Turks + Caicos: One for the Books

Some retreats are larger, some are smaller, but no matter the size, we always bring an adventure-packed weekend to create lasting memories. Our most recent retreat to Turks and Caicos was no exception. The four of us separately made our way to Providenciales on Thursday, August 8th, and by early afternoon, we had all gathered at our home base: H2O Life Style Resort.

We took the afternoon to explore our surroundings and the beautiful amenities that H2O had to offer. Crystal clear waters, two pools, beachside bars made up our home for the weekend. The timing of high tide during our stay was between 10am and 3pm, the shallow waters made it tough to foil otherwise so our other adventures were planned for the afternoons.

Since it was a Thursday night, we headed to the Fish Fry. Local culinary delights, live music, artisans allowed us taste local cracked conch, lobster tails, and jerk chicken while finding a little something to take home to remember the day with.

Friday morning H2O serves an exquisite continental breakfast filled with fresh juices and coffee, fruits, croissants, made to order waffles and omelets. It was the perfect way to fuel up for the day. At 10am we hit the water with the wind gracing us with 15-18mph. All four of us live in Florida so for us that is a great time even though the locals call it light. We rigged up our 4s and 5s and enjoyed hours of wingfoiling stunning turquoise waters. Gliding above the water felt as if we were in an endless pool. When the afternoon hours hit our hearts were full and our bodies were tired.

A taco lunch was the perfect midday refuel before our plans took a slight detour. Instead of snorkeling, we opted for a jet-ski adventure. We took two of H2O’s finest and headed out to explore a shipwreck just four miles offshore. Despite some ominous weather in the distance, we managed to avoid it entirely. We couldn’t help but laugh as we raced across the water, stopping to marvel at the shipwreck, explore rocky outcrops, and circle a tiny island. It may have been the most touristy thing we did, but it was also incredibly fun. The rest of the afternoon was spent lounging by the pools, soaking in the beauty of the island.

For our Friday night outing we had reservations at Almond Tree Restaurant only a 10 minute beach walk from H2O. After a few wrong turns near the restaurant we indulged in a fantastic meal with something to offer for everyone. Guided by the sound of waves and the light of the stars, we walked back home, laughing and recounting the day’s adventures.

Saturday morning greeted us with even stronger winds, gusting up to 24 mph. Determined to make the most of every moment, we hit the water as soon as the tide was high enough. If coming to H2O we do suggest a smaller mast, the gals with the 70cm or less masts had easier and quicker liftoff. Saturday was an action packed day so in the early afternoon we headed over to another part of the island to visit Big Blue Collective for our paddle adventure. A two-hour guided tour through Mangrove Cay filled with turtles, bonefish, and baby sharks. Our guide was amazing filled with history and stories of the area. Naturally since we were heading for a paddle there was a strong headwind but that didn't deter us from exploring each corner of the mangroves.

Heading back to home base we only had an hour before we had to leave again. As true women of wing we decided that a wing session could be fit in there. Quick 6 minute sessions just to get some more footage and a bit more of water time sharing the same setup. Trust us, it was worth every minute. Did we end up running down the beach to the sunset sail so it doesn't leave us behind? Of course but we got on that Ocean Vibes catamaran and had the time of our lives for the next three hours. The sail took us down the coast of Grace Bay to Half Moon Bay with unlimited drinks and tunes. It was the best and most relaxing way we could possibly conclude our last night in Turks and Caicos.

On Sunday morning we all decided to watch the sunrise to soak up that last hours we had on our retreat. We snuck in one more session before we had to take off in true WoW fashion. We headed back to the United States with a hearts full and so many memories made. <3