Cruising Caribbean | Beachfront Bliss at Grand Turk

When I woke up in the morning and looked out of the window in our cabin I literally gasped. I was told about the mesmerizing beauty of the waterfront in Turks and Caicos, but nothing can prepare you for this…. 

The Turks and Caicos are made up of more than 40 islands cast upon breathtakingly beautiful cerulean waters. We docked for a day at Grand Turk. This flat tiny island (18 km² or 6.9 sq miles) boasts with absolutely gorgeous coastline. I totally smitten by its crystal clear turquoise waters and white sandy beaches littered with beautiful conk shells… I mean, look at this, how could I not???

However, I don’t think I would travel here to vacation for more than couple of days. If your ideal pastime is lying on the beach the whole day with a cocktail in hand, then this is a great destination for you. However, this is not the place for people who are fond of active rest and are seeking for adventurous activities.

Top Things To Do in Grand Turk:

Like St. Maarten, you can book a number of ATV/Sagway/Open bus tours which will take you around the island to show you the major highlights.Alternatively, you can hang out at the buzzy Margaritaville, sip the exotic colorful cocktails, and chill at the overcrowded, but vibrant pool. 

Or, master the art of doing nothing with warm sun on your shoulders, clear skies overhead, toes in white sand and blue waters calling your name…

Honestly, I wouldn’t mind spending the day in this idyllic spot…

However, we had plenty of time on our hands and opted for yet another water activity. This time we booked a power snorkeling tour, something I have never heard of before.This exciting new way to snorkel uses a special underwater handheld power unit with a propeller that enables you to enjoy the beauty of the coral reefs in a whole new way. It is a light, compact and portable “device” which allows you to propel effortlessly through the water and cover more distance than you might otherwise. We certainly enjoyed it. The whole experience was a bit reminiscent of James Bond movies!

First we were picked up by the crew member at the cruise center outside the port entrance. He drove us to the beach and was kind enough to give a brief informative tour of the island on our way. Interesting fact: The name Grand Turk comes from a species of cactus on the island, the Turk’s Cap Cactus, which has a distinctive cap, reminiscent of an Ottoman fez.When we arrived at the snorkeling site other crew members provided us with the power snorkel equipment and safety and use instructions.After that, we swam out to the reefs where we had ample time to explore the magnificent marine wildlife and the breathtaking 7,000 ft. drop- off. We had over an hour to swim around the beautiful coral, sea fans and colorful, tropical fish before gliding back in to the shore. The tour was definitely a worthy experience!Grand Turk was truly a little slice of paradise on earth and I was very happy we got a chance to spend a whole day there and enjoy this spectacular waterfront. 

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Have you been to Turks and Caicos? Where did you stay? Please do share your stories in the comments!