Things to Do in Grand Turk

Filled with the charm that only a centuries-old Caribbean town can claim, Duke Street in the heart of historic Cockburn Town, Grand Turk is an attraction all by itself. Duke and Front Streets comprise the main thoroughfares of this ancient colonial landscape, and it's also here where most things in Cockburn Town are happening. Filled with boutique hotels, and ancient colonial buildings "“ this tree-lined street is a step into history as well as being the main commercial center of Cockburn Town.

Explore the streets, and slip back into the slow ways of island living. Spend more than a day or two here, and you'll likely find everyone's face familiar "“ such is the draw of this small island chain. While on Duke Street, walk the avenue and see the various ancient picket fences overgrown with grass and bougainvillea, discover what relentless time and weather have done to these once great, ancient buildings made with limestone and wood, and explore beachfront bars and boutique bungalow shops.

This is what Caribbean vacation is all about, and if you've come to the Turks and Caicos to find it "“ you'll find it all on Duke Street.

The Turks & Caicos capital and seat of government, Cockburn Town is a bougainvillea-fringed, laidback tropical beauty with shabby-chic colonial buildings and dusty unpaved streets.

Cockburn’s major highlight is the National Museum, full to the brim with shipwreck flotsam, tools and artifacts formed from shells, and displays on the island’s original Lucayan people. Don’t miss the collection of washed-up bottles and the poignant messages contained inside.

More recent exhibits focus on the impact of NASA’s Space Program, including displays on the night sky and the personal memories of astronaut John Glenn, who splashed down just offshore in 1962, the first American to orbit the earth.

The museum itself is housed in the whitewashed and red-roofed Guinep House, a historic colonial building constructed almost 200 years ago from the salvaged timber of shipwrecks.

The island’s superb beaches aren’t far away, along with coral-reef diving from the island’s west coast. Guarding the waters north of town is the historic National Trust-listed lighthouse, built in Britain in 1852. The lighthouse is a popular spot for whale-watching in February/March.

Known as one of the best diving sites in the Caribbean, the Wall is a diving spot just outside of Grace Bay on Grand Turk. Where the island’s outer reef ends, the Wall plunges over 6000 feet into the deep blue Atlantic. Here you’ll find an overabundance of sea-life, coral reef, and yes – great dive sites. Each dive guide has their own favorites, but expect to see miles of vertical coral reef drop-offs, numerous thermal formations, and a complete spectrum of corals and sea life.

Great pelagic swimmers like groupers, tuna, barracuda, reef shark, hammerhead, manta rays, eagle rays, and more live here and visit this reef often. Other wildlife viewings include migratory North Atlantic humpback whale, stingray, and sea turtles.

One of the great things about visiting The Wall is that this abundant sea life is close to the surface, so divers aren’t the only ones that get to enjoy it – snorkelers and free divers play in the water as well. This is truly some of the best underwater exploring in the world, and many divers make trips out to this little stretch in the Caribbean for just this purpose – are you one of them?

Located on Grand Turk, this is the island’s most celebrated beach. Popular amongst beachgoers, divers, and snorkelers alike, Governor’s Beach has the white sands visitors to the Turks and Caicos have come to expect, but it also has something else up its sleeve that makes it one of the peak attractions in all of the Caribbean.

Just offshore of Governor’s Beach lies the famous Wall, where the third largest coral reef structure in the world makes a sharp drop into 6000+ feet of blue Atlantic water. Divers and snorkelers alike come here to enjoy some of the best underwater diving in the world. A full spectrum of coral, fish, and larger creatures fill the waterways. Special sightings include hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, and the migratory North Atlantic humpback whales.

Those that choose not to enjoy the underwater world will appreciate Governor’s Beach’s pine trees for some shade. Picnic benches and accommodations are also to be found here, as is the Columbus Landfall National Park – a park dedicated to the original landfall of Christopher Columbus in 1492.

It looks and feels like the Caribbean, but Grand Turk is actually washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. You might be sailing here from the Bahamas, only 48km (30 miles) away, and will soon realize you’ve landed in one of the most tranquil, undiscovered locations on the planet. The shiny new cruise center facilities include restaurants and a shopping mall, and white-sand beaches are just a short walk away.

How to Get to Cockburn Town
The port is on Grand Turk’s southwestern tip, and you’ll find plenty of tour and island information in the sparkling modern cruise center. Taxis line up to take you to downtown Cockburn Town, in the center of the island. You could also hire a go-anywhere jeep for the day, rent a bicycle or join an organized shore excursion.

One Day on Grand Turk
The big buzz on Grand Turk is the wonderful diving, so make the most of your shore visit by joining a snorkeling adventure cruise or diving operator excursion. The best diving is off the island’s western coast, where coral walls and stunning tropical fish are protected by marine national parks. There’s also wreck diving, scuba courses, one of the Caribbean’s largest swimming pools, resort relaxation and beach horse-back riding.

If you’d rather stay dry, take a wander around colonial-era Cockburn Town, with some lovely old churches and buildings, the National Museum’s shipwreck displays, and craft shops selling locally made souvenirs. In whale-watching season, February/March, head out to the island’s historic lighthouse to glimpse humpbacks swimming past. And no further away than the cruise center, space-lovers can spend time examining the NASA exhibit detailing the 1962 John Glenn splashdown and Mercury space program.

Port Information
Cruise lines docking at the revamped and enlarged Grand Turk Cruise Port include Carnival, Holland America and Princess. The local currency is the US dollar, and you’ll find a couple of ATMs in downtown Cockburn Town. The language spoken on Grand Turk is English.

Guarding the wild Atlantic waters surrounding Grand Turk’s northern tip, the Cockburn Town Lighthouse is a historic National Trust-listed structure, built in Britain in 1852.

Known as the Grand Turk Light, the cast-iron lighthouse was shipped in pieces and constructed on the island’s northern tip, in an effort to reduce the scarily large number of ships wrecked on the island’s west coast reef.

Over the years, the lighthouse has been lit by whale oil, kerosene and electricity, and its light still shines today. You can see the original Fresnel lens proudly on display in the Turks & Caicos National Museum in Cockburn Town.

The lighthouse is a popular spot for whale-watching in February/March, and for picnics year-round. It’s thought that Christopher Columbus made landfall near here in 1492.

Archive, research library, gift shop and museum collection all in one, the Turks & Caicos National Museum is housed in one of Grand Turk's most impressive colonial buildings, Guinep House.

The history of the Turks & Caicos islands is explored in the museum's exhibits, which include stamps, coins and photographs. Best of all is the fascinating Message in a Bottle collection, revealing the often poignant messages sent from sinking ships and shipwrecked sailors.

Don't miss the display on the Molasses Reef Wreck, the oldest shipwreck to have been excavated in the Americas. Artifacts retrieved from the early-1500s wreck include cannons, surgical implements, bowls and tools, along with the vessel's hull.

You'll also see tools and artifacts formed from shells, and displays on the island's original Lucayan people.

More recent exhibits look at NASA's Space Program and the personal memories of astronaut John Glenn, who splashed down just offshore in 1962 and was the first American to orbit the earth.

Special guided tours are held for cruise visitors, expanding on shipwreck history, the island's salt industry and the John Glenn exhibit.

The museum is housed in the whitewashed and red-roofed Guinep House, a historic colonial building constructed almost 200 years ago from the salvaged timber of shipwrecks.

After browsing the exhibits, head to the Museum Shop to buy locally crafted jewelry, sea salt, coffee, woven baskets and guidebooks.