Turks & Caicos Transportation & Navigation Advice

Proud of being “Beautiful by Nature,” the Turks & Caicos Islands (Turks & Caicos, or TCI) truly abound in vibrant coral reefs and pristine beaches. While they’ve mostly been flying under the radar of most Caribbean travelers, Turks & Caicos have gradually become a prime destination for those seeking unique luxury travel experiences.

So, how can you get around Turks & Caicos? Though these islands are small, places tend to be more spread out than the more urbanized Caribbean islands. You’ll probably need a car if you have an ambitious itinerary for your upcoming Turks & Caicos trip, though you might not need to drive all that much if you’re generally sticking to certain beaches and resort areas.

However you plan to spend your time at Turks & Caicos, we’re here to help you navigate your way around Turks & Caicos. Here’s all you need to know about the islands’ transportation infrastructure, and how you can get to where you want to go.

Getting Around in Turks & Caicos

While the Turks & Caicos Islands are incredibly beautiful, the transportation system here is not completely easy-breezy. Though this British Overseas Territory is easy to reach by airplane via Providenciales International Airport (and JAGS McCartney International Airport for those who are traveling to Grand Turk Island), Turks & Caicos have no mass transit system, so don’t expect to find any buses or trains to use to get around.

Instead, here’s what you’ll need to do to make your way around Turks & Caicos.

Using Taxis in Turks & Caicos

Particularly if you’re staying on Providenciales, you’ll likely have a very easy time getting to and from the airport, and you can easily make your way around Grace Bay and the major resorts. The taxis are pretty pricey, but they almost always respond quickly (as in, within 20 minutes), and they are quite comfortable, as they tend to use vans.

Grand Turk also has plenty of taxis that operate in and around the cruise port and Cockburn Town, plus you’ll find some taxi service on North and Middle Caicos and South Caicos islands. Whatever you do, make sure you utilize an official taxi service. A little later, we’ll get into further detail on the sketchy jitneys and illegal taxis that prey on unsuspecting tourists seeking a cheap ride. Suffice it to say, you’re far better off sticking with the legal taxis!

Renting a Car in Turks & Caicos

If you want to explore more of Providenciales or Grand Turk on your own terms, you may want to rent a car at the airport. Fortunately, both islands have car rental agencies where you can pick up your ride and drive out to enjoy the open roads.

Keep in mind that since the Turks & Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory, cars drive on the left side of the road. The roads here also tend to utilize roundabouts much more than stoplights and four-way intersections, so plan on driving differently than how you’d normally drive in mainland North America.

Exploring Turks & Caicos on Foot

Since the Turks & Caicos Islands are less developed than most of the most popular Caribbean destinations, some areas are more easily walkable than others. On the island of Providenciales, the Grace Bay resort corridor is the most walkable area, especially on the open beach. In addition, this is the safest area for you to ride bikes. (Other parts of the island don’t have as many dedicated sidewalks and bike lanes, and drivers here tend to drive fast.)

On the island of Grand Turk, the main village (or downtown) of Cockburn Town and the Grand Turk Cruise Center are the most walkable areas. Cockburn Town offers opportunities to experience a more authentically local side of Turks & Caicos with shops, restaurants, beaches, and historical monuments within easy walking distance of each other, while the cruise center has a shopping mall and a dedicated beach area that make for the perfect day trip for people arriving via a cruise ship. (We’ll talk more about the cruise port later.)

Getting from Turks & Caicos to Your Tours & Activities

Some tour providers do provide shuttle vans and/or private car transfers to and from your hotel or vacation rental, so check ahead with any tour providers you’re utilizing to see if they’ll take care of all your transportation needs.

If not, then check with your hotel’s concierge desk or vacation rental provider for advice on finding licensed and reputable taxi and shuttle services that serve the area. If you’re staying at a large resort, they may have bicycles available for you to ride around the neighborhood, and they may have plenty of their own activities and programs (such as aquatic sports and boat rides) that you can access on-site.

Whatever you do, beware of Turks & Caicos’ jitneys and other unlicensed taxis. Though they might seem cheap, it’s important to keep this proverb in mind: “You get what you pay for.” Jitneys and other unlicensed taxis here tend to use dilapidated vehicles, and drivers might operate these cars far more recklessly than you’re accustomed to. Even though they entice unsuspecting tourists with cheap fares, these illegal taxis and jitneys don’t always honor those fares, so you might as well pay more upfront for a legally licensed taxi for a safer and more honest ride.

Turks & Caicos Navigation Tips for Cruisers

Grand Turk Cruise Center is the Turks & Caicos Islands’ sole cruise port. So if you’re doing a Caribbean cruise that includes Turks & Caicos as a port of call, you’re destined to come here.

The good news is that the Grand Turk Cruise Center spans an easily walkable 18 acres that feature plenty of shops and restaurants, along with direct beach access. Not only does Cruise Center Beach have water that’s typically calm and clear year-round (which is great for swimmers and snorkelers), but there’s also plenty of room to roam. The beach closest to the shopping center gets the most action, while South Beach and Governor’s Beach (to the north of the cruise center) tend to stay quieter.

The bad news is that Grand Turk Cruise Center is a bit of a drive from the main village of Cockburn Town, so you’ll probably need a taxi if you intend to spend some quality time in town. And since the cruise port is on Grand Turk Island, don’t plan on visiting anything on the island of Providenciales if you’re only here for a port day.

How Transportation & Navigation in Turks & Caicos Compare to Other Popular Caribbean Ports

As explained earlier, the Turks & Caicos Islands are not the easiest islands to navigate for travelers who prefer to travel car-free. Though these islands are small, everything is spread out. And with no mass transit available, you have to be strategic in figuring out what you want to do and how you want to get there.

Even other British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean region have a handful of walkable neighborhoods and some kind of public bus service connecting the most tourism-heavy areas. For the Cayman Islands, George Town and Seven Mile Beach are pretty easy for travelers to hop around: by foot, by car/taxi, and by bus. In the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Road Town has an extensive network of ferries to help people get around, along with taxis, rideshare vans, and “safari” open-air trucks as dry-land transportation options.

When we expand to the larger Caribbean region, the contrast becomes even more stark. In the nearby archipelago of The Bahamas, the city of Nassau has a popular cruise port that’s within walking distance of a downtown that’s itself easily walkable. In addition, Nassau has ample taxis and an extensive network of jitney buses to help visitors who are traveling longer distances.

Discover Turks & Caicos

Though the transportation situation in Turks & Caicos may be tricky in some regards, we hope this guide has helped you get a better sense of how to get around. With a proper plan of action on what to do, where to stay, and how to reach everywhere you want to go, you can make your way to the places you want to visit.

Whether you need help figuring out your itinerary for your next Turks & Caicos trip, or you just want to do some cool stuff during the day, we at Tourbase are always here to help. Feel free to check out our full offering of Turks & Caicos tours, outings, and experiences. We’re sure you’ll find something you like, and we guarantee you will love exploring Turks & Caicos with us.