Great Guana Cay

Guana Cay is one of several offshore islands that run along the eastern coast of Great Abaco. These cays, many with small sheltered harbours, were among the first areas in the Bahamas to be settled by British loyalists fleeing the American Revolution. Their quaint maritime villages are reminiscent of New England towns.

Only seven miles long, Guana Cay has fewer than 200 native inhabitants - most living in a small village at the southeastern tip. A daily ferry service links the settlement with Marsh Harbour, Abaco's administrative centre.

The northwestern half of the 1100-acre cay was mostly undeveloped until it was acquired by Discovery Land Company in early 2005 from German investor Ludwig Meister, who also operates the Treasure Cay Resort on Abaco.

Apart from a brief attempt at sisal production in the early 20th century, Guana Cay was a barely inhabited backwater until recent years, when upscale tourism led to the creation of a thriving second home economy throughout the Abacos. In fact, more visitors to Abaco stay in vacation homes than in hotels.

In the late 1980s Premier Cruises used the Baker's Bay property as a port of call for its 'Big Red Boat', a cruise ship licensed by Disney. A channel was dredged into the bay and shore facilities were built for the enjoyment of passengers.

When Premier dropped Guana Cay as a port of call in 1993, the shore facilities were abandoned. Discovery Land Company has carefully restored this area to its natural state, removing all traces of this unplanned development.

The Baker's Bay Club includes 460 acres of private land and 105 acres of government land, more than half of which has been set aside as a nature preserve managed by the Great Guana Cay Foundation.