Grand Turk in a Day: Exploring Beyond the Cruise Port

The famous Grand Turk whale sculpture in the background

Our visit to Grand Turk began with a shore excursion through Princess Cruises called the Calypso Island Tram Tour, which was the perfect introduction for first-time visitors like us. The excursion was about two hours long and scheduled early in the morning, allowing us to explore the island while it was still quiet and cool. The narrated ride provided a great overview of the island’s history, culture, and landmarks. It helped us get our bearings and understand the layout of this small but fascinating destination. Best of all, the tour wrapped up before noon, leaving plenty of time to explore afterward.

Photo spot just a short distance from the cruise port

One of the highlights of the tour was our stop at the historic Grand Turk Lighthouse. While the stop itself was brief, it quickly became clear that this part of the island deserved more time. The lighthouse sits on a dramatic stretch of coastline, where the wind is strong, the views are expansive, and wild donkeys often roam nearby. Even during our short stop, we could tell this was one of the most unique and scenic spots on the island.

After returning to the port area, our group of friends decided to continue the adventure by renting a golf cart for about a hundred dollars. Renting a cart turned out to be one of the best decisions of the day because it allowed us to explore the island at our own pace. Cruising along the roads and passing the pastel houses and quiet beaches, felt like the ultimate island experience. Thanks to the earlier tram tour, we already had a good idea of where we wanted to go, which made navigating the island easy and stress-free.

Making friends with the donkeys

Naturally, we headed straight back to the lighthouse area to show our friends our newly discovered spot. With more time on our hands, we stopped for lunch at Vibez Grill, located right beside the lighthouse. We ordered the jerk chicken with rice, and it was phenomenal. The jerk chicken was perfectly seasoned, tender, and full of flavor.

After lunch, we spent a little more time exploring the area, saying hello to the island’s famous wild donkeys before heading back toward the cruise port. With about an hour left before departure, we returned the golf cart and made our way back to the ship while still having some time to shop at Ron Jon Surf Shop. We came back onto the ship feeling like we had truly experienced the island rather than just passing through.

Returning back on board Princess

If it’s your first visit to Grand Turk, consider starting with a guided excursion like the Calypso Island Tram Tour to get familiar with the island. Because Grand Turk is small and easy to navigate, combining a short guided tour with independent exploration works incredibly well.

Golf cart rentals are widely available near the cruise port and are a fun way to see more of the island. One important thing to remember is that driving is on the left-hand side of the road. Roads can be bumpy and that’s part of the adventure.

Always double-check ship time. During our visit with Princess Cruises, the ship’s time was one hour ahead of the time on my phone, which can easily cause confusion when you’re exploring independently. Before leaving the port area, confirm the current ship time so you return comfortably.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Turks and Caicos page.