Great Guana Cay
..... packages endless fun for visitors and residents alike. by Kristen Pearce
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Scuba can create a more memorable experience for you with their experienced PADI certified guides on half and full-day dive or snorkel trips to wrecks and live reefs teeming with brilliantly coloured coral and fish. Private charters and boat rentals are also available through this company On land, there are more restaurants to dine at. Besides Nipper’s, there is Grabbers Bed, Bar & Grill, which offers a relaxed atmosphere for eating, but also a quick dip in the water, live music shows and lodging. Speaking of lodging, Guana Cay has two luxury resorts reserved for those who enjoy the finer things in life and can afford them. They are Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club, which is a private resort community featuring exquisite homes and island cottages, Tom Fazio-designed oceanfront golf course; shops and boutiques; a private family beach club; and a world-class spa and fitness facility. Orchid Bay Yacht Club and Marina is a gated community also located on Great Guana Cay. Many of its hotel rooms offer unobstructed views of the Sea of Abaco. Moreover, the Orchid Bay Community is equipped with marina facilities designed to accommodate boats with beams up to 21 feet and drafts up to nine feet in any of its 66 slips. On-site accommodations are inclusive of a restaurant, swimming pool, tennis courts, grocery store, laundry and shower facilities, and access to a stunning, private beach. Who would think that such a sparsely populated cay with just over 100 residents had so much to offer? Well, think again. If you haven’t already, take the next ferry over to Great Guana Cay where there’s so much to do, and so many things just waiting for you to explore.
ig things come in small packages. Perhaps, this is what draws so many people to Great Guana Cay. When Loyalists, pirates and adventurers of every sort flocked to its lazy harbor dotted by palm trees back in the day, the scene was not much different from what is seen today when entering this tiny cay. Don’t be fooled by its inconspicuous nature. Lodged in between Green Turtle Cay and Man-O-War Cay, the seven-milelong Guana Cay is home to miles of picturesque beaches of powdery white and pink sand accentuated with varying hues of crystal clear water. Many believe that the largest and most beautiful beach on Guana Cay, however, is located on the Atlantic side of the island – its main access point located by the world-famous home of Nipper’s Beach Bar and Grill. Visitors and residents travel to Nipper’s on Sundays for day trips to wine, dine and enjoy beach activities. Although Nipper’s is a short walking distance from town, golf carts transport passengers with all of their paraphernalia up several feet of steep, rutted dunes to get to this main center of attraction. Of course, the pig roast, which features a buffet of barbecued pork and tasty Bahamian side dishes is a must with any of Nipper’s drink specialties coupled with the breathtaking view of the ocean’s interchanging shades of mesmerizing turquoise waters while they dine. Guana Cay is the location of the famous Kidd’s Cove (named after the pirate), and the Great Abaco Barrier Reef that is vividly decorated with elkhorn and staghorn coral reefs. The cay also contains an abundance of virgin forest where migrating birds and Abaco endemic species can be found. The Sea of Abaco has a large resident population of bottlenose dolphins as well as loggerhead sea turtles, green sea turtles and hawksbill sea turtles that nest on the island’s beaches. Explore the island, go shopping or take to the sea by going kayaking, fishing, sailing, snorkeling or scuba diving, surfing, island hopping to nearby cays. Additionally, Dive Guana and Abaco
Destination Abaco
Guana Cay
Abaco Sea Fan........................603-664-2608 Ocean Frontier Hideaway..........................1-888-541-1616 Fish Tales ........................................375-9383 Flip Flops......................................... 365-5215 Frangipani Cottage................772-336-7023 Guana Grabbers..............................365-5133
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Green Turtle Cay J
A Historical Gem
by Kristen Pearce
ust a short ferry ride from the main- boat. The Other Shore Club provides a land rests Green Turtle Cay, one of marina and hotel and is the home of Pineapples Bar and Grill. The Green Turtle the earliest settlements in Abaco. With pirate, African, and Loyalist Club and Marina is a four star club offerroots, and with ties to its sister city Key ing boat and cart rentals, two restaurants, West, Green Turtle Cay was once consid- a souvenir shop, and fishing charters. The ered the largest city in Abaco. The popu- Bluff House Beach Hotel and Yacht Club lation has dwindled over the years, and there are currently around 500 residents. However, the locals are extremely active in keeping their heritage and history alive. Each year, the cay hosts many celebrations, including the Island Roots Heritage Festival in May, Regatta Time in Abaco in July, Guy Fawkes celebrations in November, many Christmas celebrations throughout November and December, the New Years Celebrations in January, and many more. Unspoiled • UnhUrried • Undiscovered You can’t help but notice the history all around the island. Along •Boutique Island Resort with the many original houses, •Historical Tipsy Turtle “Dollar” Bar there is still the original jail, cem•Dining, Shopping & Adventure Excursions etery, and library. You can also find •Feed Swimming Pigs, Stingrays & Sharks the Loyalist Memorial Sculpture garden and the Albert Lowe Mu•Luxury Villas, Waterfront or Poolside seum, which display some of the •Golf Cart Rentals on Site history of the settlement. With three grocery stores, greenturtleclub.com two hardware stores, and a liquor 242 | 365 | 4271 store, the island is equipped with 800 | 370 | 4468 almost all the necessities for island life. There are several marinas and Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas clubs on the island that provide accommodations, rentals and restaurants. The Black Sound Marina offers services for those visiting by
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Destination Abaco