Accessible only by boat or ferry, Green Turtle Cay is a gorgeous cay off the coast of Great Abaco Island in the Outer Bahamas. Surrounded by bright blue water and lush reefs, Green Turtle Cay is a true oasis within the tropical paradise of the Bahamas.
About Green Turtle Cay
After the American Revolutionary War, many British loyalists immigrated to Green Turtle Cay and set up churches, built homes, and began farming around the Abaco Islands. After the slave trade was abolished by the British in 1807, the Bahamas soon followed in 1834.
After the abolition of slavery, the Bahamas became a haven for freed African slaves. Today, many of the residents of the New Plymouth village can trace their ancestry back to the Loyalists who immigrated to the island after the American Revolutionary War.
Throughout Green Turtle Cay, historic clapboard houses fenced in by white pickets can be seen. Remnants of New England architecture and post-Revolutionary War history dot the island, making Green Turtle Cay a popular choice for history buffs to visit.
18th Century History on Green Turtle Cay
New Plymouth, Green Turtle Cay’s largest village, is a quiet, 18th-century oceanside village. Offering numerous galleries, restaurants, shops, and museums, New Plymouth invites guests to learn about how the island was founded. In the heart of New Plymouth lies a Loyalist Memorial Statue Garden, which pays tribute to the island’s founders.
For more history about Green Turtle Cay, head to the Albert Lowe Museum. This historic building displays fascinating artifacts, photos, ship models, and exhibits that tell the exciting story of the Loyalists and their emigration to Green Turtle Island.
Watersports Near Green Turtle Cay
Named after the green turtles that inhabit the island, Green Turtle Cay is flush with a rainbow array of fish and marine wildlife. Blue marlin, sea turtles, rays, coral, tuna, mahi mahi, bonefish and more are all plentiful in the waters around Green Turtle Cay. Its plentiful game fish make Green Turtle Cay a popular destination for fisherman.
Perhaps the most popular water sports to enjoy near Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas are snorkeling and diving. Although you’re likely to encounter a reef beyond any beach on Green Turtle Cay, the island’s Eastern shore is the best place to go. Largely unexplored, the reef on Green Turtle Cay’s eastern shore is one of the healthiest reefs in the world – a very rare treat for avid snorkelers and divers!
Green Turtle Cay Beaches
No trip to Green Turtle Cay would be complete without visiting each of its serene beaches. Many are accessible by a short walk and almost all of them are perfect for wading and swimming. On windy days, head to Coco Bay Beach or Bita Bay Beach, which are protected. For a luxurious beach experience, take refuge from the tropical sun under one of White Sound Beach’s thatched umbrellas.
No matter which beaches you choose to visit on Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas, you can expect to find soft white sand that stretches on for miles. Clear blue water crashes onto the shore of Green Turtle Cay, creating an island melody to soothe your senses. Where the crystal clear water and the blue sky meet, watch the sky during sunrise and sunset for a show of spectacular tropical colors.
Staying with Island Real Estate
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