THE WORLD WITH MATADOR — FOLLOW US HERE [Facebook]( [Linkedin]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( [TikTok]( [Pinterest]( [X.com]( [Threads]( [Update your email frequency and topic preferences here](. 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