Resort Check: Sailrock Resort on South Caicos Island

WHERE IS IT? Sailrock opened in 2018 on 700 acres of unspoiled coastal landscape with undisturbed beaches, lagoons and cays on South Caicos, the most remote and least populated of the Turks and Caicos Islands. While the feeling is wonderfully distant from everything – Sailrock is only two hours from Miami “Guests are always surprised to find this type of experience so close to home,” said Managing Director Kashmie Ali. Inter-island flights to and from the resort are included in the rate.  

WHAT’S IT LIKE? Just being there gives you an instant feeling of calm. “Sailrock is often compared to somewhere in the Maldives,” Ali continued. It’s built on a ridge overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the Caicos Bank bay. Guests get the sunsets and sunrises across ocean vistas along seas so undisturbed tiny sea creatures live at the waterline. It’s designed for couples, families and business associates who want a rustic-luxe getaway.

The Great House (lobby, restaurant, bar, shop, Fitness Center, pool and sundeck), suites and villas are built into the natural foliage, linked by pathways and a single road. Arrival brings guests to a private beach to receive a signature Blue Margarita.     

HOW MANY ROOMS? 35 accommodations including ridgetop suites, beachfront window-walled villas and ocean-view Peninsula Villas.

ROOM FACILITIES: “Rustic-luxe” best describes the interior surroundings. All guest rooms offer extremely comfy beds, luxury amenities including Nespresso machines, contemporary tropical-style furnishings, and cathedral ceilings. Room types come in three categories with spaces suitable for from two to ten guests. Set-ups include garden views, wrap-around balconies with tables and chairs, and accommodations with one to five bedrooms loaded with built-ins and special services.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS: Two open-air restaurants and bars offer ridgetop and private beach cocktails and dining. In-Room Dining from the full restaurant menu, prepared and served by the culinary team in your suite or villa can be – and frequently is – arranged. The ridgetop Great House Restaurant & Bar pairs breakfast and dinner with wrap-around views of the Atlantic Ocean and Caicos Bank, serving Caribbean-inspired cuisine with a twist – ranging from locally caught Caicos Bank red snapper to Indian Lamb Chops with curry, aromatic Garam Masala, jasmine rice and yogurt sauce. The adjacent open-air bar pours craft cocktails and extensive wines from California, France, New Zealand, Australia and Chile for pre-dinner comradery and nightcaps. Lunch is served on Sailrock Beach (one of the resort’s countless private beaches) under the awnings of The Cove Restaurant & Beach Bar overlooking Caicos Bank. Its menu features authentic Caribbean favorites like Conch Fritters and Rum Punch cocktails. On Tuesday nights, everyone comes to The Cove for dinner and the “Beach Bonfire & S’mores Experience” under the stars.

LEISURE FACILITIES: The resort offers a hefty menu of fun things to do. Non-motorized toys are free including snorkels, kayaks, SUP boards, Hobie-Cats and bicycles. Excursions include the Secluded Beach Picnic Tour; scuba, Bonefish fishing, deep sea fishing, off-shore boating and snorkeling charters; and ATV, SUP board, kayak, bicycling, birding and the Rugged Nature guided tours. The main infinity-edge pool and sun deck, gym and full-service spa pavilions add to the pleasure. Bicycles, rental cars and courtesy vans let you explore on your own. Guests can explore an abandoned US Coast Guard Station or Jerry Camp, a beautiful lagoon with graceful stingrays, and Cockburn Harbour town that is home to settlements of free-ranging donkeys (their ancestors hauled sea salt) as well as a few folksy shops and eateries. With a population of only 1,000, South Caicos life is simple.

BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES:  While there’s no formal meeting space, gatherings for up to 30 people can be held at The Cove Restaurant & Bar. Also, up to 20 people can occupy a four-bedroom villa as an informal conference space. Sailrock does accommodate buy-outs. The resort holds a maximum of 130 guests. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the resort.

VERDICT: Sailrock Resort is an ideal go-to for hard-charging careerists who want to truly get away from it all and relax or gather in authentic surroundings. Ideal for couples, families and C-suite level gatherings.

CONTACT: 800-929-7197 (reservations), 649-946-3777 (resort), www.sailrockresort.com