How to get to Grand Turk

     Finding a place off the beaten path isn't always easy.  Though Turks and Caicos Islands have become a fairly familiar name in tourism these days, most people are referring to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.   Providenciales and Grand Turk however are two very different beasts and most likely would attract two very different tourists.   So be sure to do your research and make sure you are getting  just the kind of vacation you are seeking.  Hopefully we will be able to help you out a little bit here:

     Providenciales or Provo as the locals call it is a newly developed island in the last 15-20 years.  The most famous beach on Provo is Grace Bay, a beautiful 12 mile long beach lined by several story resorts mainly five-star.  There are numerous gourmet restaurants, spas, a casino and lovely multi-million homes and condos along the shores of the island.  There are shops and strip malls and even mini-bus buses.  The typical Americanized vacation island.

  
Grand Turk on the other hand is a more rustic island.  There are no resorts, a handful independently owned 2 story hotels and open air restaurants many of which are perched on the beach.   The main streets are lined with colonial buildings dating back to the 1700's.  The main attractions are the spectacular diving, a few historical sites and the beach.  The island is slow paced and anything but fancy.  It's a nice place to relax, unwind, enjoy the views and read a good book.

Getting to Grand Turk is fairly easy.  Most vacationers would take a flight into Providenciales (airport code PLS) on either;
US Airways, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Air Canada, West Jet or British Airways.  

You would then take a flight on a local airline from Providenciales to Grand Turk.  These flights are usually about a 20 minute flight, some with a very short stop on South Caicos.  The most frequented airline is Air Turks and Caicos but Global Airways offers charter service to Grand Turk as well.

Coming Soon:

Jet Blue  has just announced service to the Turks and Caicos as well beginning in February.  They plan to begin booking soon and rumor has it they will be flying directly into Grand Turk, I'm hoping this is more than rumor.

TAC Air International will be having 2 scheduled flights from Ft Lauderdale directly to Grand Turk                       TAC Phone: 640-242-5038   Email: tacairintl@aol.com

Once you have arrived; kick off your shoes, pull up a seat on the beach, pick up a good book and enjoy the views or go for a splash in the beautiful tranquil turquoise sea.  We hope you enjoy this lovely island and in the word of our late friend Mr. X - "Let the island of Grand Turk soothe your soul"

                                                                                               Written by,  Leslie Janes

                                                                                              

Finding things to do on Grand Turk

A lot of people ask me what there is to do on Grand Turk.  First I would want to say that Grand Turk is not for those restless people that need to keep busy.  Unless, you are looking for a real rest from that.  That said, there are several things to do on Grand Turk, you just need to do a little research.

Grand Turk, being the capital of the Turks and Caicos, is rich with history.  Their history evolved from the Taino and Lucayan indians, the theory that Columbus first landfall in the Americas was Grand Turk, history of pirates and Grand Turk's place in the salt industry.

If you love architecture or local folk lore you will enjoy taking a walking tour along the narrow walled streets.  There are several antique buildings that line the main streets.  Many of the antique houses bear plaques with their history and legends upon them.   Another great place to explore the island's history is in the Turks and Caicos Museum, you'll find exhibits on the island's past as well as the environment and nature.  It's an unexpected treasure.

Up on the north-east ridge of the island is a 150 year old light house.  The government has created a little park there where you can walk down the cliffs along a dirt path to the sea.  The vista is gorgeous, grass blowing in the breeze with the royal blue sea and white churning waves below.   As you follow the path along the shore you will probably find bleached Sea Urchins, Sand Dollars and Starfish.

If you are an animal lover you might enjoy a horseback ride along the sea.  Chukka Horseback Riding will takes groups along the east shore of Grand Turk ending with a ride in the sea.  A local man, Mubbles, if you can find him, may take you out.  We hired him and his horses for a ride along the shore one lovely evening at sunset.  I'm not sure if he is still offering horseback rides but ask around when you are there.  Mubbles, (John) is also well know for his delicious conch and has been chef at several restaurants.

I would be negligent to not meantion Scuba Diving.   Grand Turk is very well known for it's superb diving.  It has been listed as one of the top Caribbean places to dive.  I have heard many divers excitedly discussing their dives on the planes to and from Grand Turk.  Many of the divers return again and again to explore the famous "Wall" and all it's inhabitants.  Not to mention the fact that all this beauty is only a short 5-10 minute ride out.  Something scuba divers really appreciate.  Grand Turk Diving, Blue Water Divers and Oasis Divers are all great dive operations, each having something unique to bring.

