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| Caribbean Property Magazine Home / February 2009 / 'The Out Islands : Floating Links in The Chain ' | SEND THIS PAGE TO A FRIEND  |
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| THE OUT ISLANDS : FLOATING LINKS IN A CHAIN by Anjali Wilde A Bahamas vacation has always sounded like paradise on earth, but did you know that when you travel to the Bahamas you aren’t just going to one island, but many. Travelling from one end of the Bahamas to the other, not only are there the well known islands like Grand Bahama, The Abacos, Eleuthera, and Exuma, but the Bahamas is in fact a country of 700 islands, of which 23 are inhabited but there are many, many unpopulated islets and cays – in fact, there are about 2000 secluded, small cays. Some of the islands are so small they disappear when the tide comes in. But others are not only habitable; they have been developed in recent years to attract tourists. Development of the Out Islands is slowly but surely changing this picture. For growing numbers of tourists who wish to savor the Bahamian island experience with a minimum of glitz and a maximum of comfort, adventure and history, The Bahamas Out Islands, also known as the Family Islands, have become the destinations of choice. The Out Islands are the Real Bahamas An Out Islands vacation is the real Bahamas experience, full of natural wonders, wildlife, seemingly endless beaches, and a variety of uniquely Bahamian resorts and boutique hotels. The Bahamas Out Islands aren't a vacation destination for everyone. The Out Islands are in The Bahamas, but there are no cruise ships here, no high-rise hotels, and no crowds. That’s right: It’s different out here. The Out Islands appeal to travelers who are true connoisseurs of Caribbean island life, to those who want their tropical vacations to be unique and at their own pace. One visits the Out Islands of The Bahamas to experience authentic off-the-beaten-path destinations and activities. Out Island hoteliers understand this, and specialize in putting together packages that ensure you’ll see and experience the best of these Bahamian secluded islands. On all counts, each one of the Bahamas Out Islands ranks among the best of all the Caribbean destinations. In fact, the Bahamas was named the top honeymoon spot in the world by internationally-renowned travel site "Expedia.com.” Add to that the uniqueness of Bahamian culture, history and the welcoming laid-back friendliness of the people, and you’ve found the tropical island vacation you’ve been dreaming about. More so than any other Caribbean islands, the Bahamas Out Islands are absolute beach-lovers and water-lovers paradises, offering an unparalleled collection of the region’s best beaches, best snorkeling and diving, and best fishing, kayaking, boating and sailing, bird-watching and eco-travel. They also offer a unique culture born of seafaring European adventurers and African heritage and traditions that combine to create the distinctly colorful and decidedly welcoming Bahamian way of life. The Bahamians also call the Out Islands the “Family Islands.” Though many Bahamians may move to the bustling “big city” islands of New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) to work at the glitzy casinos and high-rise hotels, they maintain family connections in the Out Islands and travel back as often as possible. It says a lot that these locals transplants head to the laid-back and friendly Out Islands to get away from the crowded high traffic cruise ship islands from where they live and work. Here is some information on some of the main Out Islands. THE EXUMAS The Exumas are a 120-mile-long island chain-within-the-chain of the Out Islands, with the Exuma Cays scattered in a long line extending north toward New Providence from Great Exuma. The Cays are the most exotic of the Out Islands, a collection of tiny jewels set in the aquamarine and sapphire of the most beautiful water you’ve ever imagined.  Flying down the Exuma Cays, looking down on the tiny jewel-like islands and every shade of blue on blue on blue possible where the crystal-clear tropical Atlantic pours over the deep cuts between the cays and the constantly shifting sandbars that look like meditative sand paintings has been named one of the top ten things you absolutely must do in the Caribbean. The area is so precious -- it’s reefs and island environments so pristine -- that the Bahamian government set aside a 176-square-mile section as the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, one of the world’s most successful marine parks. Many of the Exuma Cays are private, some operated as luxuriously exclusive private-island resorts and others the ultra-exclusive homes of such stars as Johnny Depp and country singers Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. The hub of the Exuma Cays is Staniel Cay, where boaters gather