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Here is another island group few get to, but that has dramatically increased in popularity recently. The T&C's are actually NOT in the Caribbean, they are in the Atlantic, but close enough....

The Caicos group (North, Middle, South and East are to the north of the group, with Grand Turk and Salt Caye to the south. Historically, the Caicos were pretty green, but much of it was stripped of vegetation in the 1700's to promote a very dry climate suitable for raking salt. As a result, the T&C's are much drier and less humid than the rest of the island groups in this part of the world. For years, this area provided much of Europe's salt, taken in huge "pans", dried and raked for shipment. (Note: There is a book anyone interested in this part of the world should read, and the title is "Salt" written by the same chap who wrote the finest small fish history book ever written "Cod.")

Providenciales is where most tourists go, to one of the expensive resorts on the beach at Grace Bay. Gorgeous water, but expensive and filled with tourists, and IMHO a really ugly island. A much better choice is South Caicos, fishing the broad flats and hiking the island.

My favorite, however, hands down, is Grand Turk and Salt Caye. This is the Caribbean as it used to be: a classic dusty sea town right out of a pirate book with large salt houses on the main street, old loading wharfs out into the water, a remarkable museum, funky and interesting acccomodations, excellent snorkeling, huge inland salt pans filled with flamingoes and Roseated spoonbills, and people who don't depend on tourism for their living (so don't expect hugs). Salt Caye... well, it may be the most interesting 5 acre island in the region. Sand flats that extend for many miles, sparkling water, a pair of very cool, places to stay, with a very small, interesting and cool populace of 45.

The Turks and Caicos are very close to the Bahamas, and were actually part off them at one time. T&C Trivia: the T&C flag is two rakers standing next to a salt pile. When the English government had an artist make the original flag, he did not know the location of the islands, and worked from a sketch. He presumed the salt was ice, and the flag came out with two Eskimos standing next to an igloo!