This island, at the far eastern end of the chain, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its residents are friendly enough to offer you a ride in their golf carts or call a restaurant for you to see if it is open. Salt Cay is full of reminders of the country's whaling and salt-mining days: You can't miss the salt beds, which are now a bird sanctuary. If you're visiting January-April, you can spot the humpback whales that congregate offshore. (The best place to see them is a shallow area called Mouchoir Banks.) You can often swim close enough to touch the whales, though doing so is discouraged.
With or without whales, the snorkeling around Salt Cay is very good, especially at Endymion to see the unsalvaged 17th-century British warship. The best spot for diving is off a 7,000-ft/2,170-m vertical wall less than 5 mi/8 km from shore. Back on land, Balfour Town is the major settlement—it is noted for its Bermuda-style architecture. One interesting example is the White House, built by a family of salt traders and still owned by their descendants. If you obtain special permission, you can see their wonderful collection of antique furniture from Bermuda and Jamaica. If you'd rather just laze on the beach, the best are on the northern shore. 10 mi/16 km southwest of Grand Turk.