at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club’s bar and restaurant, and where a landing strip serves as the gateway to the northern stretch of Cays. Within sight of the Club is the famous Thunderball Cave – seen in the James Bond film of the same name as well as the movie Splash – where you can put on a mask and snorkel and duck inside a small hollow cay that’s filled with friendly fish accustomed to being hand fed. The anchor of the Exumas archipelago is Great Exuma, Bahamas. Here, you’ll find the laid back capital Georgetown and a great selection of casual Bahamian restaurants like Iva Bowes’, Big D’s Conch Shack, Eddie’s Edgewater and Peace & Plenty. Hotels here range from the only five-star resort in the Bahamas (the Four Seasons Emerald Bay complete with a Greg Norman-designed golf course) to condo-resorts to locally-owned fishing lodges. A short boat ride from Great Exuma is a barrier cay that protects the main island from the Atlantic. Stocking Island features spectacular views from atop its high bluff and a series of idyllic beaches separated by limestone promontories. On the lee side, the Chat & Chill is a classic beach bar with great food that seems to attract every boater in the area. With beautiful blue water, water everywhere, the Exumas are a dream destination for boaters, fishermen (flats, reef and offshore), divers, snorkelers and kayakers. The private islands are custom-designed for those seeking the ultimate escape, and the new levels of luxury available in both the Cays and Great Exuma are a definite draw for lucky couples looking for the perfect spot for an island wedding or honeymoon. THE ABACOS The Abacos Islands of The Bahamas are one of the worlds top boating and sailing destinations. With its own calm sea surrounded by charming islands, each worth a visit, the Abaco Islands are known as one of the worlds top boating and sailing destinations. Not that those who prefer to sleep in a bed that doesn’t rock should look elsewhere: With quaint colonial towns, two golf courses, miles and miles of Stellar Beach, great fishing and diving, and a wonderful selection of hotels and resorts and restaurants and bars, the Abacos are the most complete vacation destination in The Bahamas Out Islands.  This island features lot of wildlife sanctuaries and parks and diving spots with an abundance of colorful corals and fishes. Green turtles, porpoises, seahorses and moray eels can also be found in the Abacos islands. Because this area has a lot of shallow reefs, divers can go snorkeling while they are decompressing. The Abacos consists of its own 120-mile-long island chain, basically a mini-Bahamas complete with its own Out Islands. Great Abaco Island and Little Abaco serve as the “mainland,” with a string of barrier islands separating them from the Atlantic. The body of water between – a turquoise Nirvana for those boaters and sailors – is the calm, shallow Sea of Abaco. Marsh Harbour Great Abaco Island is home to Marsh Harbour, the “bright lights and big city” of the Out Islands. And to put that into perspective, Marsh Harbour has exactly one traffic light (the only operative one in all The Bahamas Out Islands!). Along with having a great selection of hotels, restaurants and bars, Marsh Harbour is charter boat central, with several full-service marinas where you can dock your own boat or find a rental – both live aboard sailboats and powerboats are available. Treasure Cay North of Marsh Harbour is Treasure Cay, a hotel, golf, marina and real estate development wrapped around a beach with the whitest, softest sand you’ve ever seen. To the south lies Little Harbour, a picturesque protected bay where you’ll find a small artist colony based around the Johnston family and Pete Johnston’s Pete’s Pub. Setting out across the Sea of Abaco from Great Abaco Island, and you can steer toward any one of a number of islands -- each a vacation destination in its own right. This is an island hopper's paradise. The Cays of Abaco The Abacos Bahamas were settled by English colonists who remained loyal to the crown after the American Revolutionary War, which is why the settlements like Hope Town on Elbow Cay and New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay have the look of New England fishing towns complete with picket fences and gingerbread trim – of course with the distinctive Bahamian touch of pastel colors. Hope Town Hope Town is home to the famous candy striped lighthouse, a favorite photo subject now, but quite controversial when it was under construction back in 1863 because up until then, the islands residents had been making a comfortable living by salvaging ships that wrecked on the offshore reefs. The diving and snorkeling is excellent all through Abaco Bahamas, with several protected underwater areas such as Fowl Cay National Reserve and Pelican Cays National Park, massive reefs with swim-through caves that are