Top Things to do in Grand Turk

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Grand Turk Island is the capital of the Turks & Caicos Islands situated within the Atlantic Ocean. The island is the largest of the Turks Islands comprising the territory’s capital JAGS McCartney International Airport and Cockburn Town. With a large population, the island is the historical, cultural and administrative center. 

The island is a huge crowd puller every year with a wall-diving spot of height 7000 feet. 

The name of Grand Turk Island comes from a type of cactus found on the island known as the Turk’s Cap Cactus, owing to the fact that the cap resembles an Ottoman fez. This species of cactus is endemic to western Mexico, from central to northern South America and the Caribbean.

Top 5 Things to do in Grand Turk 

In this article, we discuss the top 5 things to do in Grand Turk to make your trip worthwhile.

1. Gibbs Cay

Gibbs Cay is a small, beautiful and uninhabited cay located off the eastern coast of Grand Turk, approximately at a distance of 1.5 km. It is a 7-acre island, home to stingrays which is the reason why it is also known as Stingray City. The name Gibbs Cay comes from George Judson Gibbs, a Grand Turk residing on the island during the 1800s. He is also recognized for donating the Lucayan Duho (ceremonial seat). One of the best ways to experience Gibbs Cay is to snorkel and swim in the shallow waters. Each snorkelling session is about 30 minutes and you need not worry about safety as the stingrays are known to be friendly around visitors.

2. Turks & Caicos National Museum

This is the only museum in the country, located on Front Street in Cockburn Town and is one of the places you must see in Grand Turk. Built in one of the oldest buildings standing on Grand Turk in the year 1991, the museum is home to historical artifacts such as the Lucayan duho seat donated by the Grand Turk and the canoe paddle, amongst many other eclectic arteficts such as bone tools and types of pottery. The museum levies an entry fee of $5 and is free for children aged below 12 years. On days when a cruise ship has made harbor, you can find the museum to be open between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. You will also come across many exhibits in the museum which narrate the history of the island starting from Loyalist and European settlements to the British Colonial period.

3. Grand Turk Lighthouse

The Grand Turk Lighthouse is of historical significance and is the sole lighthouse in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Although admission inside the lighthouse is not allowed anymore, one can roam the grounds of the Grand Turk, which offer a scenic view of the reefs. The reefs of Turks and Caicos Island had always been a source of trouble for sailors and it was only after the shipwreck of the R.M.S. Medina in the year 1842 that President Frederick Henry Alexander Forth commissioned the construction of the lighthouse in the 1850s.

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4. Grand Turk Wall

Amongst the 5 things to do in Grand Turk, snorkelling in the deepest part of the island in West Caicos Islands is one. Although the Turks and Caicos Islands is an archipelago with a shallow underwater plateau, the Grand Turk Wall has a depth of up to 7,000 feet and offers some spectacular views of coral reefs which are located close to the shore. The waters are crystal clear and there are about 40 dive sites, which you can explore to experience the captivating marine life.

5. Duke Street

Duke Street, located in Cockburn town, a short ride away from the cruise terminal is one of the places to see in Grand Turk. The place has a number of hotels, restaurants and souvenirs where you can grab a bite to eat, explore the city streets and do some shopping to take back sovenirs for your loved ones back home. Cockburn Town is the oldest settlement on the island and grew in importance after the salt industry was established commercially. The place is also home to the National Museum and Her Majesty’s Prison.

Conclusion

Grand Turk is a beautiful archipelago located in the Caribbean Islands. A beautiful place for beach lovers, one must not leave the island without experiencing snorkelling and swimming in the pristine waters which are noted in the list of top 5 things to do in Grand Turk.