Grand Turk Island Tours and Excursions
Due to their relatively low cost (compared to other activities) and general accessibility, guided island tours are the most popular shore excursion activity for cruise ship guests stopping over on Grand Turk.
Organized and scheduled tours are offered through the cruise lines, but you can also simply sign up at the Grand Turk Cruise Center. A private tour by taxi can easily be arranged at the taxi queue at the Cruise Center as well.
Organized tours tend to use two different types of vehicles: small air-conditioned buses and converted flatbed trucks with open-air seating. Narration on the sights by a guide is also provided.
Scheduled tours are typically 2–3 hours long.
Sights, Stops, and Attractions
The excursions begin at the Grand Turk Cruise Center. The initial stop is typically Governor's Beach, after which the tour continues on to the old oceanfront section of Cockburn Town, where you’ll pass Cockburn Town Beach, H.M. Prison, St Mary’s Anglican Church, and the Turks and Caicos National Museum.
Found at the northern point of the island, the Grand Turk Lighthouse is another stop and a great place to do a bit of exploring. The grounds are interesting, the views over the ocean from the adjacent cliffs are spectacular, and you’ll be able to see the nearby and deserted U.S. Navy NAVFAC 104 Base.
On the return journey, you'll follow the interior roads near Town Pond and the Red Salina and be able to see remnants of the abandoned salt industry.
Humpback whale watching is a popular seasonal activity, but time constraints of shore time may make this difficult for guests on short cruise stops to do.
Visiting Gibbs Cay, a stingray encounter where the rays freely interact with people, is also a popular shore excursion for cruise guests. You can snorkel with the rays and feed them, if you wish. These tours are typically combined with a snorkeling cruise where you can see the coral reefs on Grand Turk’s southern coast.
Take an Island Tour… Or Explore on Your Own?
What’s the best way to spend your cruise ship visit? We believe that Grand Turk offers something that’s actually uncommon in the Caribbean—a small, interesting island that’s both easy and safe to explore on your own.
Most cruise ship visits allow for about 5–6 hours of time on Grand Turk that can be spent on activities and attractions. Due to buffer times before and after a cruise ship lands, and the time required for everyone to gather for shore excursions, most organized activities and tours have 2–3 hour durations.
You’ll often simply have more time to see the sights and relax on the beach if you rent a car and explore on your own.
What to Bring
You’ll have the best tour experience if you bring the right items, and not the ones you don’t need.
Sun Protection
The sun in Grand Turk is typically intense, which is perfect for the beach yet not so great when exploring on land. To avoid sunburn, bring long sleeves and plenty of sunscreen. If you’ll be going in the ocean, please use a reef-safe variety.
A wide-brimmed hat and polarized sunglasses are also recommended. Polarized lenses cut down on water reflection, allowing you to better see and enjoy our turquoise water, reefs, and marine life.
Bring drinking water, too. Water and drinks can be found across the island and may be provided by tours, yet if you have a reusable bottle, please use it.
Insect Repellent
Grand Turk generally doesn’t have an issue with mosquitoes, yet some coasts may have biting midges (no-see-ums).
It makes sense to bring insect repellent if you’ll be exploring remote coasts or beachcombing.
Camera
A camera is a great accessory to bring to capture memories of your time on this beautiful island. While any camera will suit land exploration, a compact waterproof camera can allow you to capture underwater scenes, too.
If you’re a bit more serious about photography, see Landscape and Nature Photography, and Underwater Photography.
Cash
Many of the smaller businesses on Grand Turk only accept cash (the U.S. Dollar is the official currency). You shouldn’t encounter any major tour expenses after the initial booking, yet you may want cash to buy souvenirs, drinks, and snacks. There are ATMs at the Cruise Center and at banks in Cockburn Town. Note, however, that ATMs can be very unreliable in the country.
