Turks & Caicos Traditions: Don’t Miss the Valentine’s Day Cup on Middle Caicos

This Valentine’s Day, consider swapping the chocolates and balloons for sailboats and the sea on Middle Caicos. Because Feb. 15 marks the 19th annual Valentine’s Day Cup on Bambarra Beach, a tradition of model sailboat races unique to the Turks & Caicos. And trust us, this is a cultural celebration you won’t want to miss.

Every year, this beloved event draws hundreds of people to the pristine shores of Middle Caicos for a celebration of local history, culture and craftsmanship. Traditionally, the boats are built by hand, carefully crafted with bark from the local gum-elemi tree. And every year since 2000, competitors have raced them along the calm coast of Bambarra Beach the weekend of Valentine’s Day.

Beyond the sailboat racing, the Valentine’s Day Cup showcases tasty local fare and live music so visitors can soak up the local flavors of the islands. For those who’ve only been to Providenciales, it offers the opportunity to explore some of the country’s outer islands. And there is much to discover on the islands of North and Middle Caicos.

How to Get There

You can catch a 30-minute ferry from Providenciales to North Caicos, which connects with Middle Caicos via a causeway. The islands are sparsely populated compared with Providenciales, with about 2,000 residents compared to Provo’s approximate 24,000.

North and Middle Caicos were made for exploring, from the blue hole Cottage Pond on North Caicos to the vast Conch Bar Caves on Middle Caicos. And in between, there is a delightful combination of white sand beaches and seaside cliffs.

So if you plan on attending the 19th annual Valentine’s Day Cup, take a few extra days and make a weekend out of it to make the most of your exploration on North and Middle.