Discover the best beaches in Turks and Caicos, a small archipelago of low-lying coral islands lying between the Atlantic and the Caribbean.
The islands’ capital, Grand Turk, is home to incredible stretches of ice-white sand and calm, shallow waters, particularly on the west coast of Grand Turk. Here, the beaches range from the bustling Cruise Center, with its inviting pool and signature restaurants, to the more secluded Pillory Beach, which may well be where Columbus first set foot on the island.
On the east coast, the beaches are wilder but no less beautiful for it, attracting beachcombers and kite surfers alike to their rugged charm.
Governor’s Beach
Governor’s Beach
Part of the Columbus Landfall National Park on the west coast of Grand Turk, Governor’s Beach takes its name from its position close to the Government House at Waterloo.
Famed for an eight-year stretch from 2012 to 2020 as the resting place of the Mega One Triton shipwreck grounded here by Hurricane Sandy, it now draws crowds thanks to it being easily accessible from the island capital, Cockburn Town.
A wide stretch of soft sand with a peach hue, this is a great spot for lounging as low, rolling waves wash onto the shore. There are facilities for renting beach chairs, sun loungers, and umbrellas and, although there’s no permanent beach bar, there are often vendors selling souvenirs and cold drinks at busier times.
The calm, clear shallow waters also make for great snorkeling, especially for beginners. The beach is also known as Norman Saunders Beach after a formerly prominent politician.
Pillory Beach
Pillory Beach
Named after a type of stocks used to punish people in the Middle Ages, Pillory Beach was renamed Guanahani Beach in 1992 to honor the indigenous Taino name for what is supposedly the spot that Christopher Columbus first made landfall in the Americas in 1492.
Despite many still referring to it by its original moniker, Pillory Beach is much lovelier than the name suggests. Located on a sandbank north of Cockburn Town on Grand Turk’s west coast, Pillory Beach is considered by many to be one of the best beaches in Turks and Caicos.
Offering soft, white sand and shallow, gin-clear water, there’s ample shade thanks to casuarina trees that line the shore and make it a great spot for families, or those less sure of themselves in the ocean. Facilities include chair rentals, small sailboat rentals, a dive center, and a bar for refreshments, while its proximity to town means there are ample bars and restaurants close by, too.
Cockburn Town Beach
Cockburn Town Beach
Cockburn Town is the low-key, historic capital of the Turks and Caicos, thought to have been the earliest settlement on the island and inhabited since the 1600s. Its streets offer a series of low-rise colonial-era buildings, eateries, and shops, as well as sites of interest such as the Turks and Caicos National Museum.
The oceanfront stretch of sand that runs parallel to the town itself is another of the most beautiful Turks and Caicos beaches thanks to its mixture of colonial charm and beachside relaxation.
Cockburn Town Beach
Home to the dazzling white sands for which the islands’ beaches are famed, the calm waters make for great swimming and wading. There are no dedicated beach facilities here but that hardly matters given you’re literally in the town center.
After a day on the sand, make sure to pull yourself away from the beach to explore Duke Street, Cockburn Town’s picturesque main street.
Read: Best Time to Visit Turks & Caicos
English Point Beach
If you’re looking for a little more solitude on the many beaches on the west side of Grand Turk, English Point Beach could be right up your street. Despite being one of the best beaches in Turks and Caicos, its proximity to the runway of JAGS McCartney International Airport means that it’s less visited than those immediately to the north and south.
English Point
Stretching for around a mile in length, the beach has the island group’s signature white sand, casuarina trees, and blue waters, and while it’s slightly rockier than Governor’s Beach and Cockburn Town Beach, English Point is still very picturesque. The waters are again relatively calm and shallow, while the rocks make for some interesting snorkeling.
There’s also a great photo opportunity close by thanks to the colorful Grand Turk sign that’s featured on many an Instagram page.
Boaby Rock Point
Fan of donning a snorkel, mask, and fins? Then head straight to Boaby Rock Point. Set at the very southernmost point of Grand Turk about half a mile from the Grand Turk Cruise Center, the beach features a mixture of low rocky outcrops and patches of white sand. There are also two reef systems that begin in shallow water and extend out for some 300 feet offshore.
Home to corals, yellow sea fans, and vibrant fish, the beach offers probably the best underwater experience on the islands without donning scuba gear. Onshore winds and the topography mean the beach is also a spot where both flotsam and seaweed gather making it a great beachcombing spot. Meanwhile, the Hawkes Nest Salina with its crystalized salt flats just behind the beach makes for some interesting photos.
There are no facilities on the beach, so those looking to visit should take their own supplies.
Cruise Center Beach
Cruise Center Beach
Grand Turk is one of the few places in the region where the cruise terminal is a central element of the destination.
