South Bay

Salt Cay

Beach Information

No Lifeguard

Hidden Dangers

Remote Location

Rough Roads

Editor's Comments

Exposed to the constant east-southeast trade winds, this battered coastline can be very scenic at times. Due to the ocean conditions, it’s typically not a great place for swimming and snorkeling.

4-star rating for South Bay by Visit Turks and Caicos Islands

The coast here is mixed between low limestone cliffs and small beaches.

South Bay is located on the southeast coast of Salt Cay, and the area consists of two small rocky coves. Not great for either swimming or snorkeling, South Bay is however a great place to hike and beachcomb. Both shells and interesting flotsam can be found on the coast.

On a day with a higher-than-typical ocean swell, the rough surf off the shore is fascinating to watch.

Pilchard Hole Salina, a small abandoned salt pond worked during previous centuries, is nearby as well.

Prickly Point

Flotsam at South Bay Beach.

Due to the weather-torn soft marine limestone, the northeastern point of the South Bay region is known as Prickly Point.

The Turks and Caicos truly has an amazing variety of limestone coasts, including the rugged and high cliffs of Mudjin Harbour on Middle Caicos, the intricate features of Chalk Sound and Frenchman’s Creek on Providenciales, and the coral and shell fossil beddings of West Caicos. Prickly Point is another unique and beautiful part of this collection.

Getting Here

South Bay is accessed either by walking over from South Point, or by taking the left (east) fork in the road found 250 feet (75 m) south of the Salt Cay power station.

Off-road tracks, suitable for the golf carts favored for transport on Salt Cay, lead along the coast and edges of the wetlands and salinas in the South Bay region.