South Caicos
Cockburn Harbour on South Caicos.
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Planning Your South Caicos Day Trip

Paved road and houses in Cockburn Harbour on South Caicos
Houses in Cockburn Harbour, South Caicos.

Found on the eastern end of the Caicos Islands chain, the sleepy island of South Caicos offers historical salt salinas, impressive coastlines, and a laid-back old Caribbean atmosphere.

Both domestic flights and passenger ferry services connect South Caicos to Providenciales and Grand Turk. Flight schedules are convenient for day trips. The ferry schedule doesn't work for day trips (it arrives in South Caicos in the afternoon).

South Caicos remains a very interesting destination. Hotel rates are quite reasonable, so the island is also great for short overnight stays.

If you're planning to travel to South Caicos for Fisherman's Day, you'll want to book transport well in advance.

Getting to South Caicos

See Also Getting to South Caicos
See Also Domestic Flights and Ferries
The view from the abandoned barracks at the U.S. Coast Guard South Caicos LORAN station
Interior of the abandoned United States Coast Guard LORAN station, South Caicos.

Flights

Local airline interCaribbean is the primary provider of flights to South Caicos, with a daily morning and afternoon flight. Rates are about $150 per person round trip (2024). Flight time is about 20 minutes from Providenciales.

For domestic flights, we advise arriving at the airport at least 45 minutes prior to the flight departure.

Ferry

A passenger ferry service is offered most days between Providenciales and South Caicos. However, this service is not viable for day trips due to the schedule. Travel time is under two hours ($130 round trip). Captain Russel is the primary ferry operator.

Getting Around

See Also Getting Around South Caicos
See Also Map of South Caicos
A small sheltered beach at Bell Sound lagoon
Beach at Bell Sound, South Caicos.

We highly recommend renting a vehicle during your stay on South Caicos. The main settlement of Cockburn Harbour isn’t large, however, many of the spectacular coastlines and beaches can be quite a distance off.

Unfortunately, rentals are both more expensive and limited, and more so than on our other islands. Rates are about $100-150 a day including tax and fuel for a minivan or SUV (typically not the best condition vehicles).

See Getting Around South Caicos for more information and business details.

Sights, Attractions, and Activities

See Also Things to Do in South Caicos
Coastal dunes and casuarina trees at Long Beach on South Caicos
Long Beach, South Caicos.

The history of South Caicos has been closely tied to the sea salt production and fishing industry.

The economy of the island has seen declines in the last several decades, yet many interesting salinas, buildings, and sites remain, such as The Boiling Hole and the South Caicos U.S. Coast Guard LORAN Station.

Fishing is popular, and several businesses have set up shop in the last decade. Big Blue Collective offers eco-tourism trips from Providenciales that include kayaking.

We recommend simply exploring South Caicos at your own time. There are so many scenic landscapes and beaches to explore. See Exploring South Caicos.

Staying Overnight

There are three resorts on South Caicos. Sailrock Resort and the under-construction Salterra Resort & Spa are two new luxury accommodations, and the Ocean & Beach Resort is a quaint hotel with excellent rates and a ridgetop location outside of Cockburn Harbour that offers some of the finest vistas in the country.