Why Honeymoon on South Caicos
Grace Bay is beautiful but busy. South Caicos gives you the same pale sand and electric blue water with a fraction of the people. On many days you will share a beach with nobody.
The sea is the attraction. The fringing reef and the wall along the east side are in better shape than many reefs near busy islands. Eagle rays, turtles and reef sharks are common sights for divers and snorkelers. The shallow flats to the west are famous for bonefishing.
The island also has character. Cockburn Harbour is a working fishing town with colorful old buildings from its salt-trading days. A marine research station brings students and scientists. It feels like a real place, not a resort set.
When to Go
December through April is the high season, with dry weather, highs in the low 80s Fahrenheit and the calmest seas. Humpback whales pass through the Turks Island Passage roughly from January through April. South Caicos sits close to their route.
May, June and November are good shoulder months, with warmer water, slightly more humidity and lower rates. Diving visibility is often excellent in late spring and early summer.
August through October is the peak of hurricane season. Some services on small islands shut for part of September or October. Flights can be cut back. If you go then, choose flexible bookings and insurance that covers named storms. Summer days are hot, often near 90 degrees, but the trade winds help.
Where to Stay
Sailrock South Caicos is the honeymoon favorite. It sits on the northern peninsula about 15 minutes from Cockburn Harbour, with villas and suites on the ridge and on Long Beach, two restaurants, a spa and golf carts to get around. It is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The Cove beach on Bell Sound is a short ride away.
Salterra, a Luxury Collection resort with about 100 ocean-facing rooms, sits on its own beach in Cockburn Harbour. It has several restaurants and pools and a kids club, so it will feel livelier, especially in school holidays.
The few other options are simpler guesthouses and apartments in town. Expect luxury rates at both resorts, roughly $700 to $1,500 or more a night in high season for a villa or suite, as an approximate guide.
Romantic Things to Do
Book a boat to the cays. Long Cay and Dove Cay lie just off Cockburn Harbour. The captain can find you a sandbar or an empty beach for a picnic. Snorkel the reef on the way back.
Divers should plan several days on the wall. The drop-off starts close to shore, so boat rides are short. Nondivers can try a discover-scuba session or snorkel the shallower reef.
Hire a guide for a morning of bonefishing on the flats, even if neither of you has fished before. It is more about the quiet and the light than the catch. Cycle or drive a golf cart past the salinas in the late afternoon, when wading birds feed in the ponds. Look into the Boiling Hole, a tidal sinkhole connected to the sea. In winter, keep binoculars handy for whales.
Getting There and Around
American Airlines has flown nonstop between Miami and South Caicos Airport (XSC) twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, in a flight of a little over two hours. Check the current schedule, since small routes can be seasonal.
Otherwise, fly nonstop to Providenciales (PLS) from cities such as Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, New York, Newark or Philadelphia. From there, interCaribbean Airways operates daily domestic flights to South Caicos in about 20 minutes. Some resorts arrange the connection for you. Leave a generous gap between flights, since inter-island schedules change.
On the island, the resorts provide transfers and golf carts. Taxis are few, so arrange rides through your hotel. A rental car is rarely needed. Bring a little cash for town.
Food and Drink
Most meals will be at your resort. Both Sailrock and Salterra run several restaurants, with fresh fish, conch and lobster in season. Ask for a private dinner on the beach or on your villa deck for at least one night.
In Cockburn Harbour, small local spots serve cracked conch, fried fish and peas and rice. Hours can be irregular, so ask your hotel what is open before heading out. South Caicos is the center of the islands' fishing industry. Spiny lobster season usually runs from August through March.
Try a cold Turk's Head beer, brewed in the islands, or a rum punch at sunset. Grocery choice is limited. If you are renting a villa, plan ahead or ask the resort to stock the kitchen.
Honeymoon Tips
- Book resort transfers and the Provo connection together. Missing the last inter-island flight means a night on Provo.
- Pack everything you need: sunscreen, medicine and swimwear. Shops are few and prices are high.
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard. The sun is fierce and shade on the cays is scarce.
- Use insect repellent at dusk. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices for the Turks and Caicos.
- Expect island time. Service is friendly but slower than on Provo.
- Consider splitting the trip with a few nights at Grace Bay for more restaurants.