seasonally filled wall to wall with silver baitfish, and even dive spots at the edge of the reef where you’re almost guaranteed to see Caribbean reef sharks. Fishing is huge in the Abaco Islands, from the excellent bone fishing in Cherokee Sound and out in the “marls,” to the blue water big game species like marlin and tuna that prowl the Atlantic side within easy sight of the outer islands. ON BIMINI ISLAND, YOU’LL FIND MORE FISHING, DIVING, SAILING AND MORE TO DO PER SQUARE MILE THAN ANYWHERE IN THE BAHAMAS OUT ISLANDS BIMINI On Bimini Island, you'll find more fishing, diving, sailing and more to do per square mile than anywhere in The Bahamas Out Islands. Bimini Island is the true Island in the Stream, perched at the edge of a sheer underwater cliff that falls thousands of feet into the blue abyss. The Gulf Stream rushes north, washing past Bimini Island, feeding and warming its coral reefs and serving as a watery highway for everything from marlin to mantas, dolphin to sea turtles. Its unique location coupled with a roguish history makes Bimini the Out Islands’ favorite diving and fishing frontier outpost.  Laid-back Bimini’s way of life is swimming off the beach, snorkeling, trolling for monster game fish and yes, tossing back more than a few rums with the locals. There is also the extraordinary chance to interact with wild Atlantic spotted dolphins that gather north of the island, casting flies for bonefish on the flats of The Bahamas Bank, kayaking to the legendary “Fountain of Youth” (a natural spring amid the mangrove mud that pumps lithium and sulfur) and scuba diving on wrecks, reefs, “off the wall” or atop the mysterious Bimini Road that some believe is remnants of a man-made causeway perhaps built by Atlantis’ own civil engineers. Bimini Island – which is actually two small islands, North Bimini Island and South Bimini Island, connected by a shallow flat – has a fascinating history. As the closest Bahamian island to the U.S., Bimini served as a convenient offshore speakeasy and liquor store during prohibition. Rum runners stored their hooch both ashore and on a concrete Liberty ship called the Sapona that still rests where it grounded during a hurricane – it’s one of the Caribbean’s very best shallow-water wreck sites for snorkelers and divers. Beyond the fishing, diving and kayaking, Bimini Island offers both the quiet escape of empty beaches along and the boisterous camaraderie of sportsmen gathering at the marinas after a successful day on the water in the hot sun. Menus at the local restaurants like the Red Lion Pub and The Anchorage are, naturally, heavy on fresh seafood and Bahamian favorites like cracked conch to keep you fueled up for further Bimini adventures. ELEUTHERA ISLAND Natural, untamed and still undeveloped. Eleuthera Island is a Caribbean vacation playground. From the pink sand beaches of North Eleuthera to the renaissance of the Cape in South Eleuthera, and points between, you could spend weeks on this slinky island and still not see all of the natural beauty there is to explore. This pencil-thin island – it’s only two miles wide – has miles of pink and white sand beaches and turquoise crystal-clear water. To be clear, this is not all sand and water. Eleuthera Island is known for the high cliffs that fringe the eastern side of this Bahamas island, where the Atlantic Ocean crashes onto the rock. Of course, this is as much noise as you’ll hear on this quiet, friendly island of Eleuthera, where fishing, diving, snorkeling and taking it easy are the favorite pastimes of locals and visitors. Eleuthera is Greek for “freedom,” a fitting name for a Caribbean island that’s free from crowds or cruise ships or casinos. Eleuthera moves at a slower pace than most people are accustomed to. Leave your watch at home and stow your cell phone and blackberry away. Fortunately for you most won’t work here, anyway. The island is divided between North Eleuthera and South Eleuthera. One of the most popular spots is Harbour Island, famous for its pink and white sand beaches. Harbour Island often is called the Nantucket of the Caribbean. In addition to the beach, there are historical landmarks and a history lesson at every turn – all within a tropical paradise, of course. Eleuthera Island is 110 miles long and is dotted with quaint, friendly fishing and colonial villages, such as Tarpum Bay, Bannerman Town, and Hatchet Bay. This Caribbean island also is home of the first republic in the “New World.” There are more natural wrecks here than any other island in the Bahamas, especially along The Devil's Backbone, a shallow and jagged reef extending across the northern edge of Eleuthera. It has torn the bottom out of more vessels than any other reef in the nation. This Bahamas island also is known for pineapple plantations. Locals serve up plenty of pineapple tarts, and the annual pineapple festival celebrates the pineapple heritage of the