Getting to Grand Turk
As the name suggests, the Turks and Caicos is made up of two groups of islands, the Turks Islands and the Caicos Islands. The Turks Islands consist mainly of Grand Turk and Salt Cay, and are separated from the Caicos Islands by the 20-mile wide (32 km) Turks Islands Passage.
Grand Turk is located about 70 miles (113 km) from the main Caicos Islands of Providenciales, and 50 miles (80 km) from North and Middle Caicos. Because of the distance, no public ferry service is offered from Grand Turk to any island other than Salt Cay.
No international flights regularly land on Grand Turk.
Arriving by Cruise Ship
Visiting Grand Turk by cruise ship is easy. All immigration and customs matters are handled by the cruise lines, so it’s a breeze to land. Due to time constraints, it’s not feasible to see any of the other main islands in the country when visiting Grand Turk by cruise ship. Check out the Grand Turk Cruise Center for more information.
Getting to Grand Turk by Plane
All scheduled international flights into the Turks and Caicos arrive at the Providenciales International Airport (PLS). You’ll need to take a domestic flight from Providenciales to get to Grand Turk. Two local airlines offer regular flights: Caicos Express Airways and interCaribbean. Normal flight time from Providenciales to Grand Turk is about 30 minutes, and return fares usually cost between $120 and $200 (depending on time, airline, and refundable ticket class).
Visiting Grand Turk by Yacht
Your first stop in the country must be at a port of entry. Grand Turk only has one, which is the Government Freighter Dock. A one-week entry can be granted by the harbormaster, but it’s easy to get a 90-day Cruising Permit if you expect a longer stay.
The waters surrounding the Turks and Caicos are teeming with reefs, rocks, and shallows, so accurate charts (and GPS!) are a must. Waveyline Publishing is the main source of printed and electronic charts.