Salterra, South Caicos

I couldn’t find any firsthand non-sponsored reviews of Salterra and I had spare time on my hands so here’s my experience.

Salterra is one of two luxury properties on South Caicos, a small island home to only 2,000 people. It contains a full service spa, six dining options, and a low-rise layout that strikes a thoughtful balance between serenity and variety. What stood out the most to me was how calm and uncrowded everything felt - at half capacity, the dining spaces, pools, and beaches felt quiet, even empty.

Getting Here

American Airlines offers direct flights to South Caicos Airport (XSC) to and from Miami on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Alternatively, travelers can connect through PLS before continuing on to a short domestic flight. I flew from Newark (EWR) to PLS on United with a separate booking through InterCaribbean Airways for my brief and scenic final leg.

Arrival

Upon landing in South Caicos, a driver was waiting to greet us. On the short eight minute drive, the driver offered a brief introduction to the island. Once we arrived to the property, we were welcomed by name, offered hibiscus tea and a cold towel, and invited to sit while check-in was handled seamlessly.

My butler introduced himself, let me know that he’d be available via Whatsapp throughout my stay, and provided a quick overview of the property before leading me to my room, where a small assortment of sweet treats was waiting.

Rooms

Standard rooms at Salterra feel appropriately sized at 455 sq ft, and are thoughtfully designed in netrual tones in a way that feels calm and modern.

The bathroom came with a double sink and spacious counter space, Byredo Le Chemin toiletries (a familiar Luxury Collection staple), and excellent towels (thick, absorbent, non-linty bath sheets).

One especially thoughtful detail was the in-room filtered water dispenser, complemented by chic water bottles for guests to keep, a subtle yet mindful touch.

A couple of practical notes: the internet TV didn’t work during my stay, and the wifi was a touch spotty, especially by the pools, but cell reception was decent, and it was a helpful reminder to spend a little less time on my phone.

Dining

Breakfast at Salterra is spread across Flamingo, Regatta, and in-room dining. Flamingo functions as a grab-and-go cafe, but with plenty of comfortable seating that it also for a slower morning with coffee and pastries.

Regatta is the main breakfast venue and offers both a buffet and a la carte options. The buffet is included for Marriott Platinum members and above, and while the overall spread was comprehensive, it felt fairly standard. I did enjoy the rotating selection of fresh fruit, which stood out more than anything else.

In-room dining is also available for breakfast, though I didn’t order room service during my stay, so I can’t comment on that.

For lunch and dinner I primarily ate at Cobo, the Latin-inspired beach bar and grill. I found myself reordering the pan seared snapper which was always tender and flavorful.

I didn’t dine at Brine, the Salterra’s fine dining restaurant, but across all of my meals, the food was consistently good, but not particularly memorable. What did stand out was the service: staff frequently greeted me by name, anticipated my needs before I could ask, and regularly went above and beyond in ways that felt notably observant.

Activities and Amenities

I didn’t visit the spa or book any excursions during my stay, so most of my time was spent between the pools and the beach. The resort has multiple pools, including quieter, adults-only areas that remained calm and uncrowded throughout the day.

For those that are a little more active, the resort also offers a range of excursions: scuba diving, fly fishing, kiteboarding, and more - all fairly priced by resort standards.

The two-mile stretch of private beach is completely undeveloped and the beach itself was strikingly empty - I rarely, if ever, saw another person along the shoreline. This part of the island does experience some seaweed in the winter, but it was well managed throughout my stay.

Snorkeling is available directly off the beach. I saw mostly snapper, though other guests mentioned spotting lionfish and the occasional turtle.

Service

Service truly stood out in how seamless everything felt. The property seemed very well-staffed and all of my requests were fulfilled quickly, especially by Caribbean standards.

Everyone I interacted with was consistently warm and attentive, with a pace that felt smooth rather than rushed. The experience feel notably polished, especially for a property only eight months old.

I was also struck by how international the team was. I met staff from India, Bhutan, the Philippines, Brazil, and the Bahamas, just to name a few!

Was it worth it?

Absolutely, if quiet is what you’re after. South Caicos is extremely quiet, with no nightlife to speak of, and the resort experience is intentionally self-contained. For me, I found exactly the space I needed to slow down and disconnect.