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Travel InformationGrand Turk Cruises, Turks and Caicos Islands
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Back in 1492 Columbus was one of the first Europeans to set foot on Grand Turk. His visit opened a floodgate and, today, more than 600,000 holiday makers cruise into the island’s port every year. Some come here for the diving – there’s a coral reef with an 8,000 foot drop just off the island’s coast. Others come for the colonial architecture – Cockburn Town has some of the best examples in the Caribbean.
• The oldest shipwreck in the western hemisphere was discovered just off the coast of Grand Turk. You can find out more about it at the Turks and Caicos National Museum.
• Take a boat trip to Gibbs Cay. This uninhabited island is a great place for a picnic. Plus, stingrays swim right up to the shore and hand-feeding them is as easy as feeding the birds outside St Paul’s Cathedral.
• February marks the start of whale-watching season in the waters off Grand Turk. Humpback whales migrate in groups, singing mating songs to each other as they swim.
SHORE EXCURSIONS View all excursions
Dune Buggy Fun
This is a pedal-to-the-metal tour of Grand Turk. You’ll see the largest of the Turks Islands from the bucket seat of a dune buggy. Leaving the port behind, you’ll follow the clay tracks that trace their way along the beach. Your first break from being behind the wheel will come at a coastal bluff, where you’ll get out to take in the views of Gibb’s Cay and the other islands in the chain. Back in your buggy, you’ll score your way through the countryside, passing salt pans. A flash of pink will alert you to the appearance of the Salina Salt Ponds, where flamingos graze the day away. You’ll also pass the airport, where you’ll clock a replica of the space shuttle Friendship, which splashed down off the coast of Grand Turk after astronaut John Glen orbited the earth. After negotiating the streets of the island’s capital, Cockburn Town, you’ll drive to North Wells, where wild horses roam. You’ll get another chance to stretch your legs around North Creek, at a cliff that commands infinity views of the Atlantic Ocean. Then, with your fuel gauge finally leaning towards the red, you’ll steer back to port.
Reef 'n' Rays
Swimming with the fishes is a good thing on this trip. From the port, you’ll board a snorkeling boat and get your hands on your snorkel, mask and flippers. Then you’ll head out into the Atlantic to put them to good use. You’ll anchor by a coral reef, which is private, so you won’t have to share the water with anyone outside of your party. Through your mask you’ll be able to see coral in colour-chart tones. And keep a look out for lobster, barracuda and sea turtles. When you’re ready, you’ll make a move to the next stage of your experience – the Stingray Playground. In this part of the sea, you’ll be able to swim with kite-like stingrays. They’re wild, but they’ll still let you touch them. The water here is shallow, so you can stand above them and take photographs as they wing their way past your feet.
Ultimate Snorkelling
This trip is all about seeing life through a lens. At the port, you’ll transfer to a snorkeling boat where you’ll be given a mask, breathing tube and flippers. Then you’ll head out into the Atlantic Ocean to test them out. Your first snorkeling spot will be a private reef. It’s fairly shallow, with between 6 and 12 foot of water. The coral here looks like installation art and it can attract sea life like lobster and snapper. To make sure you know the company you keep, your snorkel instructors will provide you with fish identification cards. From here, you’ll move on to a deeper snorkeling spot. At sites like this, you’ve got a better chance of seeing a turtle moving weightlessly through the water or a cumbersome barracuda. Spots like this are also used for scuba diving and contribute to Grand Turk’s reputation as one of the world’s best dive destinations.