The beach at Cockburn Town on Grand Turk
Nothing found. Try changing your search terms.

Welcome to Grand Turk

Governor's Beach
Cockburn Town Beach
English Point Beach
Gibbs Cay
Pillory Beach
Cruise Center Beach
About Grand Turk

The Capital Island

Grand Turk is the second-most populated island in the Turks and Caicos and is home to the only cruise port in the country. As with the main tourism island of Providenciales, you'll find excellent beaches and great diving, but overall it's more relaxed and laid-back.

Cockburn Town, located on the western side of the island, has been the capital of the Turks and Caicos since 1766. Take a stroll down Front Street and discover the old-school Caribbean character, colonial buildings, and historical charm of Grand Turk.

Aerial view of the Grand Turk Cruise Center
Arriving by Sea

Cruises to Grand Turk

Grand Turk is located halfway between Florida and Puerto Rico, making it a popular cruise stop. The Cruise Center has a variety of shopping options and a few restaurants and is the launching point for shore excursions such as island tours, snorkeling cruises, 4x4 expeditions, and more.

For those just looking to relax, a pleasant beach fronts the Cruise Center. Governor's Beach, the best beach on the island, is a short ride away.

interCaribbean De Havilland Canada Twin Otter in the Turks and Caicos
Arriving by Air

Flights to Grand Turk

While no regular international flights land at Grand Turk, several daily flights are offered from the main island of Providenciales (where all international flights to the Turks and Caicos land).

Flights from Providenciales are only 20 minutes, making it an easy choice for those looking to do a day trip.

NORTH CAICOS MIDDLE CAICOS PROVIDENCIALES WEST CAICOS SALT CAY GRAND TURK SOUTH CAICOS EAST CAICOS
Islands of the
Turks & Caicos
Grand Turk is located on the eastern end of the Turks and Caicos archipelago. Most visitors arrive via cruise ship, and daily domestic flights connect the island to Providenciales, where all international flights land. Getting to Grand Turk
CANADA UNITED STATES BAHAMAS TURKS & CAICOS CUBA JAMAICA

Discover Great Beaches

You'll discover a comparatively slower pace of life on Grand Turk than on Providenciales. Idyllic beaches, without the large resorts or expansive villas, line the west coast. These beaches are typically sheltered from the constant trade winds, resulting in calm and turquoise water that's perfect for swimming.

Attractions & Activities

Grand Turk is a wonderful destination for discovering history and nature, as well as a selection of water sports.

On land, explore the coasts by ATV or stroll Cockburn Town's waterfront promenade to admire old colonial buildings. Offshore, incredible scuba diving sites are just minutes from shore by boat.

Top Activity
Aerial view of a boat at Big Sand Cay
Boat Charters & Excursions
Experience the island's pristine water and marine environment on an island cruise.
Thrilling Sport
ATVs near a cut in the limestone
ATV Tours
Hit the road and discover Grand Turk with an exhilarating ATV adventure.
Unforgettable
Whale Watching
Swim with migrating humpback whales each winter in the waters off Grand Turk.
Unforgettable
Stingrays at Gibbs Cay
Gibbs Cay
Swim with dozens of curious stingrays in the clear waters of nearby Gibbs Cay.
Top Activity
Giant barrel sponge on the barrier reef and wall
Scuba Diving
Dive the Grand Turk wall, a world-class scuba site with turtles, sharks, and rays.
Top Activity
Dune buggy carts
Island Tours & Excursions
Hop aboard a bus or tram to discover the top sights and land attractions.
Top Activity
Snorkeling with stingrays at Gibbs Cay near Grand Turk
Snorkeling Charters & Cruises
Swim alongside turtles, fish, and rays with a snorkeling cruise to the island's best reefs.
Catch Dinner
Fishing
Hook marlin, wahoo, barracuda, tuna, and more on a deep-sea fishing charter.
John Glenn Splashdown exhibit
A Historical Destination

Explore Times Past

There are more than 500 years of history to unearth on this small island. First inhabited by the indigenous Lucayan people, Grand Turk's shores have welcomed shipwrecked sailors, salt traders, and even an astronaut. Some historians believe Grand Turk to be the first island Christopher Columbus spotted on his journey to the New World.

