Couples looking to truly get away from it all and enjoy one-on-one time with no distractions will find that Great Harbour Cay has a certain romantic vibe about it. Great Harbour Cay, located just north of Nassau in The Berry Islands, has seen an influx in recent years of honeymooners and those looking for an easy escape with an Out Island feel.  Endless stretches of pristine beaches are beckoning you to walk hand-in-hand. Prepare a basket with champagne and delicatessens to watch the sunset, or charter a boat and head out to an uninhabited island and spend your days basking in the rejuvenating Bahamian sunshine in complete isolation. Even those looking for a renewal of their partnership will find this island can give you the reconnection you might be looking for.

This is a really amazing destination if you just want to get away from Nassau for the day, the night, or fall in love and spend a week. Perhaps you are visiting The Bahamas and spending most of your time in Nassau, but are considering getting to the islands. I was completely surprised how easy it was to get there and back, and flight time is only about 15 minutes.

So here’s a sample itinerary for an overnight in The Berry Islands:

From Nassau, catch the early flight on Leair into Great Harbour Cay. Pick up a rental car and make your way through town and get your bearings. Plan for low tide and head north to Sugar Beach to explore the caves and do some hiking. You can stop at one of the food stores in town and grab a picnic lunch and cold beverages, or pick up Bahamian cooking and fresh conch salad to-go at Hubo’s on the dock. While you’re there, maybe you’ll arrange a boating excursion for the following day at the Dockmaster’s Office at the Great Harbour Cay Marina. To continue your beaching expedition, drive to the south end of the island, also recommended at low tide, to Shelling Beach and Shark Creek. You can set up camp for the afternoon and soak up the rays, cooling off with an occasional dip, and take the opportunity for a long beach stroll. Check in at Carriearl for the night, and settle in for European hospitality and five-star treatment.

In the morning meet with your pre-arranged guide to explore the islands by boat. Maybe you’ll head down to Hoffman’s Blue Hole. Plan on doing some snorkeling, looking for a wide variety of sea life throughout the many remote islands and cays of The Berry Islands. Head back to the dock in order to catch your afternoon flight back to Nassau (or decide to stay longer). While you wait for your flight, walk across the street and grab lunch and a cold beverage at the nearby Beach Club, right on Great Harbour Beach.

Stay

There are very few places to stay on GHC. Vacation rental homes are available through websites like Airbnb and VRBO if you’re looking for a private beach house. I definitely recommend looking into Carriearl Boutique Hotel. Owners Angie and Marty will make you feel right at home upon arrival. Their four guestrooms make your stay here an intimate one. They are crisp, and colorfully decorated with island art and décor. Known as the “Brit’s Ritz” by friends, this British couple has been running this establishment for over 7 years. On property, there is a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily for guests, a pool and lounge area, and is located directly on Great Harbour Beach. Thatched umbrellas at the beach beckon you to spend the afternoon lulled by the ocean waves. There’s a gift shop on property selling Bahamian gifts, and kayaks and bicycles are available for guest use, or they will assist you with arranging activities and day trips such as snorkeling, fishing and sightseeing. They are closed September and October so plan accordingly.

Getting There

Leair has a morning flight and an afternoon flight from Nassau www.flyleair.com. Watermakers Air has flights from Ft Lauderdale Executive Airport into Great Harbour Cay on Thurs., Fri., Sat. & Sun, www.watermakersair.com. Tropic Ocean Airways offers flights from Fort Lauderdale International Airport at Sheltair on Wed, Thurs, Fri & Sun, www.flytropic.com

Carriearl’s pathway from the beach

A wonderful lunch at the lounge area at Carriearl

The caves and cliffs at Sugar Beach on the north end of Great Harbour Cay

The dock at the marina in Bullock’s Harbour

Local fishermen cleaning the day’s catch

Great Harbour Cay Marina

Shark Creek Beach

Shelling Beach at low tide

Taxi driver Circle (named so because he’s always driving in circles around the island) will give you a friendly welcome if you see him on the island.

For more travel information, be sure to check out my travel guidebook, Moon Bahamas.