Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
General Post OfficeA4
2
Turks & Caicos National MuseumA4
3
WaterlooA6
Activities, Courses & Tours
4
Grand Turk Diving Co--- OspreyA5
5
Oasis DiversA4
Sleeping
6
Bohio Dive Resort & SpaA3
7
Grand Turk InnA4
8
Island HouseB3
Eating
Osprey(see 4)
9
Sand BarA4
10
Taste of the IslandA3
COCKBURN TOWN
POP 5500
Without knowing beforehand you'd be hard pressed to guess that sleepy Cockburn is the
capital city of the Turks and Caicos. What it lacks in polish and sophistication it more than
makes up for in rustic charm. The town itself comprises two parallel streets that are inter-
connected with narrow laneways. Colonial-era houses line the tiny streets and former salt-
storage sheds hark back to a bygone era of dusty roads and donkey-filled lanes.
The heart of town is sandwiched between the ocean and the salt pond named Red Salina.
Sights
The Turks & Caicos Island Tourist Board, the museum and most hotels have free
Heritage
Walk
pamphlets.
Front St
, which runs along the waterfront, has some magnificent build-
ings. The salt air and the rough treatment of time have not been kind to many of these struc-
tures and some have begun the slip into dilapidation. But there are still highlights here, and
a walk among the architecture is recommended.
The
General Post Office
is a relic of a forgotten era, and still shines brightly. Nearby,
four large cannons point to sea, guarding the site that Columbus supposedly set foot upon
land - the reality of that claim is still up for grabs, but it does make for a nice photo.
The fringing coral reef just offshore is protected within the confidently named
Columbus
Landfall National Park
.
The little
Turks & Caicos National Museum
(
www.tcmuseum.org
; Front St; admission
nonresidents $5;
9am-4pm Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri, to 6pm Wed, to 1pm Sat) boxes above
