South Creek Salt Cay
South Creek is a beautiful and sheltered marine tidal wetland system, located on the south-eastern coast of Salt Cay. This small wetlands area offers mangroves, sandy channels, and exposed sand flats at low tide. Although the water in the area is quite shallow and unsuitable for swimming or snorkeling, South Creek is a pleasant place for exploring, kayaking, and birdwatching.
At low tide, varied sand patterns are revealed, and interesting sea creatures are easier to spot.
A complex and deep underwater cave system is located on the southern side of the interior lagoon. Like many of the underwater cave systems in the Turks and Caicos, the cave at South Creek is tidal, and can be dangerous.
Kayaking and Paddleboarding
South Creek is the only wetlands paddling site on the island. Kayaking is a bit limited in extent yet beautiful nonetheless. We highly suggest that you check the tides and plan your adventure at high tide.
The area really isn’t suitable for stand-up paddleboarding as the majority of the waterways are too shallow for the fin on the board.
Birdwatching
As the main wetland on Salt Cay, South Creek excels as a birdwatching site. Ospreys, reddish egrets, great egrets, tricolored herons, stilts, and terns are common sights. A bit rarer, American kestrels, mangrove cuckoos, yellow-crowned night herons, and snowy egrets are also around.
Flamingos are unfortunately not as much of a regular sight as they are on the Caicos Islands.
Getting Here
South Creek is easily accessed from the east side of South District. Both of the main streets in this settlement terminate on the edge of the wetlands.