Checking in: A food-focused stay at Salterra Resort & Spa

When you think of the Turks and Caicos Islands, your mind probably goes to the northern islands like Providenciales. But further south, you’ll find the aptly named South Caicos, a far-flung escape, ideal for slowing down and relaxing.  

During my recent visit, I had the pleasure of being hosted at the stunning beachfront hotel, Salterra Resort & Spa. Here, I spent four days with my boyfriend, enjoying their food and wine experience hosted by Chef Adrianne Calvo, a Miami-based chef and restaurateur. During our stay, Chef Adrianne crafted beautiful specialty menus highlighting Caribbean flavors and foods.

Over our time here, we ate fabulous meals, swam in perfectly clear water and relaxed as much as possible. 

About

• Best for: Couples, foodies and families with very young children 

• Location: 1 Fourth St, Cockburn Harbor, South Caicos

• Rooms: 100

• Price rating: Mid-range to high-end (depending on when you book)

• Amenities: Spa, 6 restaurants, a fitness gym with morning yoga and bookable experiences like snorkeling, fishing and paddleboarding

• Check-in/check-out: 3pm/11am

The story

Salterra Resort & Spa is the only hotel on the island, aside from privately booked villas. Salterra, meaning salt of the earth, derives its name from South Caicos's history. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the island produced the most salt in the Turks and Caicos Islands. To this day, you will find free-roaming donkeys, which were initially brought to the island to transport salt. 

Why it’s worth it

The main draw of South Caicos, and Salterra itself, is how removed it is from the rest of the world. Salterra is the perfect place to unplug. Spend your days swimming in the ocean or the pool, enjoying a good book, sipping specialty-made cocktails and hitting the spa. If you are looking for a hotel where everything is at your fingertips, this is the place.

Beyond their amenities, Salterra offers themed weeks and events you can participate in. The food and wine experiences we enjoyed, crafted by Chef Adrianne, added excitement and impressive meals to our stay.

Restaurants

There are six restaurants on the property. Which is fantastic when you plan to never leave the hotel. 

Sisal: Located on the ground floor of the main building, Sisal is great for a quick drink, light bites and a foray into various cuisines. I had one of the best crispy spicy tuna rolls I’ve ever tried here. The tuna was just so fresh and flavorful. We also grabbed a pizza that had dollops of goat cheese and freshly cut prosciutto. 

Regatta: This is where we had breakfast every morning. I loved getting a classic omelet here and their fruit plates. Everything was cooked exceptionally well. They also serve dinner. 

Cobo Bar & Grill: We ate at Cobo several times during our stay. With its Latin-inspired cuisine, we just couldn’t resist coming back. From carne asada tacos and bacon-wrapped jalapeño, to bar classics like a smash burger and chipotle honey-glazed chicken wings. Plus, this is the restaurant you can order from poolside. 

Brine: Brine is the most upscale restaurant on the property, with a seasonal menu that reflects Caribbean cuisine. This is where we had our final dinner with Chef Adrianne. We began with conch fritters with charred pineapple tartar sauce, followed by snapper ceviche served in a beautiful coconut shell. For the second course, we had buffalo mozzarella and caprese relish with grilled focaccia. The star of the meal for me was the ginger miso braised wagyu short ribs with pickled onions, whipped corn and bok choy. And for dessert, a passion fruit panna cotta. Each course was paired with a fabulous wine.

Flamingo Cafe: Serves coffee, smoothies, ice cream and to-go meals. Great when you are looking for a snack rather than a sit-down experience. 

Jack & Jenny’s: A food truck on the grounds with Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. This is great for grabbing a quick, flavorful and healthy lunch. 

The rooms

The rooms at Salterra are both upscale and inviting. With a nod to the salt, sand and sea around them, the rooms are a blend of white, tan and blue. With lovely amenities like a drinking water fountain in your room, a smart TV and a spacious bathroom and bedroom. It is the type of room to relax in. All the rooms have gorgeous ocean views and a spacious balcony overlooking the pools and the ocean. 

Our perfect day

Morning

We started our day at the rooftop restaurant, Regatta, for breakfast, where I enjoyed the American breakfast of scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon and sourdough toast, plus a fruit plate.

Today, we were taking an excursion to a nearby cay for a barbecue with a menu curated by Chef Adrianne. We packed up our stuff and headed down to the restaurant Cobo for a welcome mimosa before boarding the boat for the 10-minute ride to the cay. 

How to spend the day

Upon arrival at the cay, we were met with crystal-clear, calm water, a sandy shore lined with a beautiful table, a DJ and a full bar. After getting off the boat, we were handed an amuse-bouche from Chef Adrianne: a perfectly prepared oyster. Then we dropped off our stuff and headed into the ocean to enjoy the water. We spotted starfish in the water and some iguanas on shore. 

The staff was fantastic, and we had a fabulous time sipping drinks while relaxing in the water before heading back to the beach to enjoy a glorious open-fire conch grill. We began our meal with Cajun mussels with sausage and potatoes, followed by grilled corn and various salads. The star of the evening was the platter of grilled surf and turf. A whole fish with a mango salsa on top, a grilled steak with a beautiful chimichurri, barbecue chicken and perfectly cooked shrimp. For dessert, bread pudding.