Bahamas. It’s the resorts, though that give Eleuthera Island its reputation for being among the friendliest places in the world. The secluded villas, upscale resorts, and quaint inns keep visitors coming back year after year, including members of the British royal family. HARBOUR ISLAND World famous Harbour Island is the ideal vacation destination for pink sand beaches, diving and unique, luxurious resorts.Known simply as Briland to its residents, Harbour Island, Bahamas, is often is called the Nantucket of the Caribbean. The colorfully painted New England-style architecture on the island beautifully compliments the lush palms trees, flower-lined streets and pink sand beaches. This tiny world famous (and world class) island is a vacation magnet for the rich and famous, savvy travelers and beach vacation seekers alike. Approximately 3.5 miles long and only 1.5 miles wide, Harbour Island is located just off the tip of Eleuthera, separated by a narrow channel. Regular ferry service shuttles resort and hotels guests as well as daily visitors from North Eleuthera for a day of exploring and shopping the picturesque village of Dunmore Town. One of the oldest settlements in The Bahamas, Dunmore Town dates back to the 18th century. It was formerly the capital of The Bahamas and second only to Nassau in importance. Dunmore Town was once the summer home of the Royal Governor, Earl of Dunmore — hence the name. Harbor Island, Bahamas, is famous for its three-mile-long pink beach that runs the entire length of the island on its eastern side. The beach is protected by an outlying coral reef that makes the turquoise clear water one of the safest and most alluring swimming and snorkeling spots in The Bahamas. Adventure vacationers can also seek out these waters for great diving opportunities. Current Cut, for example, offers one of the most thrilling high-current dives in the Caribbean. HARBOUR ISLAND WAS RANKED “THE BEST ISLAND IN THE CARIBBEAN” BY TRAVEL LEISURE MAGAZINE AND ITS READERS | ||||
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Harbour Island, Bahamas, was ranked “The Best Island in the Caribbean” by Travel Leisure magazine and readers of the elite travel magazine rated this tiny gem of The Bahamas Out Islands number one among the islands of the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda. CAT ISLAND Untainted by tourism, there is much to be discovered on Cat Island in The Bahamas Out Islands. About 130 miles southeast of Nassau and Paradise Island near the Tropic of Cancer lies Cat Island. Explore uninhabited cays and hidden coves, attend a regatta, go on a shark dive, or hike a nature trail. Cat Island provides a year-round tropical beach vacation adventure. Divers like the coral reefs and blue holes, walls, caves and shipwrecks. Shark dives, dolphins, and stingrays are all part of the experience. While veteran divers know their way around the ocean floor, guides always are around to help beginners experience life under the sea. Cat Island, Bahamas, is a fishhook-shaped island only 48 miles long and four miles across at the widest part. Yet, it offers plenty to do and see. Cotton plantation ruins are scattered around the island. The remains of slave huts dating back to the 1700s and Arawak Indian caves can be explored. Cat Island also prides itself on producing The Bahamas’ finest rake ’n scrape music and holds an annual festival dedicated to it. Mount Alvernia is the highest elevation in the country at 206 feet above sea level. The hill served as the hermitage of Father Jerome Hawes, who settled on The Bahamas island in 1939, where he built a miniature monastery and hand-carved steps out of solid rock. Named after the pirate Arthur Catt, much of the island has not been developed, which provides a unique vacation for those who want to get away in a private, relaxing, laid-back environment. Of course, the pink beaches are popular, but so are the world-class diving adventures, snorkeling, and fishing. With 50 miles of rolling hills and miles of nature trails, you truly can experience a Bahamas island in its native setting. This is not fabricated. This is The Bahamas. And at Cat Island, even the winters are a blazing 60 degrees, while in the summertime temperatures linger around the mid-80s with a gentle breeze from the ocean. Stay in a remote and rustic village setting and relax under thatched-roof tiki bars, make your vacation home a cottage right on the pink sand beach or select a fishing marina that caters to anglers on a quest for a big-game catch. Whatever you choose, there’s something to do and see on Cat Island, Bahamas. Of course, you may choose to do absolutely nothing at all. ANDROS ISLAND All of The Bahamas Out Islands boast abundant natural attractions, but Andros Island – the largest yet most sparsely developed of all The Bahamas – is the king when it comes to superlative natural experiences. It’s a great place for