campgrounds pa The Arches is a small, modern hotel set on a ridge where you can enjoy some spectacular ocean views.

The Arches is a small, modern hotel set on a ridge where you can enjoy some spectacular ocean views. There are just 24 guest units, all air-conditioned, with cable TV and kitchenettes. It s a bit expensive, but nice. Lighthouse Road, PO Box 226, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, BWI, 649-946-2941. EP from $150.

Covering some 48 square miles, Middle Caicos is the largest island in the Caicos group and, with a population of only 300, it s also the least developed. But it s one of the most interesting of the islands at least, as far as historians and archeologists are concerned. There are 38 pre-Columbian Lucayan Indian sites on the island. The locals are welcoming and love to see visitors. This wild and remote land has towering limestone cliffs and undiscovered stretches of white, sandy shore. There are huge caves in the limestone with crystal clear lakes, stalagmites and stalactites, to explore. The islanders live in three tiny communities Conch Bar, Lorimers and Bambarra, each barely more than collections of small, primitive dwellings and there are a number of run-down, outlying farms. To enjoy a vacation here you ll need to be able to leave everything behind. There s rarely an in-room TV, and telephones are few and far between. Very few home comforts are available, and restaurants, what few there are, offer little more than the basics. What you can expect, though, are some fine beaches, a getaway beyond your imagination, and quiet times under blue skies and a hot, tropical sun.

The Ministry of Tourism and the Bahamas Training College have established campgrounds pa a number of specialty tour guide qualifications: ecotour guides, bird-watching guides, etc. On the Out Islands there are no tour buses and, as yet, few tour guides. campgrounds pa This is where the taxi comes into its own. For as little as $16 an hour, your friendly driver will show you his island and tell you all about it. These drivers are experts on the history of their particular island, and are often able to tell the story in a form that s as entertaining as it is interesting.

Dress The dress code is casual and comfortable. Days are spent in shorts, swimsuits, slacks or jeans. Although the islands have been independent for more than 25 years, the influence of more than 250 years of British rule is still evident. You shouldn t wear swimsuits except at the pool or on the beach. Do not wear them in shops, restaurants, and on the streets of Nassau and Freeport/Lucaya.