Tours and attractions in Grand Turk island
Another touristic island in
Turks and Caicos chain of islands is
Grand Turk, the capital of this tiny country, located at
the southeastern tip of this island chain.
It is a
small island (unlike expected from its name), it is 11
km long and 2 km wide, home for 4,000 residents. The
main town on the island is Cockburn in which there is
the concentration of the government buildings in the
country, a small number of hotels, the national museum
of Turk and Caicos and a few wonderful beaches with
white soft sand and turquoise water.
The island became touristic since it started being visited in 2006 by the Carnival Corporation large cruise ships. In the winter months, daily there would come to the harbor two large cruise ships. The cruise ships arriving at the island port in a modern ornate harbor with docks to which the largest ships can tie to.
It is recommended to visit Grand Turk island with a cruise ship for a one day trip. Close to the harbor, there is a modern center, abundant with facilities which resembles in its style to a private island of cruise companies. In the center of the Grand Turk Cruise Center, there is a large and beautiful swimming pool, a tourist center, duty-free stores, handicraft stands, restaurants, taxies and various tours on the island and sea. At the harbor itself, by the ships, there is a popular beach with white sand and deck chairs.
The
beaches in Grand Turk
Despite the small size of the island, it has an excellent variety of great beaches. Close to the dock of the cruise ships, there is a popular beach with soft white sand, deck chairs, parasols and hammocks. A short driving distance from the harbor, southwest of the island there is the “Governor’s Beach”. One of the cleanest beaches in the Caribbean, with clear water and rescue services. The beach has calm and shallow turquoise water and a strip of soft white sand in the shape of a moon. The beach is decorated with Casuarina trees that provide natural shade. You can rent their deck chairs. It is a popular beach both for swimming and snorkeling. The beach is in front of the Governor House.
The beach that is considered the most beautiful of all is the “Pillory Beach” with stunning turquoise waters. This is also a popular beach for snorkeling.
Sailing tours and diving
The island
is considered one of the five best diving sites in the
world and that is thanks to the huge coral reef
descending as a steep wall 2133 meters deep into the
ocean, which is just a few hundred meters off the
shorelines. It is the third largest reef in the world.
The underwater visibility of the seawater in the area is
excellent. The entire west coast of the island is a
protected water park.
Many companies specialize is
diving tours on the island. Even if you are not divers
you could be impressed by the wonders of the underwater
world with a tour that includes sailing the Catamaran to
several islets nearby the Grand Turk and snorkel.
The reef close to the “Round Cay” is considered one of the best diving and snorkeling sites in Grand Turk. Also, the “Horseshoe Reef” is an excellent destination included in most tours. Those who prefer to swim with the “sea cats” (giant stingrays) can do so close to “Gibb’s Cay”.
From January until March thousands of
whales swim close to Grand Turk and it is an excellent
period to go whale watching.
Overland tours
Those who prefer a land-base tour can join the Hop-On Hop-Off Island Tour including a free bus ride which circles the island and stops at the major attractions, beaches and harbor. The ticket price includes an entry to different sites such as the old prison, Cockburn clock tower and the lighthouse Park.
The Grand Turk
lighthouse is 150 years old. It was built in England and
was brought to the island in pieces. Today it is a
wonderful lookout point of the island and the islands
around it and a starting point for a hike along the
cliff to the east seashore.
Close to the lighthouse,
there is the rope park with a long omega “zip line”.
Fans of driving and action can go on a guided ATV tour
or a tour in a self-driven electrical red ornate
Hummers. A successful company that organizes riding on
the island is
"Funtastic Tours" – during the two-hour
tour, you will learn a lot about the animals and
vegetation on the island.
You will travel among the many salty pools (which were in the past the main industry on the island but is no longer active) and you will encounter many wild donkeys. The salt served, in the past, to preserve the fish in an era when there was no electricity or fridges.
Salt Pools:
The salt was transported at the time with donkeys but after the pools were abandoned, the donkeys were released. Today there are about 300 donkeys wondering around freely all over the island.
The hotels along the coast are
small and simple and resemble small motels and hostels.
You cannot compare them to the size and quality of the
hotels in Provo island.
A flight over the island
I recommend Taking A scenic flight in a light plane from Grand Turk to Provo. It is a cheap flight of about 25 minutes which during it you could see spectacular views of the islands and numerous islets of Turks and Caicos surrounded by reefs and clear turquoise waters. In Provo you can visit the beatiful Grace bay beach.
You will find wide and updated information about
Turks and Caicos on the
official state tourist website:
turksandcaicostourism.com.
If you are on a
trip to the eastern United States, it is good to
combine it with a visit to Turks and Caicos at the end
of your trip. It will be undoubtedly “the icing
on the cake” of your trip!
Read More on Turks and Caicos:
Vacation in Providenciales island
Turks and Caicos Islands Travel
Read More on Caribbean
All inclusive hotels in Punta Cana
Activities and Guided Tours in
Punta Cana
Cruise routes and destinations in the Caribbean Islands