Not sure whether to vacation in Grand Cayman or Turks and Caicos? If so, you’ve come to the right place!
In a nutshell, the Grand Cayman is the best destination for those looking to visit natural attractions, interact with wildlife, and explore the island.
Turks and Caicos is best suited for those who are looking to relax on the beach for the majority of the time, enjoy scenic views, and avoid crowds.
So, which place is better? My family and I had debated this for days.
Each place offers a unique experience, but there are important differences that set them apart.
Keep reading to find out whether the Grand Cayman and Turks and Caicos is the better vacation place! We’ll cover the differences in beaches, tourist attractions, cost, nightlife, and more.
By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to choose the right destination for you.
Grand Cayman vs Turks and Caicos: A Quick Comparison
Header | Grand Cayman | Turks and caicos |
|---|---|---|
Location | 3rd largest island of the Cayman Islands located in the Western Caribbean | Country with a chain of 40 island located southeast of the Bahamas |
Size | 75.68 square miles | 366 square miles |
Things to do | Stingray City, Bioluminescent Kayaking Tour, Visit the Blowholes, Tour the Crystal Caves | Clear Kayaking Tour to Iguana Island, Smith’s Reef Snorkeling, Conch Bar Caves, Grand Turk Lighthouse |
Popular beaches | Seven Mile Beach, Cemetery Beach, Rum Point | Grace Bay Beach, Sapodilla Bay Beach, Chalk Sound Beach |
Cost | Costs $326 per day for a single person on average | Costs $328 per day per person on adverage |
Transportation | Taxis, rental cars, and public transportation (buses) | Taxis and rental cars (no public transportation) |
Overview of Grand Cayman
Located in the Western Caribbean, the Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands. This island is known for its long white-sandy beaches, unique tourist activities, and luxurious resorts.
A popular resort in Grand Cayman is the Ritz Carlton, which is located right on Seven Mile Beach. The Seven Mile Beach is a white-sandy beach with crystal-clear turquoise waters that’s perfect for swimming.
At Seven Mile Beach, there are plenty of opportunities for jet skiing, kayaking, paddleboarding, deep-sea fishing, and parasailing. Similar to Turks and Caicos, the beaches in Grand Cayman are exceptional for watersports and snorkeling.
In addition to the beaches, Grand Cayman offers unique tourist activities. If you enjoy snorkeling, Stingray City is a 25-minute boat ride from Seven Mile Beach where you can get the chance to swim with stingrays.
You can explore the island’s rich history by visiting the Pedro St. James Castle, or observe wildlife at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park.
You won’t struggle to find great food in Grand Cayman. Whether you’re looking to dine out at a high-end waterfront seafood restaurant or pick up food from a burger shack, the Grand Cayman has something for you.
Compared to Turks and Caicos, the nightlife is more abundant in Grand Cayman. You’ll find numerous beachside bars and lively nightclubs along the West Bay Road in Grand Cayman.
You’ll likely need to rent a car if you visit Grand Cayman because the beaches and restaurants are not within walking distance. There are public buses and taxis, but the taxis are very expensive so it’s best to rent a car.
All in all, the Grand Cayman is an excellent place for a vacation if you love watersports, interacting with wildlife, and visiting unique natural attractions.
Overview of Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos is known for its stunning beaches with bright turquoise waters, making it one of the best vacation destinations to go for relaxing on the beach. Turks and Caicos has a chain of 40 islands, with Providenciales being the most populated island.
What sets Turks and Caicos apart from the Grand Cayman is the abundance of picturesque beaches.
Sapidolla Bay Beach, Grace Bay Beach, and Chalk Sound Beach are some of the most beautiful beaches with calm, crystal clear waters.
Grace Bay Beach is a 12-mile beach located in Providenciales where you can enjoy an abundance of watersports and water activities. Visitors often stay at the Ritz Carlton or Grace Bay Club overlooking Grace Bay Beach for easy access to the beaches.
Just 3.5 miles from Grace Bay Beach is Smith’s Reef, a shallow coral reef that’s perfect for snorkeling.
Every Thursday at Stubb’s Diamond Plaza in Grace Bay, there’s a fish fry from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM where you can enjoy live music from drummers, buy souvenirs, and try local cuisine favorites like conch fritters and jerk chicken!
Turks and Caicos is home to many secluded beaches as well, such as Babalua Beach, Taylor Bay Beach, and Hidden Beach. These beaches have calm waters and are ideal for a picnic.
If you’re looking to adventure, Turks and Caicos is home to the Conch Bar Caves, which are 2000-year old limestone caves. These magnificent caves are located in Middle Caicos, and you can take a guided tour for $20.
Compared to Grand Cayman, the nightlife in Turks and Caicos is relatively laid-back. Popular evening nightlife events include sunset cruises, beach cafes, beach BBQs, and live music.
Unlike Grand Cayman, there is no public transportation in Turks and Caicos. However, there are taxis, rental cars, rental motorcycles, and rental scooters widely available on the island. The taxis are very expensive, so it’s best to rent a car.
In summary, Turks and Caicos is an exceptional destination for those seeking a relaxing vacation with stunning beaches, scenic views, and outstanding snorkeling opportunities.
Which place has the best beaches?
Both places have immaculate beaches, with opportunities for watersports, water activities, and snorkeling.
Seven Mile Beach is the most popular beach in the Grand Cayman, whereas Grace Bay Beach is most popular in Turks and Caicos. Both of these beaches are surrounded by waterfront restaurants and resorts like the Ritz Carlton.
In Turks and Caicos, you can swim with turtles at Grace Bay Beach.
In Grand Cayman, you can swim with stingrays at Stingray City, or see starfish along the shores at Starfish point.
Things To Do In Grand Cayman
The Grand Cayman is known for its white-sand turquoise beaches, unique nature attractions, abundant wildlife, and festive nightlife.
