Grand Turk

Grand Turk, the small, historic capital island of the Turks and Caicos, is a sleepy, charming contrast to bustling Providenciales, steeped in the atmosphere of the old Caribbean. Its little capital, Cockburn Town, is a delight of faded, salt-worn colonial and Bermudian-style buildings, old stone walls, a lighthouse and quiet lanes roamed by wild donkeys and horses, recalling the island's long history built on raking salt from its ponds. Ringed by fine beaches and edged, just offshore, by a spectacular reef wall that plunges into the deep, making for superb diving, Grand Turk offers history, tranquillity and a genuine, unhurried island charm.

History

Bermudians settled the island in 1681 and set up the salt industry that shaped it, raking salt from its ponds. The lighthouse was put up in 1852 and reported complete on 1 October that year. The island covers about 18 square kilometres and had 4,831 people at the 2012 census; in 2004 Carnival Cruise Line and the territory's government announced a $35 million cruise port for the island (Wikipedia, Grand Turk Island).

The main sights

• Cockburn Town - the faded old colonial and Bermudian buildings.
• The salt ponds and heritage - the legacy of the salt-raking days.
• The reef wall diving - the dramatic offshore drop-off.
• The beaches and wild donkeys - the fine beaches and roaming donkeys.

When to go

December to April, the dry season, for the best weather, overlapping with the winter humpback-whale season offshore roughly January to April; the island is reached by a flight or ferry from Providenciales. Cruise ships call at a dedicated port, so timing a visit around quieter days keeps the sleepy charm of Cockburn Town intact.

Before you go

Grand Turk is small, sleepy and faded, with a cruise port that brings crowds on ship days but is otherwise very quiet, so its appeal is its old-Caribbean atmosphere, history, tranquillity and superb diving rather than resorts or bustling attractions; facilities are simple. As the historic, charming and unhurried heart of the Turks and Caicos, though, with its faded colonial capital, salt heritage, fine beaches and spectacular offshore reef wall, Grand Turk is a genuine and characterful contrast to Providenciales.

Nearby

The island of Salt Cay and the reef wall are close by; Providenciales by air.

Key facts