a laid-back beach getaway, wedding or honeymoon, but for eco travelers, kayakers, bird watchers, hikers, snorkelers, divers and fishermen the big island of The Bahamas is the ideal vacation destination. ANDROS ISLAND IS THE BAHAMAS’ NATURAL WONDER Andros Island is the Bahamas’ natural wonder. The earth’s third-largest barrier reef (after Australia’s Great Barrier and Central America’s Belize Barrier Reef) lies adjacent to its shores. A mile-deep abyss -- walled with coral and filled with whales, dolphin, marlin and all the wondrous reef animals – that’s called the Tongue of the Ocean, licks along Andros’ east coast. Underwater caves riddle the island, surfacing as mesmerizing blue holes that local legends say serve as lairs for the Lucsa, a sea monster that sucks the unwary down into the bottomless blue. Mangrove-lined wetlands cover huge swaths of Andros Bahamas, intercut with endless mazes of channels that open onto bonefish flats and hidden beaches.  Birds find Andros Island an ideal stopover on their yearly migrations, when they join such local exotics as ibis, spoonbills, flamingos, hummingbirds, woodstars and the rare Bahama parrot. Bird watchers who flock to the island find their quarry wading along the shore, roosting in the mangroves (where a silent, peaceful approach by kayak ensures close sightings) and hiding amid the coppice. Fly fishermen set off in small boats with experienced local guides who somehow know their way through the criss-crossed confusion of cuts and channels that split Andros Island into three sections, and find the flats filled with silvery bonefish. For ocean big game fishermen, the Tongue beckons, with big snapper along the deep reef and pelagics like mahi-mahi, tuna, wahoo and marlin out in the blue just a bit further out. Hikers can get a combination natural history tour and cultural lesson by participating in a walk “backabush,” where inland blue holes appear amid the ancient forest and where a local guide will explain all the medicinal uses of the plants – knowledge that’s been handed down for generations. When Andros Island Bahamas visitors take a break from adventuring, there’s plenty of other things to do on the island, whether it’s picnicking at Morgan’s Bluff, Love Hill beach or Somerset beach, doing a rum shop crawl, or shopping for locally produced Androsian fabrics in Fresh Creek or baskets and wood carvings in Red Bay. LONG ISLAND Discover history, walk pink and white sand beaches and dive the blue holes of Long Island, in the Bahamas Out Islands. Home to one of the oldest dive operations in the Bahamas, Long island has numerous shallow and deep dive sites, but is best known for Dean’s Blue Hole, the deepest recorded blue hole in the Bahamas (more than 600 feet). The western shoreline of the 80-mile long island has soft sandy beaches capped with rich green mangroves. With the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Long Island is a haven for fishing, sailing, and yachting in The Bahamas Out Islands.  Cape Santa Maria Beach has been recognized by beach lovers and travel writers alike as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Long Island, Bahamas, is also home to Columbus Point. This towering memorial to Christopher Columbus is perched high on a hill at the island’s northern most tip where visitors can experience outstanding oceanic views. You’ll find sloping hills in the northeast, while low hillsides make up the southern portion of the island. It’s the drastically contrasting landscape that makes so many people say that Long Island is one of the most picturesque islands in the Bahamas. The island beckons visitors for world-class bone fishing and thrilling encounters with sea life, where divers and snorkelers explore gardens, caves, and old plantation ruins. But Long Island, Bahamas, also is a quiet island dotted with quaint, friendly villages and miles of uninterrupted beaches that offer soft pink sand changing to yellow-white. And along the way, sea shells and plenty of them The great thing about the Out Islands is the ability to hop from one to the other by sea or air to get the most out of your vacation. In the Out Islands you’ll find the amazing sight of the white sand, green islands, coral keys, turquoise sea, and lovely little villages - all totally unforgettable for their sheer spellbinding beauty…a paradise on earth. AUTHOR : Anjali Wilde was born in Africa, schooled in Europe and America, and spent her young adult years in the Caribbean. Married, she now divides her time between Mexico and Europe with her husband, Pier Paolo, a photographer and artist. Anjali, a working artist and poet, has recently taken up freelance writing. Her articles cover a broad range of subject matter including travel, art, tourism, history and culture. | ||||
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The Dazzling Bahamas
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