Exuma Cays is an archipelago of Bahamas.
Islands
Baraterre
The two Baraterre Cays off the north coast of Great Exuma are now connected to this island by a bridge. It can be reached via a very bad road that turns off the Queen's Highway 3 km south of Rolletown. It leads to Barraterre via Stuart Manor. The only place is on the larger of the two islands, it has the same name as the islands themselves. There is the Fischerman´s Inn at the end of the street.
Boat charter
- Reverend McKenzie. Tel.: 355-5024.
shop
- McKenzie's Grocery Store. Tel.: 355-5024. Food.
- Ray Ann's Variety Store
Restaurants
- Same Ole Place. Tel.: 355-5050.
accommodation
- Baraterre Bonefish Lodge. Tel.: 355-5052, Mobile: 355-5052. 3 rooms.Price: All year round: double room with fishing 3 nights US $ 1,225, 4 nights US $ 1,625, 5 nights US $ 2,025. Prices per person including boat and guide.
Bock Cay
This archipelago consists of Bock Cay with a size of 153 hectares, Prime Cay with 112 hectares, Lignum Vitae Cay, Melvin Cay, Neighbor Cay, Woody Cay, and two small bare rocks. Everything is privately owned by Fry's Electronic's from California, USA.
On the southwest side of Bock Cay is the main house with three floors from 1970, a smaller guest house was built in 1997, the manager has a house and there are also buildings for the technology, telephone and TV.
The owners have invested $ 75 million to develop the island. A resort hotel with marina and golf course as well as a helicopter landing pad are in the construction phase.
Cave Cay
Cave Cay got its name because of the extremely large number of caves there. One of them is so big that you can take a rowboat into it through the 12 meter high entrance. The island has a private airfield for the guests of the marina.
Marina
- Safe Harbor Marina. Tel.: 357-0143. Berths, fuel. This marina is brand new.
Compass Cay
Tucker Rolle has lived there since childhood and is now the owner of the island. His parents and grandparents were fishermen and farmers on the island. The ruins of their houses can be found on the west coast. The island is 190 hectares in size. It is completely independent with its own generator and gas for cooking. There is drinking water, showers and a washing machine. In addition to a marina, there are several cottages and countless hiking trails.
The marina shop sells beer, ice cream, bottles of water and basic groceries. There is no fuel, you have to buy it in Sampson Cay, 8 km away, or in Staniel Cay, 19 km away. During the season, hamburgers and hot dogs are offered at lunchtime.
Marina
- Compass Cay Marina. Tel.: 355-2064. 11 berths, marina store, ice cream, drinks, some groceries.
accommodation
- Compass Cay. Tel.: 355-2137, 1 (727) 215-3435 (USA Tel.). 2 apartments, 1 cottage, 1 villa.Price: Villa for 2 people $ 4,500; for 3 people $ 5,000; for 4 people $ 5,500. 2-person cottage $ 2,900; for 4 people $ 3,300; for 6 people $ 3,700. Apartment for 2 $ 2,400; for 3 people $ 2,600; for 4 people $ 2,800. Prices per week, including boat.
Crab Cay
This cay is east of George Town. There you can visit the ruins of Governor William Walker's cotton plantation. It was built between 1784 and 1788. To the south of the main house are the remains of a botanical garden that the owner had set up with plants from all over the Caribbean. Large parts of the property are still enclosed with high walls. There are stalactite caves almost under the whole island.
In 2004 the government approved a plan to build an eco-resort on the island for a planned $ 243 million. This includes port facilities / marina and residential buildings.
Darby Islands
These islands are privately owned. The archipelago includes five islands, Bette Cay, Big Darby, Goat Cay, Guana Cay and Little Darby.
Big Darby and Little Darby are the two largest islands, they are only separated by a 30 meter wide canal. They are 230 and 105 hectares in size. Sir Baxter had been running a plantation on Big Darby Island since 1938. Long walls, which were built up by hand from natural stone, testify to this time; they divide the island from east to west and from north to south. Darby Castle also dates from this period. The Darby Islands have only been sold as a unit for over 100 years, the current owners are sticking to it. There are 13 beaches on both islands. The USA company Darbyshores Management has the approval to operate a private resort there since 1987.
