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Southern Bahamas
Head for Long Island, the Crooked Island District and the Inaguas, and you will be surprised
and delighted. There are clear sparkling seas, huge blue holes and perfect reefs for snorkeling
and diving. Deserted beaches and striking azure bays invite days of splashing around in
the sea, picnics and walks along sugar-soft sands. Vast scrub and forested lands entice all
manner of birds, and occasional hikers and bird-watchers to wander in the wilderness.
The Crooked and Acklin Islands are renowned for Christopher Columbus visit. He named
Crooked the Fragrant Island, where the aromas of herb and Cascarilla bark impregnate the air
(and flavor Camparis liquor). Inaguas parklands are striking, with flying pink clouds of flamin-
gos emerging at dusk and dawn. The age-old Bahamian industry of white gold production is
alive and well on this island, where huge hills of glittering salt are exported worldwide.
Long Island, the most developed and populated island of this group is dotted with pretty
villages, which are accentuated by vivid flowering shrubs. Roadside schools fill with chatter-
ing, waving and giggling children during lesson breaks. Clusters of immaculate tiny Gothic
churches gleam in the sunlight, marking settlements across the island.
This is a charming and happy place to visit and explore. Discover ancient Arawak draw-
ings and blinking bats in a string of covert caves or the faded grandeur of old plantation
ruins. Venture into genial local eateries and bars for a chat, beer and a bite of crispy fish,
or down bumpy sideroads to those tranquil bays of pleasure.
HIGHLIGHTS
Dance to goombaymusic and toast thehandmade boats racing at theLong Island
Regatta(p226)
Eat and sleep like a very comfortable Robin-son Crusoe in a beach hut on the ocean at Chez
Pierre Bahamas(p225) on Long Island
Head for gorgeousLong IslandsGuana Key(p226)to snorkel a wreck and visit the snoozing iguanas of
deserted Guana Key Island, just a short splash away
Dive Crooked Islands wreck, theMillion Dollar Mistake(p231) where maybe the odd quarter still lies
Marvel at the garish and leggy supermodels of the bird world,flamingos at Bahamas National Trust Park(p237)
TELEPHONE CODE: 242 POPULATION: 4957 AREA: 1179 SQ MILES
Trust ParkNationalBahamas
IslandCrooked
Guana Key
Long Island
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SOUTH
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w w w . l o n e l y p l a n e t . c o m
Abraham Bay, on the south coast, is the larg-est of three small settlements on the island.Roads northwest lead to the other settlements:Pirates Welland Betsy Bay. Electricity and a fulltelephone service arrived here only in 1997,despite the US Air Forces missile-tracking
station (now defunct) that was here duringNASAs Apollo and Mercury programs.
Probably your bet on the island, ReggiesGuest House & Lounge (%242-422-0131; AbrahamsBay; r $150) can offer breakfast, dinner and
fishing excursions. While the beachside res-taurant and bar, Buccaneers Rest (%242-339-3605; Pirates Well; r $130), offers 16 simple roomsin its little single-story yellow building.
Brooks, Browns, and Farringtonsare all tinygrocery stores open daily.
Most visitors fly here, but its possible tocatch the weekly ferry from Nassau. Theairfield is 2 miles west of Abraham Bay.
Ask at the grocery stores about water-taxi services.
238 I N A G U A S & M A YA G U A N A M a y a g u a n a Lonely Planet Publications
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