Several of the dive operations also offer outings and day trips.  The Gibbs Cay outing is one of my favorites.  The boat ride out to Gibbs Cay, an uninhabited island off the coast of Grand Turk,  alone is enjoyable, seeing the gorgeous colors of the sea varying from deep royal blue to marine blue to turquoise, but then to arrive on a wonderful sandy beach to swim, snorkel, feed the ray and dive for fresh conch, which will be served for lunch.  It's great fun to explore the island and just relax.  The dive ops offer day trips too to Salt Cay and South Caicos so ask what they have going on.

Evening entertainment comes in different forms; the restaurants each offer at least once during the week, some form of entertainment.  The Bird Cage on Duke St frequently has a night of music and dance with Mitch Rollings on the guitar accompanied by various local artists.  You will probably find that 1 or 2 restaurants will offer a barbecue and a local band to enhance the Caribbean atmosphere.

Shoppers won't be left out of the mix.  Though it may not be a shoppers paradise, you will find enough to keep your interest.  Margaritaville, where the cruise ships come in, boasts a mini shopping paradise with shops from Jewelry to flip-flops.  On the days the cruise ships come in there are a host of tiny colorful shops that open up down town, fun to poke around in.  I was worried when the cruise ships started coming to Grand Turk but they have added a lot to the island with very little intrusion on the rest of the island.

For me, I love best to sit back on my own private veranda at Crabtree Apartments and watch the birds, the dive boats and the constant changes of color.  I even love to see the cruise ships go by at night all lit up like Christmas, mirrored in the black sea.

Though you won't find, parachuting, parasailing, casinos and gourmet restaurants on Grand Turk, you'll find plenty to do and lots of relaxation too.

Meeting the locals - Dolly

     One thing I really love about Grand Turk is the people.  The local people of Grand Turk are genuinely kind and mostly religious people.  When we first visited 20 years ago, several times a day someone would pass us on the street and say "Hello, how do you like Grand Turk?"  Though you don't hear that now days, as fequently as we did back then, the Grand Turk people are still very proud of their island and friendly.    Over the years we have made many friends.  I have found the local people to be reserved at first taking a few hellos before they open up, but once they do open up, you are friends for life.

One of my favorite people is Dolly at Moore's Cozy Corner Store.   Moore's Cozy Corner Store, a tiny 12X12 room off Pond St.  Moore's has been there as long as we have been traveling to Grand Turk, 20 plus years.  We would stop in from time to time, when her father ran the tiny store, but didn't discover Dolly's yummy cakes until about 10 years ago  Dolly makes home made cakes and sells them by the slice.   Each night she makes 2 or so cakes and displays them under clear plastic covers on the counter for easy viewing of the delectable cakes.  These are not decadent cakes with thick frosting but more of the mother's homemade kind like; Martha Washinton Cake or Pound Cake.   She has a faithful following of locals who stop in each night to purchase a piece of cake and to chat a bit.


It's a tradition now for us to stop in after dinner, on our walk back to Crabtree, to pick up a slice of cake "To Go".  Dolly always greets us with that wonderful smile.  Over the years we got know Dolly a bit,  heard all about her large family and sadly the losses she has had too.  It was a heartbreaking story to hear of the loss of her daughter, mother and sibling all in one month.  These losses shook Dolly to her soul yet her strong faith never wavered.  You can see the sadness in her eyes somedays, but that warmth, which perhaps stems from that strong faith, still glows when she smiles.  It's a great feeling when we walk through the door; Dolly's face lights up with that grand smile and she greets us with a warm "Hello it's good to see you, how long have you been on the island?"  Her smile tells me she means what she just said and that we have made a friend.


Dolly's store is a little convenience store where you will find a little of everything from sodas in a little refrigerator, snacks and Parmalet milk on hand built shelves to frozen goods kept in a large chest freezer behind the counter.  Dolly opens her door about 4:00pm in the evening "to fill in the gap" as she would say, when the grocery stores close.  If you stop by in the evening you will find Dolly sitting behind a tall counter on a folding chair packing or unpacking things as she watches the news from a 19" tube TV hanging in the corner of the shop.  Or you may find her chatting with someone who has stopped in to say hello and talking a little politics.  


