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Location: Grand Turk is a British Overseas Territory located 575 miles southeast of Miami, Florida and 30 miles south of the Bahamas and is one of 40 islands that form the Turks and Caicos archipelago.
Size: The island is 7 miles long and 1.5 miles wide.
Climate: The average temperature ranges between 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit (29-32 degrees Celsius) from June to October, sometimes reaching the mid 90s (35 degrees Celsius), especially in the late summer months. From November to May, the average temperature is 80-84 degrees (27-29 degrees Celsius). A constant trade wind keeps the climate at a very comfortable level. In an average year, Grand Turk enjoys 350 days of sunshine.
Population & Language: Approximately 3,700 inhabitants make Grand Turk their home. The island’s primary language is English however there are certain phrases that vary from the English language and certain terms that give a Turks & Caicos flavor to the spoken word.
Currency: The U.S. dollar is the official currency of the Turks & Caicos. Most local hotels, restaurants and shops accept cash and traveler’s checks. All stores at the cruise center accept credit cards. ATMs are available with the closest one less than a mile from the cruise center.
Time: Grand Turk is on EST (UTC/GMT -5 hours) and observes Daylight Savings Time from March 14th -November 1th (UTC/GMT -4 hours).
History: Columbus was said to have discovered the Turks and Caicos Islands in 1492, but some still argue that Ponce de Leon arrived first. The first people to truly discover the islands, however, were the Taino Indians, who unfortunately left little behind but ancient utensils. The Lucayans eventually replaced the Tainos. The late17th century saw the arrival of settlers from Bermuda, who established a booming salt trade on Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos. The American Revolution almost one hundred years later brought about another influx of immigrants, American Loyalists who attempted to recreate their plantation lifestyles by growing cotton and sisal with varying degrees of success. In 1766, after being controlled by the Spanish, French and British, the Turks and Caicos became part of the Bahamas colony; but attempts to integrate failed and were abandoned in 1848 when they became self-governing under the administration of Jamaica. In 1872, they were formally annexed by Jamaica and following another association with the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos became a British overseas territory in 1973.
Shore Excursions: There are a variety of shore excursions now available on Grand Turk. Adjacent to the main pier at the cruise center is a purpose-built excursion dock ready to help whisk you away to any number of water borne adventures including: snorkeling, diving, self-drive boating, deep sea and flats fishing, snuba and power snorkeling, as well as clear kayaking.
Land-based tours include horseback riding, bicycle tour, beach breaks, 4x4 vehicle adventures, island tours and dune buggy adventures. |
Getting Around: A valid driver’s license from your place of residence is required when renting a vehicle. Please note that according to British custom, vehicles operate on the left-hand side of the road. Taxis and rent-a-cars also available on at the cruise center. www.gracebaycarrentals.com/
Dining: There are a variety of restaurants throughout Grand Turk offering local and Caribbean cuisine, seafood, conch, lobster and other specialties, as well as a selection of dining establishments serving Mediterranean, Italian, British and American dishes. There is also a Jimmy Buffett's “Margaritaville” restaurant at the Grand Turk Cruise Center.
Shopping: Smaller arts and crafts outlets can be found throughout the island. Innovative work can be found by artists who use the natural environment to create designer mirrors, lamps and other household decorations. If you collect stamps or know a stamp collector, a visit to the Philatelic Bureau located within the cruise center is a must; the brightly colored stamps are highly sought after by collectors around the world.
Attractions: Cockburn Town is the centerpiece of the island with a selection of historical buildings and an unforgettable rustic charm. Here, visitors will find many Bermudian and Colonial-style buildings and ruins. Grand Turk also has a well-earned reputation of being one of the finest diving destinations in the world. There is an outstanding protected coral reef that drops to 8,000 feet along the west side of the island.
Beaches: This tropical paradise has been blessed with clear, turquoise waters and numerous powdery white sand beaches, making it heaven for the beach enthusiast. All beaches are open to the public, free of charge.
Ecotourism: Come and explore ecotourism from the mangroves to the bio-diversity and ecology of the island’s underwater world. The Turks and Caicos Islands have the third largest coral reef system in the world. Grand Turk also boasts fascinating natural attractions such as migrating humpback whales (January-April), flamingos and other rare wading birds. The topography of the island ranges from limestone plateaus to lush green vegetation surrounding natural salt ponds.
For tourist Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Information: tci.tourism@tciway.tc www.turksandcaicostourism.com |