Grand Turk’s Cruise Center is a highlight of life on Grand Turk, a commercial hub that’s vital to the island’s economy and abuzz with life when ships are in port. The beach here, also known as SunRay Beach, is another part of the Columbus Landfall National Park; long, sandy, and with perfectly blue waters.
What sets it apart as one of the best beaches in Turks and Caicos is the magnificent facilities, including popular dining spots such as Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville and Jack’s Shack, plus duty-free shopping. There’s also rental facilities for snorkel gear, floats, and cabanas, and a large swimming pool with a swim-up bar.
There’s much to see off the beach too, including the John Glenn Splashdown Memorial, commemorating the astronaut’s return to Earth near Grand Turk in 1962 after he became the first American to orbit the planet on the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission.
White Sands Beach
On the east coast of Grand Turk and a continuation of the coastline after Boaby Rock point, White Sands Beach is just that: a secluded, one-and-a-half mile long stretch of coast with powder white sands.
The beach is light on facilities, though, so pack all you need for a visit. That remote feel is all part of the appeal of White Sands Beach; in fact, you may well have all the beach to yourself on a visit aside from the occasional beachcomber, kiteboarder, or snorkeler.
The area around White Sands Beach includes the wetlands of South Creek so there’s ample chance to spot bird life, while nearby Gun Hill was once home to a British Cannon Battery in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Gibbs Cay
Gibbs Cay
A mile off the eastern coast of Grand Turk, Gibbs Cay is a seven-acre island that takes its name from George Judson Gibbs, a 19th-century resident of Grand Turk who donated a famous carving called the Lucayan duho, a kind of ornamental seat, to the Turks and Caicos National Museum.
Most people know the islet by its alternative name, Stingray City, given the proliferation of these magnificent creatures in the surrounding waters and the chance to swim with them.
Stingray
Part of the Grand Turk Land and Sea National Park, Stingray City is easy to reach on a day trip. Arrival here is a real castaway-style experience. The island consists of bone-white sands, shallow, clear waters, and a small hill topped by sea oats, a tall subtropical type of grass.
The key experience is, of course, swimming with the stingrays and tour guides provide all the necessary equipment for a dip. Many of the guides will stop en route to Gibbs Cay so you can snorkel around the reefs or take part in a dive for conch before conch ceviche is served for lunch.
East Side Beach
East Side Beach
If you’re looking for the proverbial message in a bottle, you just might find one on East Side beach. At some four miles long, this stretch of fine white sand takes up almost the entire east coast of Grand Turk, making it the longest beach on the island.
That length, alongside the prevailing Atlantic winds, make for a mixed experience. At points the beach is beautiful and relatively still, the winds making it ideal for kite surfers, while at others there’s enough flotsam and jetsam to make it a favored location for beachcombers and shell hunters. East Side Beach is also a favorite with companies that offer horseback rides.
With no organized access from the road that leads to the Grand Turk Lighthouse, finding the perfect spot can be a little like a treasure hunt itself, depending on your beach preferences. That lack of organized access means the beach has no facilities either, so packing water, snacks, and shade is highly recommended.
Historians should note that nearby are the remnants of an old US Navy base NAFAC 104, which helped with the recovery of John Glenn’s spacecraft and also played a role in the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962.
Lighthouse Beach
Lighthouse Beach
In 1852 British architect Alexander Gordon designed and constructed the 60-foot-tall Grand Turk Lighthouse, bringing it all the way from the United Kingdom to warn ships of the dangerous reefs to the north of the Grand Turk.
De-commissioned since 1972, the lighthouse remains a popular tourist attraction, a reminder of the islands’ maritime past, as well as providing access to some of the best hidden beaches in Turks and Caicos.
Lighthouse Beach
Home to a small snack and gift shop, restrooms, and a park with picnic tables, the towering structure is also a starting point for some pretty hiking paths that can lead to hidden coves where the water is calm enough to swim or wade out, as well as a number of viewpoints on the surrounding limestone cliffs.
Look out to sea while visiting for the chance to see migrating humpback whales, or in the shallows where eagle rays can be spotted.
Read: Eastern Caribbean vs. Western Caribbean
North Creek Beach
North Creek Beach is not only one of the most beautiful Turks and Caicos beaches, it is also one of the most unusual.
Located on the northern side of Grand Turk, the beach faces mostly away from the ocean thanks to it being along North Creek, an inland lagoon with only a small opening out to sea.
The beach features soft white sand and the water that laps it is generally calm, making this a prime spot for both swimming and kayaking. It’s also a great option for those who enjoy birdwatching, as the nearby mangroves and wetland areas attract various bird species.
Look out for the Bahama woodstar, named “the hummer” by locals thanks to the sound it makes, and Caribbean flamingos.
Grand Turk
Discover your own favorite beaches in Turks & Caicos on a relaxing cruise with Celebrity. Browse Turks & Caicos cruises and plan your escape to the tropics.
