‘Forgotten’ island in Turks and Caicos gets direct flights to Miami, new luxury resort
Vacationers looking for a rustic Caribbean experience where they can see semi-wild donkeys run through the streets at night, humpback whales hurl their gigantic bodies sideways across the surface of the Atlantic or simply relax in “a forgotten island” will soon be able to do so by flying directly from Miami.
American Airlines, which already operates two daily flights between Miami International Airport and popular tourism destination Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands, will be offering direct flights into the island of South Caicos, the largely overlooked and neglected sister island in the British Overseas Territory.
The only U.S. carrier to offer nonstop service into South Caicos, the American Airlines flight from Miami will operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting on Feb. 15. The Embraer 175 aircraft can accommodate 76 passengers, including 12 first-class seats. American’s new service becomes its 89th destination out of Miami International Airport, and the 13th launched this year from Miami.
“It is an honor to serve as Miami’s hometown airline for more than three decades, and part of that pride is providing our customers exclusive access to new destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America,” said American Airlines Vice President of MIA Operations Juan Carlos Liscano, highlighting the fact that the nonstop flight into South Caicos is only being offered by American and out of its Miami hub.
Affectionately known by locals as “The Big South,” an ode to its historic place in the Turks and Caicos’ development, South Caicos is one of main inhabited islands in the 40 islands and cays that make up the archipelago and is the most easterly in the Caicos islands. It is located 52 miles from Providenciales, known as Provo, or an hour and a half by boat.
The new nonstop American Airlines flight marks the return of direct service to the island, which at one point was the only island in the chain to receive international flights, on Air Florida and Southeast Airlines, and between Nassau and South Caicos via Bahamas Air.
“Air Florida back in the day went to South Caicos more often then it came to Grand Turk,” the islands’ capital, said David Fenimore, a tourism consultant based in Providenciales. “That was the development hub.”
Fenimore, who is originally from Grand Turk, said the American Airlines connection is “huge in so many different ways.”
“Culturally it’s one of the islands that was kind of forgotten,” he said of South Caicos. “It was always secondary to either Provo or Grand Turk. It was always just the fishing capital; ‘That’s all you are’ and now all of a sudden you’ve got these top-notch resorts.”
“I love it from a top of a world view,” he added. “This is the island that started everything... That was the development hub.”
The new flight connection coincides with the opening of the Salterra Resort & Spa, South Caicos’ second luxury resort. The hotel, which was once the East Bay Hotel on the southern end of Cockburn Harbour, is part of the Marriott Bonvoy Luxury Collection Resorts. It joins two other hotels, the luxurious Sailrock Resort located on the northern end of the island, overlooking a white sand beach and the Atlantic ocean where visitors can whale watch from their balconies, and the locally owned and affordable South Caicos Ocean & Beach Resort on Tucker Hill, which will soon undergo its own renovations.
“South Caicos has long been a hidden gem of the islands,” said Michael Tibbetts, the developer and managing director of Salterra Resort & Spa. “We are thrilled our guests will have the opportunity to fly directly from the U.S. and experience the luxurious amenities of Salterra and the natural beauty of the island within minutes of landing.”
The new Salterra, which is walking distance from the center of town, boasts 100 guest rooms and suites and six dining options as well as a full-service destination spa.
The new resort and direct flight mark a turning point for the secluded island known for its deep-sea and bone fishing, salt pans and laid-back atmosphere. Its population of under 1,000 people relies on small-scale commercial fishing after years of carrying the development of the chain with its hand-rake salt exports. Other recent investments also include a new airport.
“This new service aligns perfectly with our policy vision to diversify the tourism offering and ensure that each island within the Turks and Caicos Islands benefits from the tourism industry,” said Josephine Connolly, minister of tourism. “By enhancing accessibility to South Caicos, we are opening up new avenues for economic development and providing unique and enriching experiences for our visitors. Together, we aspire to forge a promising future.”
Before Provo became a tourism destination, South Caicos led the chain’s development thanks to its salt production, fishing industry and trade with neighboring Haiti, which supplied workers and construction building material. The island still boasts fishing plants that process lobster and conch for export to the U.S. market and for Providenciales’ high-end resorts and restaurants. However, its development and local economy had largely been ignored by governments in the self-ruled territory.
Outside of its contributions to the territory’s development history, South Caicos has the distinction of having hosted Queen Elizabeth II on her historic 1966 visit to the islands. The late British monarchy and her husband, Prince Philip, made a personal visit to the British crown colony where they attended a donkey race, toured a lobster processing plant and watched sloops race across the harbor. The visit is commemorated every May with the island’s annual South Caicos Regatta festivities.
While visitors can retrace the queen’s steps during a historic walking tour, they can also visit the main salina and boiling hole where salt can still be observed in the natural ponds, as well as pink flamingos. The westlands of Bell Sound Nature Reserve and the channel between the cays in the Caicos chain also offer opportunities for birdwatchers and those wanting to explore marine life. For those who prefer a more relaxing time, the island’s white sand beaches and crystal clear turquoise-colored water is great for swimming and coming across conch shells.
“This new service exemplifies our dedication to broadening our tourism offerings and enhancing accessibility to South Caicos,” said Turks and Caicos Islands Premier Charles Washington Misick, who during a visit to the island last November to celebrate the birthday of its leading business owner and local hotel owner, Lewis Cox, lauded South Caicos’ tourism and economic potential.
“The direct link from Miami will enhance visitor arrivals and offer a more convenient travel option for both visitors and residents,” Misick said. “Together, we aspire to forge a promising future, creating a wealth of opportunities for our citizens and delivering unparalleled experiences for our visitors.”
This story was originally published December 23, 2024 at 5:36 PM.
