Cockburn Town, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos

COCKBURN TOWN : Overview

OVERVIEW

Grand Turk is a small, seven mile long Cay, lined with white, powdery sand beaches. Cockburn Town, the capital of Turks and Caicos Islands, is located on Grand Turks. On the island there are currently no accessible modes of transportation available, so even though the island is small, it is limited for wheelchair access. One way for the physically challenged visitor to access the island is via boat or cruise ship. However, adventuring beyond the beach and shops at the port will be difficult if transfer from a chair into a vehicle is not possible.

LANGUAGE

The official language of Grand Turks is English.

CURRENCY

The official currency of Grand Turks is the US dollar.

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

COCKBURN TOWN : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

JAGS McCartney International Airport, also known as Grand Turk International Airport, serves the Island of Grand Turk. The airport is located near Cockburn Town and is large enough to accommodate aircraft as big as a Boeing 757 or Airbus.

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CRUISE PORT

Grand Turks Cruise Center: From the cruise ship dock, it’s a short walk to the Grand Turks Cruise Center Plaza. The Grand Turks Cruise Center offers visitors an assortment of shops, food and drink stops, a beautiful picturesque Caribbean beach, and Margaritaville which is also located at the Cruise Center.

“We cruised on the MS Eurodam and stopped at Grand Turks for the day. The ramp transition from the ship to the dock was easy to navigate and had a surprisingly low angle. Note that I saw another ship docked with a very steep ramp with stairs, so all ships are not equal! The dock at this stop was very wide, however most of the dock did not have concrete guard rails to protect people from falling off the side into the ocean (this is one of my biggest fears in my chair).” Christopher, 2/28/09

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GROUND TRANSPORTATION

TAXI

There are no wheelchair accessible taxis located on Grand Turks at this time. However, there are regular cabs available on the island if transferring out of the chair is an option. If you are visiting by cruise ship and need transportation, visit the Welcome Center at the Cruise Center Plaza.

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SHUTTLE

There are no wheelchair accessible shuttle services on the island at this time.

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RENTAL CAR (Wheelchair Van)

Grace Bay Car Rentals: This car rental agency is located at the Grand Turk Cruise Center Plaza. Please note that there are no wheelchair accessible rental vans at this agency or on Grand Turk.

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BUS

No public bus service is available on Grand Turk.

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COCKBURN TOWN : Accommodations

HOTELS

Osprey Beach Hotel: The Osprey Beach Hotel is located on Grand Turk and the hotel has 12 ground floor rooms accessible for wheelchairs. The hotel is somewhat accessible, but is not at the level of ADA standards. Some of the rooms have bath tubs and others have showers, but there is a small step to get into the shower. Patios outside the rooms are on the same level as the bathrooms and the patios slopes down a path onto the beach.   The pool area can also be accessed by wheelchair. Unfortunately, the hotel does not have a lift for the pool or a beach wheelchair.

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LUXURY RESORTS

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COCKBURN TOWN : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

There are no wheelchairs accessible sightseeing tours on Grand Turk. However, there are a variety of tours available for those able to exit their chair.

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ACTIVITIES

Shopping: The Grand Turk Cruise Center is a convenient shopping center located adjacent to the dock. In the center’s plaza, there are shops ranging from jewelry stores, to beach apparel stores, to souvenir shops. There are also the typical duty free items available like alcohol, perfumes, and cigarettes.

Beaches: All eight beaches on the island are free of charge and open for everyone to enjoy. The lounge chairs at the beach are free to use, but first come first serve. If you can’t find shade, there are clam shells for rent, which are large enough to cover two lounge chairs. Rental fees for the clam shells run about $20.

Near the smaller dock used for shore excursions, there is another strip of beach which is a pretty good place to soak in the rays. There is a strip of concrete behind, and a wooden dock to access. The sand is also pretty compact to drive your chair on if you insist. You also have a better view of the water from this spot as you are closer to the ocean. Remember as you disembark your cruise ship, grab a towel!

“The beach we decided to land at was located at the Grand Turk Cruise Center shopping plaza between Rasta Pasta and the Island Shop. We were able to find a nice place to lounge in the sun next to a couple of palm trees. The sand was compact up towards the top, so I was able to park my wheelchair on the sand next to my wife and friends. I was also able to see the water from this location. If you don’t want to dare the sand, there is also cement near the sandy beach to lounge at.” Christopher, 3/2/09

Turks and Caicos National Museum: Unfortunately, as of 2/27/09 the museum is not wheelchair accessible as it is a historic house constructed in 1812. The museum has been trying to develop new facilities but according to the museum, the process has been going slow. If you’re planning on visiting the island, it wouldn’t hurt to check with the museum to see if they were successful in making accessibility modifications.

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville: Margaritaville, a popular and fun place to hang out, where you can escape the hot tropic sun, grab a cool refreshing drink, or take a plunge in their pool. There is no charge for the use of the pool, umbrella or lounge chairs. There are always lots of activities going on at the pool!

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Cockburn Town : Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

Note that medical care on the island is very limited and your insurance most likely will not cover the services.

Grand Turk Hospital and Emergency Room
Turks and Caicos Islands Government Hospital, Grand Turk
Phone: 649 946-2040/1212 Emergency Number: 649 946-2333

Grand Turk Downtown Clinic
Cockburn Town
Phone: 649 946-2328

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EQUIPMENT RENTALS

K’s Drugs is the only Pharmacy on the island. I don’t believe they offer medical equipment rentals. If you plan ahead, they might be able to accommodate your needs. For more information please call – Phone: 649-946-2799

Beach Clam Shell Rentals: If you can’t find shade, there are clam shells for rent, which are large enough to cover two lounge chairs. Rental fees for the clam shells run about $20 and can be rented on the beach.

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Cockburn Town : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

Cockburn, Grand Turk can get very hot. Be sure to keep a cool drink nearby, a spray bottle, and escape to a palm tree to cool down if needed.