If you ever make your way to Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, be sure to drop by and try one of her delicious pound cakes.  

Bird Watching - Grand Turk

One of my favorite pastimes when I am visiting Grand Turk is to bird watch. I love to sit on the front step of our vacation rental, Crabtree Apartments, early morning as the sun is rising and watch the birds that are feeding in the Salinas. The Salinas across the street are filled with Pipers, Egrets and Heron. The crazy Tricolored Heron is a comical sight as it zig-zags through the water and then abruptly turns, he sometimes will spread his wings and clumsily flop through the water to chase away other birds. There is nothing like seeing the graceful Great Blue Heron take off or land by the waters edge with barely a sound. In the evenings as we walk to or from diner, I sometimes hear a rustling in the grass of the Salinas and with closer examination I usually find a Little Blue Heron hunched in the grassy edge. The noble Brown Pelican can sometimes be seen floating in the Salinas by the Courthouse. But of all the water birds that visit the Grand Turk Salinas I would have to say the Flamingo is my all time favorite, with it's plump body that mimics the pink of a conch shell, reflecting in the water below.

The bird watching on the sea shore is amazing too. I have often heard the piercing cry of the Osprey outside on the beach, to discover it roosting in the tree outside our apartment and then see it suddenly take flight and moments later plunge into the sea for it's dinner. Sometimes the Oyster Catchers will congregate in a pod of 2 or 3 on the cement pier that juts out into the sea. Pipers and Plovers scurry down the beach picking away as they go.

From time to time I catch a brief glimpse of a Hummingbird as it zooms by or hovering in the tubular flowers of a nearby tree. I love to watch these as well as the many other birds I have yet to discover the name of.

Many people may think of Grand Turk for the spectacular under sea world that is along it's shores but for me, a non-diver, I truly enjoy what I find above the sea.

Leslie Janes 

Getting To Know You

Running a vacation rental can be crazy but it is fun too. I have met so many people from all over. We have had guests from Italy, England, Germany, Canada and the US. Some people try to find every scrap of information they can on the internet about us or have a zillion questions while others just see the pictures and information they have seen on our website and are ready to book.  I'm always nervous that the person with the zillion questions won't be happy, and that I didn't tell them something they needed to know about Grand Turk or our place or that the person who didn't ask anything but just booked, didn't expect the kind of island they landed on or thought Crabtree Apartments was something different than it actually was.

I don't know why I worry because time and time again my guests write back saying they loved Grand Turk and they loved our place.  To me it feels so good to know, I, in my little way, am making people happy.  I have enjoyed the telephone conversation I have had with my guest too, being invited to visit when I am in England and come to an Italian dinner if I ever find myself in Italy.  People can be so friendly.

We have had one of every kind, Fudge Makers, Ministers, Authors, Florists, Doctors, Heritage seekers, Honeymooner, Anniversary Celebrators, Engineers, Professors, Families with Toddlers, Families with Teens, Retirees, Ladies Groups, Divers, Father's and Sons and the list goes on.  Some guest come with laptops and have a working vacation and others don't even want to see a bit of communication equipment, not even TVs.

One thing they all have in common; When they return home they are all rested, relaxed, only in a way Grand Turk can make you relaxed, and rejuvenated. In the words of Xavier Tonneau, a colorful resident of Grand Turk and previous manager of Crabtree Apartments, an artist, musician and wonderful chef, whom sadly passed away a few years ago; "Grand Turk soothes your sole." I have to admit that somehow it does.

Grand Turk Then And Now

Twenty years ago my husband and I discovered this little bit of paradise - Grand Turk. Then Grand Turk, being the capital, was the most known island of the Turks and Caicos Island chain. Relished for it's superb diving and known for it's off shore banking. There were only a handful of restaurants and small hotels or inns, the streets were unpaved and the only street lights where the antique replica's of gas lamps you found on Duke St., the historic district of Grand Turk, per say.

When you arrived on Grand Turk your plane would screech to a halt on the tiny runway and you almost felt like you were going to spill over into the sea. The airport was made up of a stone single room open air building with ceiling fans whirring overhead. Bags were unloaded onto a plywood platform and shuffled down by hand to make room. The taxi that brought you to your hotel was likely to be a rusted out chevy impala with no floorboards. Donkey's, horses and chickens roamed the narrow dirt roads freely.

