Grand Turk is a charming city on Grand Turk Island, a small paradise island off the coast of the Bahamas. Containing the capital city of the Turks and Caicos Islands, it attracts many visitors every year, due to the beautiful white sand beaches and turquoise blue waters off the island’s coast.
Grand Turk Island contains the administrative and financial center of the Turks and Caicos. It is also home to many historical and cultural places. The six-mile-long island attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, and is home to some 3,720 local residents. The people are mostly of African descent, but there is also an increasing number of expats from the UK, US, Canada, France and the Bahamas. English is the official language, and the US dollar is used as the currency for trade and transactions.
The island experiences more than 300 days of sunshine every year, which is great for those who want to enjoy the beaches and waters. Despite plenty of sun, islanders can enjoy a cooler subtropical climate all year round due to the constant breeze. Temperatures are in the high 70s during winter, and below 90s during the hottest days of summer.
Two airlines provide flights to Grand Turk from the islands of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos. Providenciales International Airport accepts flights from Atlanta, Miami, London, Boston and New York. Grand Turk Island also has a major international port and harbor that can accommodate ships and boats. In Grand Turk, car rental services are available, but vehicles from the US and Europe are available for those who wish to purchase them.
It is especially the pristine waters surrounding the island that attract tourists to Grand Turk. It is home to several beaches, with Governor’s Beach being the most popular. This island is a paradise for fishermen, sailors and divers. There is a large amount of marine life and tropical flora and fauna on the coral reefs off the coast, and snorkelers and freedivers swim and see them. Others can also enjoy water sports and activities such as windsurfing, deep sea fishing, boat rides and sunset cruises.
Apart from water activities, Grand Turk is also home to many historical and cultural places. The National Museum of Turks and Caicos in Grand Turk houses many artifacts, including the Molasses Reef Wreck, the oldest European shipwreck dating from circa 1505. At the northeastern point of the island is an old but beautiful lighthouse built in 1852. The downtown area contains many houses. which was built in the 18th to 20th centuries, which has been well preserved and is a popular sight to see.
Many of the houses and buildings on the island feature Bermudan British colonial architecture which, together with the subtropical surroundings, gives Grand Turk the perfect Caribbean feel. This is one of the many reasons why expats choose to move to Grand Turk. The combination of a paradise island setting in a bustling financial center makes it the ideal place for adventurous adults to settle down.
Tourism, seafood export companies, and foreign financing services companies provide jobs for residents of Grand Turk. There are several public and private primary, primary and secondary schools, as well as schools for further study in Grand Turk and surrounding areas on the island. The crime rate is one of the lowest in the Caribbean, and security is guarded by a British-trained police force. This makes Grand Turk a great area to buy real estate and build houses.