Salt Cay tourist information Turks and Caicos Islands

Salt Cay, Turks & Caicos Islands, "The Island That Time Forgot"

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Salt Cay - Turks & Caicos Islands- photo by Marta Morton

Salt Cay is a tranquil and charming island offering complete relaxation. This tiny island possesses quiet bays with several long stretches of beautiful white sand beaches excellent for swimming, snorkeling and beach combing.

There are few cars on the island, most of the transportation is via golf cart, bicycle, boat or foot. The Texaco gas station has become a token of an idea. Horses run freely along with donkeys, cows and chickens - it is customary to give them the right-of-way should you meet them on the road, as it is customary to wave and smile when passing the islanders.

blue waters of Salt Cay and Casurina pine tree

It seldom rains in Salt Cay, therefore water is precious. Cows and donkeys get a hankering for paper and cardboard when the grass dries up so be warned it you leave your favorite book laying around. Water is caught on roof-tops and saved in cisterns as well as manufactured from sea water by reverse osmosis. Visitors to the island are cautioned to think conservation before turning the tap.

Sunday Worship

There are approximately 80 souls that reside on the wee island of Salt Cay. Worship is the fiber of their Turks Island community. On Sunday, you will see tidy dress and colorful hats emerge from all doors headed down the streets to church. The local population would love to welcome your visit in any of their several churches: St John's Anglican, Mt Zion Baptist, Church of God of Prophecy and Salt Cay Methodist.

While on Salt Cay

Take a day tour to Grand Turk to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands National Museum. Salt Cay beauty's Aritha Williams and Melandy Michel pose next to the old Fresnel Lens from the first light house on Grand Turk, an amazing relic of technology.

Turks and Caicos Museum

Salt Cay Photography
By Michele Belanger-McNair

Salt Cay Turks and Caicos Islands Remote Carribean Beach, scuba diving and whale watching

Salt Cay Turks and Caicos Islands

How to get to Salt Cay

Getting to Salt Cay is typically via the local airlines which your accommodation management will typically arrange for you, departing from the international airport in Providenciales or Grand Turk, either scheduled or chartered. There is also a ferry that runs between Grand Turk and Salt Cay on a biweekly schedule. Its about $12 round trip.

Salt Cay Ferry to Grand Turk

Water Sports on Salt Cay

Salt Cay excels in providing spectacular diving, snorkeling, fishing and sailing. Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine has rated Salt Cay in the top 100 in the world as 'best wall diving. Salt Cay also ranked in the top 5 in the world under the categories: Top Dive Destination ,Top Macro Life, Top Fish Life, Top Advanced Diving , Healthiest Marine Life and Top Underwater Photography.

Salt Cay is a divers and snorkelers paradise. We aren't boasting!. Pristine coral reefs and unspoiled waters surround the island. Diving is just a 5 minute boat ride offshore to the 7,000 foot vertical wall. Whale sharks are known to cruise the waters of the Turks Islands Passage along the wall, relentlessly enchanting divers.

beach on north side of Salt Cay - great snorkeling from there

On clear, calm, smooth water days you may enjoy a scuba trip to the Endymion, and unsalvaged 17th century British warship about 40 minutes south of Deannes Dock, where you will see cannons, a giant anchor and chain and lots of sea life making homes on the ruins.

Salt Cay diving is relaxed, boats go out with one-tank and easily return to shore for an hour interval returning for the second dive. Dive boats go out daily, so be sure to pull yourself away from diving for at least 1 day and visit what Salt Cay offers above the water line.

Wild Donkeys in front of the Salt Ponds on Salt Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands

Sightseeing on Salt Cay

Salt Cay has something for everyone. Star gazers, bird watchers, beach combers, and hammock nappers love this place.

Between January and April Salt Cay becomes a Mecca for whale watchers who travel here to observe the migrating humpback whales. Often they pass close to the island and can be spotted from balconies and decks. The locals with boats for hire make it possible to tour out to be closer to these giant beasts.

Bird watchers love Salt Cay. Salt Cay is a rest stop for migrating birds with varieties ranging from pink flamingos to blue herons. Salt Cay's quiet environment makes it the perfect spot for bird watching.

History buffs can busy themselves chatting to Salt Cay's friendly locals about the island's history and exploring old buildings and sites dating back to the 1600's. Salt Cay has been recommended as a UNESCO world heritage site. Above are the remains of a Bermudan kitchen on a Salt Trader's property. Visit SaltCayPreservation.org

Island lovers enjoy the beautiful white sand beaches, snorkeling, and shelling. There are no city lights, making Salt Cay the perfect place for star gazing.

Get away from the headaches of stifling weddings - get married, renew your vows or have a hideaway honeymoon on Salt Cay. A guaranteed romantic week to yourselves.

beautiful beach on the east side of Salt Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands

Dining on Salt Cay

For an island of little resources from water shortages and spotty telephony you will find dining and drinking on Salt Cay an uncondensed wonder. Travel through the tastes of Salt Cay from local island dishes such as 'peas & rice', 'steam fish' and 'crack conch', to sophisticated presentations of 'almond encrusted snapper' and 'bananas foster'.

When the water runs out, you will still find plenty to drink from Heineken, the favorite island beer, to rum punch and the nefarious 'wolf' and 'monkey', backed by official island legend ....just ask.

Salt Cay's Library
Salt Cay Public Library

What to Pack for Salt Cay

Dress code for Salt Cay is barefoot casual - you will feel at ease replacing collared shirts and pantyhose with sunhats, sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen. Remember to keep your swim suit covered up whilst not on the boat or in the water, not only because of the strong sun but in respect for the reserved island residents.

HISTORICAL SALT CAY

A visit to Salt Cay is essential if you want to understand the history of the Salt Islands. Little has changed in Salt Cay since 1900, when the Salt Industry flourished.

The solar salt industry was revived again in the 1940's when other global sources were cut off by the war. Exports remained steady until 1964 when the industry tapered back down to a quiet stop. Buildings, salinas and artifacts essential to solar salt production still remain.

Salt Cay was first visited by Bermudans in 1645. Ever since then, Salt Cay has been dominated by Bermudan salt traders, specifically the Herriot family whose White House, pictured above, has been a Salt Cay landmark since the early 1800's.

It sits so high on the horizon that it is one of the first things you see from several miles out at sea. The salt house is an example of classic Bermudan architecture with the living quarters on the upper level and the salt storage underneath. The roof is of limestone and concrete. Its frame, wall and floors are constructed from the ship's timbers that brought the family to Salt Cay.

medicine bottle from a ships medicine chest - part of the Herriot history

The White House is still owned by the same family who have preserved the furnishings and interior decor from the days of their great grand parents. The image is a medicine bottle from the ship's still intact medicine chest. Tours of the White House are sometimes granted by the owners.

For more on this intriguing history read the Turks Islands Landfall by H.E. Sadler and "Worth Their Salt" by Bob Payne, Islands Magazine.

Salt Cay Taylor Hill Ruins