Little Darby has its own airfield, 5 km of road network, a 26 meter long pier. The main house stands on a 25 meter high hill, under the house there is a water tank of 500,000 liters. In addition to a diesel generator, wind energy and solar power are also used. The islands can be rented for US $ 2,500 per day. Info Tel. (301) 977-6311. * http://darbyislands.com
Elizabeth Island
The island is privately owned. It is around 40,000 hectares and 1.6 km long. The coastline is about 3.2 km. Three owners share the island. There are many small sandy bays with fine, white sand, fresh water from rain catchers and solar power, but no telephone.
Farmer's Cays
The Farmer Cays are located between Great Guana Cay and Great Exuma, 60 km north of George Town. They are privately owned.
Big Farmer's Cay is the more northerly of the two islands with beautiful beaches. It is as good as uninhabited. A coconut plantation was operated on the west side. The hilly island is overgrown with bushes.
Little Farmer's Cay is just a stone's throw from the southwest tip of Great Guana Cay. There is an airfield, marina, clinical emergency care, a post office and telephone.
doctors
- Farmer's Cay Clinic. Tel.: 355-4015.
shop
- Little Harbor Supermarket. Tel.: 355-3018.
Marina
- Farmer's Cay Yacht Club & Marina. Tel.: 355-4017, Fax: 355-4063. VHF channel 16. 15 berths; Bar, showers, ice cream, guest house, mini market, restaurant, electricity, fuel and water.
police
- Farmers Cay Police Station. Tel.: 355-40334.
Restaurants
- Ocean Cabin Restaurant & Bar. Tel.: 355-4006.
accommodation
- Darlene's Rental. Tel.: 355-4021.
- Ocean Cabin. Tel.: 355-4006, Fax: 355-4011.
Fowl Cay
The island's name originated more than 100 years ago when the islanders ran a chicken farm there. In 2007, Butch Stewart from Jamaica (Air Jamaica, Sandals Hotel Group) bought the island from a couple in the USA. Less than a quarter of the island has been developed so far. But there are plans to build 15 villas. * http://fowlcay.com
accommodation
- Royal Plantation Resort. Tel.: 355-2046, Fax: 355-2046. Villas for a maximum of 26 guests, restaurant, bar, lounge, fishing, kayaks, sailing, diving.Price: All year round: US $ 10,150-19,250 per week all inclusive.
Guana Cay
Guana Cay is one of the small islands off the north coast of Great Exuma. There are about 6 buildings and a marina that has just been rebuilt.
Hawksbill Cay
The island is privately owned. On the uninhabited island there are 10 more or less well-preserved ruins of the Russel family from around 1785 to 1830.
Highborne Cay
This island is also privately owned. In contrast to most of the other cays of the Exuma chain, it is slightly hilly and in places even overgrown with thin pine forest. Between 1807 and 1883 attempts were made to resettle freed slaves from illegal slave owners. Today there is a marina and four cottages for rent on the island.
You can recognize it from afar by the 86-meter-high transmitter mast of the Batelco telephone company at the south end.
shop
- Highborne Cay Marina Shop. Tel.: 355-1008, Fax: 355-1003. Beverages, food, VHF channel 16.Open: Daily 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Marina
- Highborne Cay Marina. Tel.: 355-1008, Fax: 355-1003. VHF channel 16, showers, ice, oil for outboard motors, diesel, fuel, water.
accommodation
Leaf Cay
In 2006 the actor Nicholas Cage bought this 182 hectare island for 3 million dollars, now he wants to sell it again for twice the price. There are three beaches, a sheltered deep water access and a small lake. Between Leaf Cay and Norman's Pond Cay you will find an excellently protected anchorage with a water depth of about 6 m.The island is located directly in the south of Bock Cay. All facilities on Great Exuma Island are 15 km away and Rolleville is located.
Little Wax Cay
This island, also known as Pigeon Cay, is also privately owned. It is 52 hectares in size. There is a small marina there.
There are 10 houses for guests, seven of which are fully furnished villas. The restaurant and bar are centrally located, a pavilion has billiards tables, one is used as a wellness center and for yoga. Info Tel. 362-5286. * http://waxcay.com
Musha Cay
This 60 hectare island is described as the most luxurious private island on earth. There are never more than 24 invited guests who are accommodated in several villas. The villas were built in the finest British colonial style and the furnishings are made of hand-carved mahogany. Guests include Claudia Schiffer and David Copperfield as well as Oprah and John Travolta.
accommodation
- Musha Cay guest house. Tel.: (203) 602-0300, Fax: (203) 602-2265. 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, jacuzzi, pool, air conditioning, fireplace, TV, tennis court, beach.Price: $ 32,250 per day.