One of the most popular beaches in Grand Cayman is Seven Mile Beach, which offers tourists plenty of opportunities for snorkeling, paddleboarding, and various other watersports.
The Crystal Caves, Stingray City, and Starfish Point are all must-see tourist attractions. You can take a boat ride from Seven Mile Beach to Stingray City to swim with stingrays.
Starfish Point and the Crystal Caves are a one-hour drive from Seven Mile Beach since they’re located on the north side of Grand Cayman.
While you’re on the north side of Grand Cayman, you can go on a 2-hour bioluminescent kayaking tour for a truly special experience.
These are some of the most note-worthy tourist activities in Grand Cayman.
- Seven Mile Beach
- Crystal Caves
- Cayman Spirits Co. distillery
- Stingray City
- Starfish Point
- Dolphin Discovery
- Cayman Turtle Centre
Things To Do In Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos is home to a diverse range of beautiful beaches. In addition, Turks and Caicos is home to the third-largest barrier reef in the world!
A popular coral reef for snorkeling is at Smith’s Reef in the Providenciales island, near Grace Bay Beach. Smith’s Reef is a small shallow coral reef that’s home to numerous sea turtles, tropical fish, and bright coral reefs.
For an adventure, take a kayak tour to the Little Water Cay or “Iguana Island”. This is an island off the coast of Grace Bay that’s home to thousands of rock iguanas!
Another notable attraction is the Conch Bar Caves in Middle Caicos where you can take a guided tour to view underground passages and limestone caves thought to be 2000 years old!
Here are some of the top attractions in Turks and Caicos.
- Grace Bay Beach
- Iguana Island
- Smith’s Reef
- Grand Turk Lighthouse
- Turks And Caicos National Museum
- Conch Bar Caves
- Chalk Sound National Park
Climate
The Grand Cayman and Turks and Caicos have sunny weather all year round.
The average temperatures in the Grand Cayman range from 72 F to 88 F, while the average temperatures in Turks and Caicos range from 77° F to 89° F throughout the year.
How does the currency differ?
The currency in the Grand Cayman is Cayman Island Dollars, which is fixed to $1.00 Cayman Island Dollar for $1.25 USD. In Turks and Caicos, the US Dollar is the official and primary accepted currency.
Language
English is the official language in both the Grand Cayman and Turks and Caicos. You’ll find a majority of the population speaking Cayman Creole in Grand Cayman, and Turks and Caicos Creole in Turks and Caicos as well.
Differences in Cuisine
Both the Grand Cayman and Turks and Caicos have everything from fine-dining seafood restaurants to traditional Caribbean restaurants, BBQ restaurants, and more.
The cuisine in Grand Cayman consists of seafood, fried fish fritters, coconut shrimp, plantains, jerk chicken, and local ingredients such as cassava and plantains.
Similar to Grand Cayman, Turks and Caicos food consists of dishes heavily influenced by Jamaican food and an abundance of fresh seafood.
FAQs: Grand Cayman vs. Turks and Caicos
When‘s the best time to visit each place?
The best time to visit the Grand Cayman is between March and June when the hotel prices are the lowest and the weather is the most pleasant. However, the cheapest month to visit the Grand Cayman is between September to November.
The best time to visit Turks and Caicos is from April to May when the weather’s still sunny but there are less crowds. But if you’re looking to save money, the cheapest time to visit is from August through November.
June through November is the hurricane season for both Grand Cayman and Turks and Caicos. However, there will be plenty of sunny beach days without rain during that time period.
Is Grand Cayman or Turks and Caicos cheaper for a vacation?
The average daily price for vacationing is $326 per day in the Cayman Islands and $328 in Turks and Caicos.
A week’s trip for two people in Grand Cayman costs an average of $3,014 whereas a week’s trip for two people in Turks and Caicos is $4,589.
How safe is each destination?
The Grand Cayman and Turks and Caicos are generally very safe. According to the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory, the Cayman Islands have a travel advisory level of 1, meaning you can exercise normal precautions while visiting.
Turks and Caicos has a travel advisory level of 2, meaning that you should exercise increased caution while visiting due to an increase in crime in the Providenciales area.
Is Grand Cayman or Turks and Caicos better for families?
The Grand Cayman and Turks and Caicos are both very safe and ideal for a family trip. In general, the Grand Cayman offers more tourist activities for kids, such as Stingray City, Starfish Point, the Crystal Caves, and Queen Elizabeth’s Botanic Park.
In Turks and Caicos, you can take your kids on a kayaking tour to Iguana Island where they can view thousands of rock iguanas. However, both places offer top-notch opportunities for snorkeling and enjoying peaceful family picnics on the beach.
Is Turks and Caicos or Grand Cayman better for couples?
Turks and Caicos is the better destination for couples looking to relax on the beach. Turks and Caicos has a diverse range of beautiful beaches, including secluded beaches like Babalua Beach, Taylor Bay Beach, and Hidden Beach with calm waters.
On the other hand, Grand Cayman is a better destination for couples who prefer exploring natural attractions.
From swimming with stingrays to exploring the Crystal Caves, the Grand Cayman is ideal for adventurous couples.
Conclusion: Which is the best destination?
The Grand Cayman and Turks and Caicos are exceptional vacation destinations that offer pristine beaches, top-notch snorkeling opportunities, and lovely weather year-round.
The Grand Cayman is the best destination for those looking to explore natural attractions, interact with wildlife, and have unique experiences altogether.
Turks and Caicos is the ideal destination for those looking to relax on the beach, appreciate scenic views, and snorkel in one of the world’s largest barrier reef systems.
Regardless of which you choose, visiting Grand Cayman or Turks and Caicos will leave you with memories to last a lifetime!
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