When you strolled the streets it wasn't unusual to have one of the local people say "Hello, how do you like Grand Turk?" They were proud of their island. You would wake in the morning to the cock crow and the beautiful blue sea and dine in the evening under a veil of stars.

Today, things have changed a bit but not as much as you would think. When your airplane lands on the larger and improved runway you may feel the force of the stop and hear the chirp of the wheels but there is now plenty of room for the large bird to have a graceful landing. There is a modern air-conditioned building where the old stone one once stood, though the bags are still loaded onto a plywood platform.

The taxi's no longer have rusted floor boards though the do show their age and to see a donkey roam the streets is probably a thing of the past, since they have been shipped off to other Caribbean islands to work, but in their place you will probably see a big bull amble down the road and scratch it's horns on a nearby car causing the car to bobble and then stroll away. There are still only a handful of restaurants, maybe a few more, there are more street lights though and many of the roads are paved yet potholed.

It's much easier to find necessities on the island now that the shopping center at the cruise pier has been built. But even the addition of cruise ships hasn't changed the island and hasn't overloaded it with tourist either and that to me is amazing. It has actually been an asset to the island.

The restaurants are still the same restaurants perched on the edge of the sea, you still dine there under a veil of stars and still wake to a gorgeous blue sea, with a few less cocks a crowing. Grocery shopping isn't the task it used to be with a few more grocery shops to make your purchases in. These are far from the Grocery stores in the states but have come a long way from the tiny shops of Grand Turks past.

If you were to ask me how has Grand Turk changed in the 20 years I have been fleeing the snow and winters, to bask in the tropical sun, I would have to say, it hasn't really, with the exception of the names of the hotels and restaurants, it has somehow managed to pretty much stay the same. There have been a few improvements to make life more comfortable but basically the island has remained the same.

There is just something about this tiny island that calls me back again and again. It could be the gorgeous seas, it could be the friendly people, it could be the fact that it has somehow kept the commercialism at bay but I think for me it's what happens when I get here. Time seems to stand still, I can almost feel my blood slow down it's flow, my worries just wash away with the gentle waves and I find that I am totally relaxed.

Grand Turk a little piece of Paradise

Some days you just feel like getting away from it all; the people, the rush and the hubbub - all of it.

There is a tiny island in the Caribbean that puts meaning in the quote "Don't Worry Be Happy", that island is Grand Turk. One of a string of islands in the Caribbean that make up the country of the Turks and Caicos Islands. There is not a lot to do here but swim, snorkel or scuba dive and join the locals for a drink at one of the local restaurant/bars that are perched on the edge of the sea. There are no fancy hotels or restaurants, no fast food or for that matter, fast anything.   Dinner itself is a long ordeal, service is not the quickest and nobody on Grand Turk appear to worry about anything.  After one mere day here, you can almost feel all the negative energy you are carrying melt away. Suddenly you realize you are free of your burdens, at least while you are there, and you begin to relax.

I love to get up in the morning and bring my breakfast out onto the veranda that overlooks the beach and turquoise sea, watch the birds fly by and listen to the gentle lapping of the waves. I usually wonder down the beach, sometimes meet a friendly dog or a single fellow beach comber but for the most part it's just me, the sand, the gorgeous sea and sun.   I like to comb the beach for sea glass and then make my way back for a dunk in the warm waters.  Later I find myself relaxing in the lovely shade of the veranda, enjoying my book and the glorious view. One of the most pleasurable times of the day is at sunset, I love to have a glass of wine and watch the sun sink down over the horizon, hoping to catch the "Green Flash", which on a clear day I do.

Under the glittering stars of the velvet evening sky my family and I will make our way on foot to one of the restaurants that are plunked on the edge of the beach and enjoy a rum punch while we wait for our dinner, listening to Jack Johnson or the like, blending in with the sound of the waves.

We then make our way back to our little haven on the beach.  My husband and I will sometimes step out onto the beach to enjoy the evening air and the beauty  of the stars reflecting on the sea.   I might even stick my feet into the glorious warm waters.

At the end of the day we stretch out in a soft comfortable bed with the gentle breeze wafting by and listen to the comforting sounds of the sea.

This to me is a little piece of Paradise!  Here on the sandy beach, just outside of Crabtree Apartments.