Norman's Cay
The island is 6½ km long and belongs to the Exuma Cays. She was bought by Carlos Enrique Lehder, a German-Colombian drug baron, in the 1970s. Lehder was arrested in 1983 and has been in prison in Nassau ever since. Until then, the island was a hub for drug transport. Even so, there is still a heavily armed police unit there today. A DC-3 drug courier is still rusting on the beach.
accommodation
- Norman's Cay Beach Club (ex MacDuff's). Tel.: 357-8846.
Over Yonder Cay
This island is currently leased but can be bought for $ 8 million. It is 31 hectares in size. There are 5 beaches, a hurricane-proof deep-water bay, a 66-meter-long concrete pier and a 23-meter-long wooden pier, 2 berths for larger ships, 2 diesel generators, 5 golf carts, 2 Boston Whaler boats and a Massey Ferguson tractor. The main house has 4 bedrooms, next to it there is another house with 2 apartments, solar power and two rain catch basins are also included.
Sampson Cay
Directly north of Staniel Cay is the tiny, but long and narrow Sampson Cay with its harbor and 2 small beaches, which is popular with sailors. In the outer harbor at the northeast tip is a 500 foot dock for ship repairs. The marina was completely renovated in 2002. There are two public telephones on the island.
Golf carts
Visitors have the option of renting electric golf carts. The rental price is $ 25 for half days, $ 50 for full days and $ 300 for a week.
Marina
- Sampson Cay Club & Marina. Tel.: 355-2034. VHF channel 16; 35 berths, 7 'water depth; Bar, cottages, ice cream, groceries, restaurant, fuel, water.
accommodation
- Sampson Cay Club. Tel.: 355-2034, 1 (877) 633-0305 (Reservation Tel.), Fax: 355-2098. 5 villas for 2-6 people, restaurant, bar, internet, mini market, fishing, kayaks, sailing boats.Price: Year Round: Marina Villas, 2 people $ 275 per night; $ 1,800 per week. Schoolhouse Villas 2 people $ 325-450 per night; $ 2,100-3,000 per week. Tower House, 2 people $ 300 per night; $ 1,900 per week. Hilltop Villas, 6 people max $ 750 per night; $ 5,000 per week. Main House, 6 people max. $ 1,500 per night; $ 8,000 per week.
Waderick Wells Cay
There is a jetty on the north coast, where you can rent rooms. On the island is the headquarters of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea National Park.
getting there
By plane
- Cave Cay Airfield, Cave Cay. Tel.: 357-0143. 2,800 x 90 feet runway, private, belongs to the Safe Harbor Marina.
- Darby Island Airstrip. 1,500 x 100 feet runway, private.
- Farmers Cay Airstrip. Tel.: 355-4002. 2,500 x 60 feet runway, private.
- Fowl Cay Airstrip. 1,300 x 40 feet runway, private.
- Hog Cay Airstrip. Tel.: 366-2123. 2,500 x 100 feet runway, private.
- Little Darby Island Airstrip. 2,000 x 50 feet runway, private.
- Norman Cay Airstrip. Tel.: 357-8846. 3,360 x 70 feet runway, private, flight time to Nassau is 20 minutes.
- Rudder Cut Cay Airstrip. Tel.: 366-2639. 2,700 x 100 feet runway, private.
- Sampson Cay Airstrip. 2,400 x 60 feet runway, private.
By boat
- Cave Cay, Safe Harbor Marina. Tel.: 357-0143.
- Compass Cay, Compass Cay Marina. Tel.: 355-2064.
- Little Farmers Cay, Farmer's Cay Yacht Club & Marina. Tel.: 355-4017, Fax: 355-4063. VHF channel 16.
- Guana Cay, off the north coast of Great Exuma. A new marina is being built there.
- Little Wax Cax, Marina. Tel.: 362-5286.
Mail boat
- Mailboat Lady Francis. The Mailboat Lady Francis sails from Nassau via Rum Cay, Exuma Cays, Baratarre, Staniel Cay, Black Point, Little Farmer's Cay and Highbourne Cay to San Salvador, the journey time is about 12 hours, the fare for a single journey is 40 U.S $. Departure from Nassau on Tuesday at 1 p.m., return from San Salvador on Saturday at 9 a.m.
