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Turks and Caicos islands are a British overseas territory consisting of larger Caicos islands and smaller Turks islands. Grand Turk is a British territory in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, just north of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.  It is the capital island of the Turks and Caicos with an area of 7 square miles (largest island in the Turks islands). Grand Turk may be small but it’s packed with stunning crystal clear beaches and historic charm.

These photos are from our Eastern Caribbean cruise trip during the second week of February, 2019.

Quick Facts and Tips

• Visas and Documents
  • U.S. citizens: No visa required, need to carry a valid ID
  • For non-U.S. citizens: Need a valid passport and visa
• Best Time to Visit: December to May
  • Peak Season: December to March
  • Affordable season: April to May
  • Hurricane Season: June to November
• Getting there
  • By Cruise Ship: Grand Turk Cruise Center. Arriving by cruise ship is easy as all customs and immigration are taken care by the cruise lines
  • By Air: Fly into Providenciales International Airport
• Clothing
  • Weather is warm, so pack lightweight casual t-shirts, shorts, sundresses, tank tops, swimsuits and a light jacket for the cool evenings. Pack plenty of sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.
• The islands are known for their beautiful beaches, clear turquoise waters, and coral reefs. Turks and Caicos is a great place to visit throughout the year
• The currency is the US dollar and English is the official language
• There are no direct flights from Europe to the Turks and Caicos, so you will need to connect through the United States or Canada.
• Be sure to book your accommodations well in advance, especially if you are traveling during peak season.
• No public transport, but rental vehicles, taxis, bicycles, and ATVs are available for visitors.
• Food and groceries are more expensive than in the US. Pack/Drink plenty of bottled water, as the tap water is not safe to drink in some areas.
• Remember that driving is on the left-hand side of the road.
• All beaches are public and free to access.
• Beach Cabanas, snorkel masks, fins, vests, floats, and other accessories can be rented from the Cruise Center Beach huts.
• The excellent Cruise Center beach, also known as SunRay beach, is very close to the cruise ship pier and has all the facilities like restrooms, showers, beach accessories, restaurants, and gift shops
• To avoid the cruise crowd, go to Governor’s Beach which is just 1.5 miles away
• The Boaby Roak Point beach, the southernmost point of the Grand Turk, is just 6 mins walk from the Cruise Center beach and the beach continues on as White Sands Beach
• The beaches closest to the cruise port are the most crowded so if you desire more privacy, take a shared ride for less than $10 to Pillory beach, English Point Beach, Cockburn Town Beach, or White Sands Beach
• Depending on your interests there are other activities you can do like scuba diving, snorkeling, ATV tours, Boat tours, Island tours with open air trucks, horseback riding, etc. For more information, visit this link.