Sailrock Resort: The Crown Jewel of the Caribbean
I expected Turks and Caicos to be the adventure of a lifetime. I daydreamed about swimming in the crystal blue oceans and watching the clear skies peppered with stars when the Caribbean sun dipped below the horizon.
What I didn’t anticipate was that the journey there would be half the fun.
It took two flights and one rickety propeller plane to land me on South Caicos. The rush, the excitement, the tiny bit of sheer terror. It was like I was on a ride at a theme park, hanging on for dear life, with a huge grin plastered across my face.
When I finally disembarked from the flying death machine onto what could only be described as the smallest airport of all time, I was greeted on the tarmac with a cloud of disinfectant as a live band played a welcome song.
As I stood there, getting misted from my wrists to my fingertips in a bizarre fog, I couldn’t help but reflect on what led me to this point.
Earlier this year, plagued with pandemic cabin fever, I told my sister Reham that I was itching for an off-the-grid adventure. My trip to Costa Rica had just been canceled and I wasn’t ready to give up my dream of white sandy beaches. She told me all about her trip to Turks and Caicos, and bing bang boom. A few emails later, I had landed myself the adventure job of my dreams and the perfect excuse to vacation there - a 1 week gig as Sailrock Resort’s resident on-site photographer.
My husband Neil was more than welcome to volunteer as my assistant, so we packed our bags and jetted off to Turks and Caicos.
And now here I was, whisked away to the resort and delivered straight to their private, white sand beach. I spent my journey to Sailrock Resort in a dreamstate, but as I gazed out over the crystal blue horizon drinking in the tropical views, an employee placed one of these chilled, blue coconut beauties in my hand...
...and THAT’S the moment I knew I had arrived.
Although I had been hired to take photos for Sailrock Resort’s new menu, they were eager to give me creative control. They wanted me to take an intuitive approach and stray from the format of a simple product shoot.
It didn’t take me long to realize that Sailrock Resort, the food, the people, the culture, and the island are all intrinsically connected. You can’t really tell one story without telling the others. And that’s when it all fell into place.
Sailrock Resort does not exist in a bubble, so I knew I needed to capture it in its element, interacting with the world around it.
As I spent my one glorious week at Sailrock Resort, I came to understand that the resort represents so much more than an Island getaway.
It’s a Wellness Oasis for everyone, from celebrities to bloggers. Offering spa services, private lodging, and a locally-sourced menu. I’m convinced that it’s impossible to stay at Sailrock Resort without engaging in self-care. It’s designed to offer you what you need, mind, body, and soul.
It’s a Home Away From Home to its many international employees, who are bonded for life over the hardships of COVID-19. Neil and I became fast friends with the staff. They would laugh when I bossed Neil around, we’d ask them about their families in faraway places. The employees at Sailrock are the salt of the earth and the heart and soul of the resort.
It’s an Adventure Hub with paddle boarding, kayaks, sail boats, and snorkeling right off the beach. The resort provides bikes for easy navigation around the resort and island, tropical hiking trails, and weekly community bonfires on the beach.
It’s a Nature Reserve and a Refuge. I’ll say it plainly: Everyone at Sailrock gives a shit about the planet, and it’s not just performative. The resort sits on a natural reserve, and takes great care to adhere to the strictest standards of preservation. They practice sustainable fishing and don’t allow motorized boats near their coral reefs. I found it so refreshing to learn how much they care for their little island.
It’s a Land Bridge between the Atlantic and the Caribbean - I was shocked to discover that you can explore the island on foot and dip your toes in both bodies of water in a single afternoon.
Sailrock Resort is truly a choose-your-own-adventure paradise.
One of my favorite moments from my week at Sailrock is captured here.
One thing you should know about me is that I could eat lobster every single day of the year, so imagine how thrilled I was to find out I was visiting Sailrock Resort at the beginning of lobster season! After ordering every lobster dish on their menu, I learned the secret to what made their lobster so ridiculously delicious.
Chef Frank selects lobster and other seafood fresh every morning from local fishermen; so every single day, the seafood is fresh from the ocean.
When he told me this, I knew I had to see it for myself.
The morning this image was taken, I woke up at the crack of dawn to meet Chef Frank at the local docks. The brisk morning air, the short exchange of words, the smell of salt and seafood, the simple delight in picking out a handful of perfect sea creatures. It was pure magic.
From their tantalizing, locally sourced caribbean menu to the smiling faces of the fishermen that delivered the catch of the day, the grocery stores filled with local produce, and the awe-inspiring nature that surrounds it all, I took so much joy in capturing the spirit of the Sail Rock through the people and places that make it special.
To all the staff at Sailrock Resort, thank you for making my time in South Caicos truly unforgettable!
If I could do it all again, there are only 3 things I would do differently:
I would lean into “Island Time” - And not stress about timelines and shot lists. It took me a few days to get there, but when you click into the rhythm of the island, everything just flows.
I would teach Neil how to take BTS photos and videos - Bless him, the man did not understand the assignment.
I would stay longer - Take it from this city girl, it’s such a tease to travel to literal PARADISE and come home just one week later. If you’re lucky enough to spend time at Sailrock Resort on South Caicos, postpone your return flight... then push it out again.
Coming away from my magical week, I have a renewed appreciation for untouched nature, a reminder of why I love to travel, a full belly, and a bunch of wonderful photos I can’t wait to finish editing.
I’m already dreaming of a future where I’ll have more opportunities like this to combine my passion for travel and photography.