South Caicos is two things at once: a quiet fishing island and a burgeoning boutique tourism destination. Located on the southeastern end of the Turks and Caicos island chain, it is the smallest main island in the Caicos archipelago.
South Caicos is the Caribbean of Hemingway's writings—a place where you can trade the luxury shopping, casinos, and nightlife of Providenciales for fresh-caught seafood, warm hospitality, and sleepy harbors that once exported the world's finest sea salt.
It's possible to fly direct to South Caicos on American Airlines' twice-weekly Miami—South Caicos (XSC) flight, the island's only international airlift. Daily domestic flights and a passenger ferry connect South Caicos to the main island of Providenciales, where nearly all international flights to Turks and Caicos land.
Many nationalities, including those from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union, can travel to South Caicos visa-free.
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Islands of the Turks & Caicos
All flights to South Caicos arrive at the South Caicos Airport (XSC). The airport welcomes daily domestic flights from Providenciales as well as a twice-weekly international flight from Miami. Find Your Flight
Providenciales
Often simply called Provo, Providenciales is the most populated island in the Turks and Caicos. Here, you’ll find beautiful hotels and resorts, luxury villas, fine dining, shopping, and the famous Grace Bay Beach. There's also a wide array of water sports, from snorkeling and scuba diving to sailing, jet skiing, paddleboarding, and more.
It's easy to get to Providenciales, as nearly all international flights to the country land on this island. There are direct flights from many cities in the US, as well as a few from Canada and the UK.
North & Middle Caicos
The verdant North Caicos and Middle Caicos are connected by a road causeway, and function as one island. Found in the center of the Caicos Islands archipelago, they offer limited development, a quiet atmosphere, outstanding natural attractions, and secluded beaches.
Regular passenger ferries and flights via small aircraft operate between Providenciales and North Caicos.
South Caicos
Teeming with old-school Caribbean charm, South Caicos is a quiet island with incredible beaches, a bountiful marine environment, and historical remnants of the sea salt industry. The island is an outstanding destination for fishing, especially for flats and bonefishing.
Island Highlights
Great fishing and snorkeling
Quiet and laid-back ambiance
Authentic Caribbean experience
Getting Here
American Airlines offers a direct international flight from Miami to South Caicos (XSC) twice per week, and regular domestic flights are offered daily between Providenciales and South Caicos.
Grand Turk
Grand Turk has the capital city of Cockburn Town and the country’s only cruise ship port. Formerly a major sea salt producing island, this quiet retreat offers interesting historical sites, Bermudian architecture, and exceptional scuba diving.
Most visitors to Grand Turk are day visitors arriving via cruise ship. Overnight visitors typically fly to Providenciales before boarding a domestic flight to Grand Turk.
Salt Cay
Salt Cay is the smallest of the main inhabited islands in the Turks and Caicos. You won’t find all-inclusives, nightlife, or spas on Salt Cay—but it’s the perfect destination for travelers seeking tranquility, secluded beaches, rich history, and a place where everyone knows one another by name.
There is no international airport on Salt Cay. Domestic flights connect Salt Cay to Providenciales and Grand Turk.
East Caicos
The largest uninhabited island in the Turks and Caicos, remote and wild East Caicos was once the site of guano mining, sisal plantations, and cattle ranches circa the late 1800s and very early 1900s. Today, the island is a thriving sanctuary for flora and fauna, particularly endemic Turks and Caicos plants and regional birds.
East Caicos is quite difficult to access, so very few make the journey to visit. A custom charter with one of the few guides knowledgeable about the island is the only way to visit.
West Caicos
Formerly known as Belle Island, West Caicos boasts a stunning marine environment and treasures from times past. This uninhabited island was once home to a Victorian-era town, an airstrip, and even a small railway. West Caicos offers some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the country.
There are no scheduled flights or ferries to West Caicos. The only way to visit the island is via a private boat charter.
Wild Beaches, Untamed Beauty
There's a more rugged feel to the beaches on South Caicos (locally known as the Big South) than on the main island of Providenciales. Soft limestone dune cliffs line much of the island and create secluded tropical beaches, many of which can go months without seeing a visitor.
You'll find tropical beaches with crystal-clear turquoise water and talcum-powder sand, as well as coasts with scenic hiking trails just steps from the shore.
South Caicos has one hotel and two luxury resorts, including the newly opened Salterra Resort & Spa. All of the island's hotels and resorts are directly on or near the beach.
Both budget and high-end accommodation options exist on South Caicos. The luxury properties offer onsite dining, spa services, and shopping, as well as beautiful rooms, suites, and villas overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Fresh fish and seafood is what South Caicos—the center of the Turks and Caicos fishing industry—does best. Succulent Caribbean lobster, golden cracked conch, and traditionally prepared grouper are a few must-try local dishes.
A handful of local restaurants serve authentic island meals in the main town of Cockburn Harbour, while the luxury resorts offer the largest selection of restaurants and flavors spanning various cuisines.
Miles of pristine water and virtually untouched marine parks make South Caicos the ultimate playground for ocean lovers. Kayaking, sailing, bonefishing, stand-up paddleboarding, scuba diving, and snorkeling are just a few ways that you can experience this exceptional eco-tourism destination, from the wetlands of the Bell Sound Nature Reserve to the coral reefs of the Admiral Cockburn Land and Sea National Park.
Onshore, quiet cycling roads and oceanside hiking trails open up to beautiful vistas. Marine and bird life, including ospreys, frigatebirds, and herons, abound.
Water Sports & Land Activities
South Caicos sees far fewer visitors than most Caribbean island destinations. Whether you're cycling along the coast or discovering exceptional flats fishing, it's common to have incredible bays and vistas all to yourself.
Bicycles, kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkel gear are provided by the larger resorts for guests to use.
Discover an incredible underwater world with scuba diving and snorkeling. Excellent scuba diving can be found off the eastern coast's reefs, where you will encounter both the vibrant corals that form their foundation and the turtles, rays, and marine life that call them home.
Long before tourism, the sea salt trade was the backbone of the Turks and Caicos economy. More than 100 million pounds of hand-raked sea salt were being exported from the Turks and Caicos annually by the turn of the 20th century. South Caicos was the industry's pearl, producing the most sea salt of any island in the territory.
It's possible to explore remnants of this fascinating historical period on South Caicos today, from the salinas and still-standing salt warehouses to the Boiling Hole cave used for salt production.
Descendants of animals that worked during the salt production days, the semi-wild and hardy island donkeys, can be spotted foraging for greenery throughout the brushlands.
It's easy to visit South Caicos for the day if you're staying on Providenciales or Grand Turk. There are daily domestic flights between Providenciales and South Caicos, and a once-daily round-trip flight from Grand Turk.
South Caicos is a small island. Visiting for the day gives you enough time to see quite a bit of what the island has to offer.
Rental cars, bicycles, and walking are the primary means of transportation on South Caicos. It's best to rent a car if you plan to leave the resort grounds during your vacation or are visiting South Caicos on a day trip.
There is no public transit and relatively few taxis available on South Caicos. To accommodate travelers, the luxury resorts offer complimentary airport transfers for guests.
