Discover the unparalleled diving and rustic charm of Grand Turk, the capital of the Turks & Caicos Islands. The island attracts avid divers eager to experience one of the world’s greatest wall diving meccas, with a drop of nearly 7000 feet. This ‘Mount Everest’ of wall dives is just ¼ mile from the beach on Duke Street. Rent a car or take a leisurely stroll shaded by bougainvillea and yellow elder to fulfill your island exploration. Grand Turk has must-see sites including The 1852 Lighthouse, Philatelic Bureau, St. Thomas Anglican Church (built in 1823), Salt Museum and Cockburn Town which, in addition to Duke, Queen and Front Streets, are lined with restored 18th and 19th century Bermudian style architecture from the Salt Raking era. Behold Guanahani Beach, the site of the monumental first landfall of Christopher Columbus during his voyage to the New World in 1492.
The collection of historical experiences on Grand Turk continue at the John Glenn Exhibit which depicts the astronaut’s momentous splashdown off the coast of the island in 1962 when Glenn became the first American to orbit earth.
A holiday on Grand Turk is incomplete without visiting the historic Guinep House which is the location of the Turks and Caicos National Museum. The museum houses vivid exhibits which tell the timeline of the Turks and Caicos Islands history from their Lucayan roots through to modern times. The museum also features an exhibit of Molasses Reef Wreck, the oldest known European shipwreck discovered in the Western Hemisphere.
When booking your Grand Turk vacation you can choose accommodations from luxury villas, colonial style inns or boutique hotels. You can take a picture with a friendly donkey or enjoy happy hour at a rustic beach shack. Enjoy a swim and picnic at Governor’s Beach which boasts miles of unspoiled shoreline or indulge your adventurous side with an excursion to the nearby Gibbs Cay to feed stingrays. Enjoy the best in Turks and Caicos cuisine at one of the local restaurants and immerse yourself in flavorsome island dining experiences.
Grand Turk was awarded Best Caribbean Beach Port by Porthole Magazine in 2019. The Grand Turk Cruise Center consists of a 3000-foot pier, the welcome facility and the recreational area. On an area of approximately 14 acres, a recreational center includes a swimming pool, 1,000 feet of beachfront, cabanas, shops and the world’s largest Margaritaville, providing food, beverages and Jimmy Buffett memorabilia. The Welcome Center has been designed based on Grand Turk/Bermudian architecture, influenced by the Bermudian influx into the salt industry thriving in the 17th and 18th centuries.
From the remnants of the salt raking industry to the esteemed supremacy of government, Grand Turk is the ideal destination to immerse in the best diving, heritage and culture of the Turks and Caicos. You will delight in the old-world allure of the island and its friendly people.