Historical sights and attractions can be found throughout the island. Offshore are the glimmering waters where American astronaut John Glenn's Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft landed after orbiting Earth in 1962. Wild donkeys, once the only means of transportation from the salt industry days, roam freely.

Turks and Caicos History 
Loading salt, 1929

The Old Salt Industry

The sea salt industry was the main economy of the Turks and Caicos for nearly 300 years. Several salt salinas are found throughout the island, including Red Salina bordering Cockburn Town and Hawkes Nest Salina near the Cruise Center.

Salt from the islands was held in high regard, and during the American Revolutionary War, George Washington himself personally requested salt from the islands for his troops.

Prickly pear cactus and the Grand Turk Lighthouse
A National Icon

The Grand Turk Lighthouse

The Grand Turk Lighthouse is the most recognizable structure in the Turks and Caicos, and has lit the path for ships navigating the island's treacherous North Reef since 1852.

Visit the Lighthouse on your own, with an organized tour, or by ATV. The grounds of this historical structure are situated on a cliff that provides great vistas over the ocean and opportunities to photograph friendly wild donkeys grazing on the grounds.

The Molasses Reef Wreck exhibit
Fascinating Artifacts

The National Museum

The Turks and Caicos National Museum was established in 1991 after the discovery off French Cay of the Molasses Reef Wreck—the oldest excavated European shipwreck in the Americas. Today, the museum houses artifacts and exhibits from the famed shipwreck, as well as those from the Lucayan era, the sea salt days, and the age of discovery.

Housed in the historical Guinep House building on Front Street, it's typically included in tours of the island and is an interesting stop.

St Mary's Anglican Church
Grand Turk Lighthouse
Salt Cay Salinas
The Grand Turk Starbucks
A room at the colonial Turk's Head Inne
Where to Stay

Cozy Inns & Accommodations

While you won't find the large hotels or all-inclusive resorts of Providenciales on this island, Grand Turk offers several quaint inns and affordable hotels that keep with the laid-back Caribbean atmosphere its known for.

Oceanfront vacation rentals, including several refurbished colonial homes, make up the majority of accommodations.

Junkanoo Bus on Grand Turk
Transportation

Getting Around

Grand Turk is rather small at only 6.9 square miles (18 km²), making it quick and easy to explore the island by car, scooter, or taxi. Taxis are readily available at the cruise center, airport, and in Cockburn Town.

There is no public transportation in Grand Turk or the Turks and Caicos Islands. If you're up for driving, hiring a rental car is the best way to see what the island has to offer.

Scuba diver at a vibrant reef at English Point on Grand Turk

Discover Exceptional Diving

Some of the best scuba diving that the Turks and Caicos Islands has to offer can be found off Grand Turk, where a colossal coral wall abruptly drops from 50 feet (15 m) into the thousands.

Caribbean reef sharks, sea turtles, and manta rays are just a few of the creatures you can spot along this fascinating site, just a two-minute boat ride from shore.

parrot sculpture at the Grand Turk Margaritaville
Where to Eat

Dining & Island Fare

Trying the staple foods of Turks and Caicos cuisine, from cracked conch to pan-poached grouper, is a must on Grand Turk. Several restaurants across Cockburn Town and near the Grand Turk Cruise Center serve lunch and dinner at tranquil oceanfront locations.

Most of the island's authentic cuisine is located in and near Cockburn Town. Several of the island's top dining options are housed within the charming hotels and inns on Front Street and Duke Street.

Turks and Caicos souvenir mugs
Where to Shop

Gifts & Souvenirs

The Cruise Center has much of the tourist shopping on Grand Turk, with a variety of duty-free souvenir and luxury products shops on site.

Beyond the cruise grounds, the national museum, small boutiques, and a handful of art galleries sell authentic souvenirs and gifts such as local books, woven baskets, vintage stamps, and more.