How fit do you need to be for our Caribbean Escape?

How fit do you need to be for our Caribbean Escape?

Our Caribbean Escape promises daily workouts, watersports, recovery and six active days under the Dominican sun. So if you’ve been eyeing it up but wondering whether your fitness is quite there yet, here’s what you need to know.

You don't need to be the fittest person in the group, but we’d always recommend a good base level of fitness, some consistency with your training and a willingness to get stuck in.

Here’s what the week actually asks of you.

What are the workouts like?

First up: you’ll train every day.

Expect Salt’s usual mix of strength, conditioning and cardio, programmed to challenge you and coached by people who know when there’s a little more left in the tank.

And your training ground? The beach outside your villa!

Monday starts with a morning workout and an ocean dip, before we go again with a high-energy team session later that afternoon. There are sunrise sessions, beach workouts and one final sweat before you fly home.

The workouts are challenging. We’re proud of that. But good coaching means meeting you where you are and scaling things when needed.

Remember: the aim isn't to keep up with the person next to you, it's to challenge yourself.

[SEE THE CARIBBEAN ESCAPE]

What about the watersports?

This is where the Caribbean gets particularly fun.

On Tuesday morning, we'll swap the workout kit for the water and head out surfing, kayaking and paddleboarding, all straight from the beach outside the villa.

Paddling uses your upper body and core in ways you might not be used to. Surfing involves a surprising amount of getting up, falling off and getting back up again.

There’s another team workout that afternoon, with time for a break and a fresh coconut in between.

And Boat Day?

Boat Day starts with a sunrise workout and a big tropical breakfast before we head out on the water.

We'll spend the day exploring the coastline, swimming and snorkelling off untouched beaches, with lunch, drinks and tunes onboard. Depending on the season, you might even spot humpback whales in Samaná Bay.

So while this is an active Escape, not every day is about seeing how much your legs can take.

Some days are about seeing how quickly you can dive bomb into the sea.

[SEE THE CARIBBEAN ESCAPE]

What should I do before I go?

You don't need to completely change the way you train.

If you're already exercising consistently, keep doing what you're doing. A mix of strength and cardio will put you in a good place for the week.

If you've been a little hit and miss lately, focus on building consistency before you arrive.

A good base might look like:

• 2 strength or conditioning sessions a week
• 1 to 2 runs or other cardio sessions
• Plenty of general movement and walking
• Some mobility or yoga alongside your training

You don't need to start training twice a day because Salt does.

In fact, please don't!

The goal is simply to arrive feeling fit enough that several active days in a row feel exciting rather than intimidating.

What if everyone else is fitter than me?

You don’t need to match anyone else’s pace or weights. Our coaches can adapt movements so you’re challenged at your level and still part of the session.

Every Salt Escape brings together different people with different strengths. There'll be someone who loves running. Someone who's happiest lifting. Someone who can paddleboard without immediately falling in (show-off).

What matters is that you arrive with a decent fitness base and are ready to have a go.

Our coaches can scale movements where needed, while still making sure you get a workout that challenges you.

[SEE THE CARIBBEAN ESCAPE]

Is there enough recovery?

Absolutely. Daily recovery and mobility are built into the Escape, with yoga and stretching alongside ice baths and optional beachfront massages later in the week.

Then there’s the less official recovery programme: ocean dips after workouts, fresh coconuts, afternoons by the pool and a heated jacuzzi overlooking the sea.

You'll work hard while you're here.

You just won't be expected to work hard all the time.

So, am I fit enough for the Caribbean?

If you already exercise regularly and feel comfortable taking on challenging workouts and several active days in a row, you're starting from a good place.

If training hasn't featured much in your life lately, give yourself some time to build that base before you come.

We're not expecting PBs or perfect burpees, but we want you to finish a beach workout and still fancy getting on a surfboard. To wake up after Boat Day ready to train again and to throw yourself into everything we've got planned rather than worrying about keeping up.

Between sessions? There’s always time for an ocean dip or a stretch by the pool.

[SEE THE CARIBBEAN ESCAPE]