Duty Free
Though not known as a shopping mecca, the Turks & Caicos Islands offer some excellent buys. Here you will find no sales tax, no luxury tax, and items such as jewellery, watches, cameras, perfumes, crystal, china, cigars and liquor available to US and Canadian residents duty-free at selected locations.Boutiques are to be found island-wide with the most concentrated in the Grace Bay area at la Petite Place, Ports of Call and The Saltmills. Centrally located find Graceway Plaza and Central Square. Most hotels have lobby shops and there are Duty-Free items available at the airport departure lounge.
US residents, in addition to the great savings they realize in duty-free items here, may return home with up to $600 worth of purchases per person at no duty. Canadian residents returning from the Turks & Caicos Islands are allowed duty-free purchases up to $500 per person after a 7 day stay and up to $200 after a 2 day stay. Information provided can be subject to change, please check with Customs.
Turks & Caicos Island Made
Turks and Caicos Island made products afford US and Canadian visitors a unique opportunity in that although you declare them there is no duty. Visitors may buy as much as they want of anything that is Caribbean or Island Made, as they are custom exempt.Art produced by local and Caribbean artists such as paintings, prints, metal-work and wood carvings can be found in abundance at art galleries and retail stores. Exquisite jewellery is crafted from conch shells and the rare conch pearls are set into necklaces or rings. Beaded and beach glass jewellery is also found. Numerous fine quality straw and fanner grass woven baskets, hats, bags and bowls can be found on all of the islands. Handmade one-of-a-kind dolls and reversible dolls are locally sewn from bright Caribbean fabrics. Candles, shell windchimes and pottery are crafted. Look for cassettes and CD's produced by local musicians. Middle Caicos Grits and Turks Island Sea Salt are packaged in little souvenir sacks. TCI is one of only a few countries you may purchase and take home conch shells. (Be sure to have your receipt.) Purchases exceeding $25 must have a certificate of origin from retailer.
Beer lovers will want to carry home a few Turks Head bottles or cans for your collection. Souvenirs and tours are available at Provo's only Micro-Brewery. Cave Rum is the "Spirit of the Turks and Caicos". Available in White or Gold this is a great rum to recreate those rum punch recipes or after dinner coffees you have enjoyed in the Islands. "A Taste of Island Time Coffee" is blended and roasted right here on Providenciales. US visitors may buy as much as they want of anything that is Caribbean or Island Made, as they are custom exempt.
Shopping in the Grace Bay area? Look for the bright red "GECKO" shuttle bus which will take you throughout the Grace Bay shopping district, stopping at your resort every twenty minutes.
