Turks and Caicos Islands eSIM

No. The two belong to the same chain of islands, the Lucayan Archipelago, but the Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory, while the Bahamas is an independent country with its own government and border controls. A plan written for the Turks and Caicos covers the Turks and Caicos, so for a trip that also includes Nassau or Exuma, read the destination list on the offer and either choose one that names both, or carry a separate plan for the Bahamas.

Usually by a short domestic flight, as the two islands sit on opposite sides of a deep channel and there is no regular passenger ferry between them. Flights also connect Providenciales with North and South Caicos, and a ferry runs from Providenciales to North Caicos. On Grand Turk, a small ferry and occasional flights continue to Salt Cay. Schedules can change with the weather and the season, so confirm departures close to the date and keep the bookings saved offline.

Yes, if you start early. The ferry from Leeward on Providenciales reaches North Caicos in a short crossing, and a rental car waiting at the landing lets you drive across the causeway to Middle Caicos for the Conch Bar Caves and the cliffs at Mudjin Harbour. Distances are not long, but services are sparse and the last ferry back sets the end of the day. Book the car and the ferry together, and save the timetable and the route offline before you leave Provo.

Roughly from January to April, humpback whales migrate through the Turks Island Passage, the deep channel between the Caicos and Turks groups, on their way to and from their breeding grounds. Salt Cay and Grand Turk are the usual bases for whale-watching trips, and some operators also run tours from Providenciales. Sightings are never certain and trips depend on sea conditions, so book with a licensed operator, follow their rules for approaching whales and save the meeting point offline.

The Atlantic season runs from 1 June to 30 November, and the islands lie in the path of many storms: Hurricanes Irma and Maria both affected them in September 2017. Because the islands are low-lying, storm surge and flooding matter as much as wind. The drier winter and spring months are the main season for visitors. For a late-summer or autumn trip, choose flexible bookings, follow official forecasts before departure and follow local instructions if a storm approaches.

Not for a stay on Grace Bay, where many restaurants and shops are within walking distance and taxis are easy to book. A car helps for Chalk Sound, Long Bay and the island's quieter beaches, and it is close to essential on North and Middle Caicos. Traffic drives on the left, though many cars are left-hand drive, and roundabouts are common. Taxis are the usual choice in the evening, so save a driver's number for the return and keep your accommodation address offline.

Open water, the outer reefs and the uninhabited cays are where a phone is most likely to lose its signal, and the outcome varies with the device, the plan and the exact spot, so it is not necessarily a fault. Back on land, check that the travel line is switched on, selected for mobile data and has data roaming enabled, then restart the phone if needed. For boat days, save the operator's meeting point, return time and a map offline, and keep the phone in a waterproof pouch.

Yes. WhatsApp stays linked to your usual number and runs on the eSIM's data. On a dual-SIM phone, your usual SIM can stay on for ordinary calls and texts. Your home carrier may charge for calls, texts or data on that line, so turn off data roaming there.

No. Horizon plans are data-only, with no phone number for calls or texts. Use apps such as WhatsApp or FaceTime over the eSIM's data, or keep your usual SIM on for ordinary calls and texts.

Yes. A travel eSIM connects to local networks as a roaming line, so turn on data roaming for the Horizon eSIM when you arrive. The plan is prepaid, so Horizon does not bill you after checkout. Keep data roaming off on your usual SIM to avoid charges from your home carrier.

You can buy more. If your plan supports a top-up, My eSIMs shows the data you can add to the same eSIM. If it does not, buy another Turks and Caicos Islands plan and install it the same way.

It will if your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to your home carrier. Many recent iPhone and Android models do, but some regional versions do not, so check your exact model on the supported devices page before you buy.

No. Horizon fixed-data plans have no throttling. There is no daily limit that slows you down, so you can use your whole plan in one day if you need to. Your speed depends on the local network, your signal and how busy the network is. When your data allowance is used up, the plan stops rather than slowing down.

Yes. We always refund the full amount you paid when you request it, whether your eSIM is unused, partly used or fully used. There is no time limit for requesting a refund.