The latest post in the Green Turtle Cay 101 guide to getting here, staying here, dining here and playing here.

Given its diminutive size, Green Turtle Cay offers a surprisingly broad range of recreational activities including world-class boating and water sports, as well as historic sites and cultural events. In this post, we’ll focus on the cay’s gorgeous beaches.

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Bita Bay

Whether you prefer calm, shallow waves lapping at the shore or wild surf crashing onto the sand, you’ll find a beach to love on Green Turtle Cay. And with beaches on all sides of the island, there are sheltered spots to sun or swim on even the breeziest days.

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Map of Green Turtle Cay Beaches

Though most of the cay’s prettiest beaches are located beyond the hill east of town, there are a few small beaches within the New Plymouth settlement. The sandy strip that runs along the south shore of the settlement (known as the South Beach) is great for morning walks. At low tide, gravestones washed by storms from the cemetery above are visible on the sand.

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New Plymouth’s South Beach

Opposite Harvey’s Island Grill on the shore of Settlement Creek is a small, sandy beach, where you’ll often find the local kids playing. And a few dozen steps away, on the west side of Settlement Point, is a tiny sliver of beach perfect for low-tide shelling or a quick dip.

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Beach West of Settlement Point in New Plymouth

Across Settlement Creek, there’s a small beach at Pineapples Bar and Grill where you can take a cool dip while you wait for lunch.

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Beach at Pineapples Bar and Grill

My favourite Green Turtle Cay beach, Gillam Bay, is located just east the settlement. To get there, follow the paved road up the hill from town until it turns left. Instead of proceeding left, continue straight ahead onto the sandy path, past the ball field on the right. Follow that path down to the water.

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Gillam Bay

Gillam Bay is ideal for an early morning walk, since it offers a spectacular view of the sun rising over Pelican Cay. You’ll find amazing shells, sand dollars and sea biscuits at the water’s edge.

Unfortunately, in recent years, erosion has taken a toll along the eastern side of the island. Gillam Bay has been especially hard hit. Having said that, as you can see from the recent photographs below, the beach is still amazing. It’s best accessed via the cement steps at the end of the sandy road at or near low tide.

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Gillam Bay with Pelican Cay in Background

Though a lot of sand has washed away from Gillam Bay over the past decade, the good news is that it hasn’t gone far. The beach on the south side of the Gillam Bay point has grown dramatically — and it’s gorgeous.

A leisurely stroll around Gillam Bay point to the south side and back takes an hour or two, and is easiest at low tide. If you’d rather a shorter walk, a couple of marked footpaths cut across the peninsula. Look for the small white signs with black arrows and follow them through the brush to the beach on the point’s south side.

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South Side of the Gillam Bay Point

North of Gillam Bay is Long Bay Beach, which can be accessed from several points along the main road, including the street directly across from Abaco Yacht Services. This beach is great for walking, beach combing and, on calmer days, snorkeling.

Further north is another of my favourite Green Turtle beaches — Bita Bay. Though unmarked, it’s fairly easy to find. If you’re heading north from town, keep an eye out for a wooden, shark-shaped “Bita Bay House” sign on your right. Shortly afterward, you’ll spot the sandy path that leads to Bita Bay beach.

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South end of Bita Bay

Thanks to the reef and islands that shelter it, Bita Bay is generally calm, even when the ocean beyond is raging. It’s terrific for snorkeling, especially for kids, as there’s a small reef just a few feet from shore (visible in the above photograph.)

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North end of Bita Bay

Along the northeast coast of Green Turtle Cay stretches the Ocean Beach. Where some of the island’s eastern beaches enjoy partial shelter, there is literally nothing but deep blue sea between this beach and Africa! It’s gorgeous, majestic and windswept, but can be too rough at times for swimming.

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Ocean Beach with waves breaking on the reef beyond

Slightly north of the Green Turtle Club is tranquil Coco Bay. From the Club, head north on the road east of Brendal’s Dive Center. When that road ends, turn left and follow the road as it curves right. Coco Bay will be on the right side.

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Calm, Quiet Coco Bay

Best enjoyed at or near high tide, Coco Bay is shallow, sheltered, warm and almost always calm — making it a good choice on windy days. The grassy area just off shore tends to attract ocean life such as conchs, starfish, bonefish, turtles and rays.

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Coco Bay

At the far western end of White Sound, overlooking the Sea of Abaco, is the Bluff House Beach. To get there, continue along the road past Coco Bay and take the first left. This road meanders along the north and west sides of White Sound and ends at the Bluff House Resort. Once you reach the resort, turn right and follow the road down the hill to the beach.

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Bluff House Beach

As you can see from these photos, Green Turtle Cay’s beaches are far from crowded — more often than not, you’ll have a beach entirely to yourself.

And though overzealous or uninformed property owners occasionally post “private beach” signs, by law, all Bahamian beaches are considered public property to the high-tide line. Obviously, you’ll want to avoid trespassing on private waterfront properties, but there are no “private” beaches on the cay.

6 thoughts on “Green Turtle Cay 101: Playing Here (Part One)

  • October 16, 2014 at 11:45 am
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    Ocean beach is great for snorkeling. You have to swim a little further out, but the reef is beautiful, with larger fish, turtles etc. Best on a calmer day, but really worth it!

    Reply
  • October 18, 2014 at 8:29 am
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    Thanks so much for your pictures, blog, history and helpful information. Every morning I look at the daily picture and hope for a story to read! We will be visiting in February and am hopeful this will be a regular vacation spot even though we live far from Green Tutle Cay. It looks like a wonderful place to bring our extended family with children to enjoy your beautiful island, beaches and fishing. Again thank you for your blog! My husband and I have thoroughly enjoyed it!

    Reply
  • December 2, 2017 at 7:34 pm
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    This is excellent. We will be on GTC this upcoming spring. I found your blog with the detailed directions very helpful. Thanks!

    Reply
    • January 28, 2018 at 5:49 pm
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      This is the closest to Paradise I have ever been. The locals are phenomenal we even went to church some of them. Thanks to donny the boat rental gentleman. The guy is super cool and very accommodating. Julie manages most of the properties and takes very good care of them and the people in them she is a great lady. The beaches are phenomenal the snorkeling is one of a kind we went during lobster season or bugs so they call them. Never had more fun in such a beautiful place. However I have to send out a special thanks to mr. And mrs. Armstrong who allowed me to come along and be part of their Adventure their knowledge of the island was crazy I feel like I got more out of it then I ever would have by myself. I speared a lobster that was over 2 ft long it was crazy cool and I want to go back so bad! And this was during Hurricane Season LOL. I miss all you guys from the island and hope to see you again!

      Reply
  • May 15, 2021 at 5:33 pm
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    love your pictures and the information. My group has been to your beautiful island 6 times. looking forward to next year 2022, when we will be staying for 2 weeks. woo hoo. could you tell me if the John Lowe cottage is up and running for rental now or in the near future. Would love to rent it.

    Reply

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