Cockburn Town Beach
Grand Turk
Fronting Cockburn Town, the capital of the Turks and Caicos, Cockburn Town Beach offers beautiful white sand, clear water, and a backdrop of British colonial architecture. This beach is part of the Columbus Landfall National Park.
Being situated not far from the barrier reef and deep water off the Turks Islands underwater plateau, this beach can have a bit of surf when the ocean swell is high. However, the typical conditions are calm and delightful. The seawalls, jetties, and docks break up Cockburn Town Beach into many small beaches.
Most of Grand Turk’s restaurants and inns and hotels are located on or quite close to this beach, so you won’t have to look far to find a bite to eat or a drink. Small gift shops, street vendors, and the historical attractions of the National Museum and H.M. Prison are only a short walk away.
Snorkeling
Although the snorkeling from the beach on Grand Turk isn’t quite up to the level of the other islands in the country, Cockburn Town Beach does offer some interesting sights.
Weathered shelves and gullies (once vibrant reefs) line much of the shore. You’ll see some rocky formations breaking through the sandy bottom and colorful reef fish, along with the occasional yellow sea fan or piece of coral. However, you won't see lush reefs, and larger sea creatures are rare.
On the Pillory Beach end of the coast to the north, reefs and underwater sights do improve a bit, yet are still lacking compared to the better beach snorkeling sites in the country.
Hotels and Villas
Restaurants
Cockburn Town Beach Accesses
Access to Cockburn Town Beach is very simple. Simply look for a spot that suits you. The oceanfront Front Street and Queens Street allow for easy access and parking on the northern section of the beach.
On the southern end, Duke Street follows the ocean one narrow block back from the beach, but you’ll find accesses between many of the small villas and houses here.
The Sandbar Access near the Sandbar Restaurant on Duke Street offers convenient parking on what may be the best beach and snorkeling spot in the area.
As is the case throughout the Turks and Caicos, all beaches are public and free.