Welcome to 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.
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.
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.
Turks & Caicos
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.
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 HistoryThe 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.