Editor's Note: While we continue to practice social distancing (opens in new tab), we encourage readers to check the Centers for Disease Control website (opens in new tab) for the latest information on how to travel safely during the COVID-19 pandemic We encourage you to do so. In the meantime, bookmark this Instagram travel guide, and you'll love it.

The islands of Turks and Caicos have reopened to tourists, but before you escape to paradise, you need to take a few health and safety precautions (more on that later) With 40 islands to choose from, you can pick the option that best suits your vacation style, or you can visit several during your stay You can also choose to visit several islands during your stay. If you must choose one, we recommend the island of Providenciales (called "Provo" by the locals). Provo is a comfortable and convenient island, easily accessible by car from the airport (about 15 minutes) and home to a variety of first-class resorts. If you want to get off the beaten path, South Caicos is a tranquil paradise, sparsely developed, and teeming with wildlife.

U.S. residents will be happy to know that the currency in the Turks and Caicos Islands is the U.S. dollar and they use the same electrical plug as we do. If you rent a car, remember that the Turks and Caicos Islands are a British territory. However, you will probably spend the most time on the beach and enjoy the warm, sparkling turquoise waters and soft white sand. Here's what else awaits you on a scenic trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The most popular area to stay in Provo is Grace Bay, which is consistently voted the best beach in the world. Take a dip in the adults-only saltwater pool at the Seven Stars Resort and enjoy underwater music, or check out the family-friendly main pool and grab a shaded cabana. Once you've had your fill of relaxation, take advantage of complimentary stand-up paddleboards, hobby boats, and snorkel gear for a full ocean adventure.

Explore the beautiful wetlands of the Turks and Caicos by kayak. Easily discover mangroves, isolated lagoons, and other marine attractions. Many resorts rent kayaks for free, or you can take a kayak tour with the Big Blue Collective (open in new tab) for a more extensive tour. In Provo, Mangrove Cay is the most popular kayaking spot. It is part of the Princess Alexandra Nature Reserve and features a stunning red mangrove estuary surrounding an uninhabited island.

On the other side of Providenciales Island from Grace Bay is Long Bay Beach, home to the Shore Club (open in new tab). The only resort on Long Bay Beach, Shore Club is a breathtaking resort with four pools, three restaurants, suites and villas, and a quiet location with stunning views. The resort is popular with celebrities and has luxurious villas, and an underground tunnel leads directly to the villas. The main pool and rope bar are the highlights of the resort, with a fire pit lounge in the center of the pool, plenty of cabanas, and swing chairs placed directly over the water.

The Dune Spa (opens in new tab) has three oceanfront bungalows and offers private massages by experienced therapists. Down a sandy pathway away from the resort, bungalows are set up for individual and couples treatments, including massages, facials, and luxurious body therapies.

The romantic Coco Bistro (opens in new tab) is one of the few restaurants in Providenciales that does not face the beach. Instead, it offers intimate seating surrounded by glowing palm trees. Aside from the atmosphere, it is the food that makes Coco Bistro one of the most popular restaurants on the island. The blackened grouper with Thai red curry sauce and fried plantain is exceptional. If you want to try one of the island's specialties, try Conch Two Ways, which offers ceviche martinis flavored with lemon and chili pepper, or sweet and sour conch with fresh pineapple.

The Turks and Caicos Islands have the third largest barrier reef in the world, after Australia's Great Barrier Reef and the Belize Barrier Reef. In the clear waters, visitors can see a variety of marine life inhabiting the coral reef. Dive into the warm waters and look for stingrays, barracudas, nautiluses, starfish, mussels, and even turtles and sharks. During the winter months, keep an eye out for humpback whales as they migrate between January and March, so keep an eye out for them while you are on the boat.

Board a small 8-passenger plane for the 40-mile flight from Providenciales to South Caicos (open in new tab). This secluded island, described as Provo 30 years ago, has miles of natural coastline and rugged terrain. On the way to South Caicos' premier hotel, Sail Rock Resort (opens in new tab), look out for flamingos wading in the salt flats, wild donkeys in the bushes, and cliffs along the uncrowded coast. From the Great House at Sail Rock Resort, you can watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean and set over the Caicos Banks.

Experience the wild side of the Turks and Caicos by ATV. On South Caicos Island, take an ATV ride to the abandoned Loran Coast Guard Station. Along the way, you can enjoy coastal views and drive on dirt and mud roads. Take a peek inside the former Coast Guard Station. The operations building still houses computers and mail left behind when the station closed decades ago. End your trip at the northernmost point of the South Caicos Islands at Plandon Cay Cut (open in new tab) for a spectacular view.

If you've fallen in love with Turks and Caicos, book your trip here (opens in new tab). But before you do, know that you will need to take a COVID-19 PCR test within 5 days of arrival and obtain proof of travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage, including medical insurance or medical evacuation. All of these documents, along with the medical exam information and passport information, must be uploaded to the Authorization Portal (opens in a new tab) for approval. This means that you will need to take a COVID expedited inspection and receive approval before boarding your first flight. This will take an extra day for West Coast residents. Flights from the East Coast take much less time, approximately 3 hours from New York City and less than 90 minutes from Miami. For all information on COVID-19 in the Turks and Caicos Islands, click here (opens in new tab).