© Jonathan Kerr
Itinerary
Welcome to The Bahamas!
The only conservation organization with a significant staff presence throughout the Caribbean,
the Conservancy has been active in the region since 1975 and in 1989 established an on-theground presence with funding from the MacArthur Foundation. Today, the Conservancy has
four offices – in The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and St. Croix – and three project
coordinators – in the British Virgin Islands, on St. Thomas, and in Puerto Rico—with
responsibility for 29 island nations and overseas territories.
Today, our work in the Caribbean is focused primarily on marine-related activities such as
effective management of marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, coral reef restoration
and resilience, eco-system based adaptation to climate change, as well as sustainable finance
and sustainable tourism activities all aligning under the Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI).
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, an independent island nation, consists of an archipelago
of islands atop the Bahama platform. The total land area is only 5,382 square miles comprising
29 major islands and 661 cays, spread over approximately 100,000 square mile (260,000 square
kilometers) of the Atlantic Ocean. The largest island is Andros, which is 2,300 square miles.
Andros Island is considered the Bahamian outback and the bonefishing capital of the world.
It is the largest island of the Bahamian islands with total land area greater than all the other
Bahamian islands combined. Andros Island’s diverse ecosystems include freshwater and marine
blue holes, coral barrier reefs, mangrove flats, tidal creeks, wetlands and extensive pine forests.
The island’s abundance of natural resources and endangered species make it a conservation
priority, and its low human population density (approximately 9,000) and broad local support
for such action present a great opportunity to advance protection efforts. The coral reef system
off of Andros is one of the longest and best preserved in the world, making it a prime spot for
scuba diving. Damage to the reef and fish stocks from increased fishing pressure, along with the
deterioration of other marine habitats, are concerns shared by TNC and local community-based
partners. In addition to marine diversity, the island supports extensive terrestrial areas that are
home to regionally important plant and reptile species. The large expanses of pine rockland
communities that still cover the landscape are important habitat for many migratory songbird
species as well as the Andros rock iguana. The east side of the island is characterized by a
coastal ridge which reaches over 100 feet and is comprised of dry broadleaf evergreen forest.
This ridge provides important feeding, breeding and nesting habitat for both resident and
migratory birds. The interior of the island is heavily forested with Caribbean Pine. The
mangroves and seagrass beds found throughout the tidal creek systems and nearshore waters
support significant levels of marine life.
Bahamian Blue Holes, the largest concentration of which can be found on Andros Island, are
windows to the fresh water lens of The Bahamas. These flooded caverns with “an eye to the
sky” have developed both on land and under water. They are entrances to extensive limestone
cave systems that connect underground, many of which have yet to be explored. The limestone
rock accommodates the fresh water lens underlying Andros and the aquifer embedded in the
limestone rock provides fresh water resources for the island. The integrity of this water supply
is essential to all indigenous and migrating life on Andros. Within the caves and blue holes
themselves, unique formations and Lucayan artifacts can be found.
The crown jewel of the Exuma Cays is the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, established in 1958
and comprised of 112,640 acres of marine, coastal and terrestrial area. The 176 square mile
park was the first of its kind in the world and is famous for its pristine beauty, outstanding
anchorages and breathtaking marine environment. It is the first marine fishery reserve
established in the Caribbean. Its effective management was made possible through a
partnership of The Nature Conservancy and The Bahamas National Trust through funding by
Bacardi.
Sickle-shaped Eleuthera is 110 miles long, two miles at its widest point, and its highest
elevation is 168 feet. It is the fourth most populated island of The Bahamas, with approximately
8,000 residents, most who either fish for bounty in the miles of deep blue sea or farm the
rolling acres of pineapple plantations. Much of the island’s architecture and way of life were
influenced by Loyalist settlers in the late 1700s. Eleuthera is an island of casual sophistication.
Quiet, isolated communities and well-developed resorts, tall rocky bluffs and low-lying
wetlands, blue holes and caves, massive coral reefs and sweeping pink sand beaches combine
to create a fascinating picture. The capital of Eleuthera is Governor’s Harbour, and Rock Sound
is the second major township. The two are the primary business centers of Eleuthera.
Day 1
March 6th
Air Transportation to Nassau
Many major airlines fly into the Nassau airport, most of them through Miami, FL. Departures to Nassau
should be made on your own. We recommend that you schedule your flight to arrive in Nassau no
later than 2:30 p.m. in order to provide ample time to participate in the opening evening festivities.
Immigration/customs should take no more than 30 minutes. You are asked to coordinate your own taxi
service to the British Colonial Hotel from the airport. Taxis are readily available at the airport arrivals
platform. Expect the fare to be approximately US$25.00.
* NOTE: all venues in The Bahamas readily receive US dollars so no exchange is necessary unless you
prefer to carry Bahamian currency.
4:00 p.m. or earlier (recommended)
Check into British Colonial Hilton in downtown Nassau and relax before reception and dinner.
www.hiltoncaribbean.com/nassau/
5:20 p.m.
Meet TNC/Bahamas staff in hotel lobby for short walk (5 min.) to Hillside House.
Shuttle transportation will be provided for those who prefer not to walk.
http://www.antoniusroberts.com/artist/hillsidehouse
5:30 PM
Welcome for cocktails and studio tour with the artist at Hillside House gallery/studio of sculptor
Antonius Roberts. Mr. Roberts will share his use of sustainable media and green technology in
his work and his passion for protecting and preserving the natural resources of our world.
http://www.antoniusroberts.com/artist/about-antonius
6:45 PM
Depart Hillside House for short walk (5 min.) to Café Matisse for dinner.
Shuttle transportation will be provided for those who prefer not to walk to the restaurant.
7:00 PM
Dinner at Café Matisse, one of Nassau’s premier restaurants.
Shuttle transportation will be provided for those who prefer not to walk back to the hotel following
dinner. www.cafe-matisse.com
Day 2
March 7th
6:30 AM
Depart hotel for flight to South Andros
8:00 AM
Depart Lynden Pindling International Airport on Western Air for South Andros
8:20 AM
Arrive South Andros and meet ground transport for the day
9:30 AM
Terrestrial Blue Hole Tour with Sharon Henfield, Nature’s
Hope for Southern Andros
About Nature’s Hope for Southern Andros
http://www.facebook.com/#!/natureshope.southernandros
Nature’s Hope for Southern Andros is a local, grass roots organization run by six community
members. Its Executive Director is Sharon Henfield, a long-time resident of Andros. The
organization was created in 2001 by a group of residents concerned with environmental issues
facing the area and dedicated to the possibility of creating a park and preserving the main
fishing grounds in South Andros.
When originally established, the primary goals of the organization were to promote
preservation through sustainable tourism by assisting with marketing the area, while working
locally to improve key environmental priorities including: community awareness on
environmental laws, creation of the parks system, reef protection, fishery and seafood
protection, Blue Hole preservation, and recycling and waste management. Over the last few
years they have worked with The Nature Conservancy and the Bahamas National Trust to
expand the existing park on the West Side of Andros and to develop management plans for the
rest of the National Parks located on Andros.
12:00 Noon
Lunch at Ezrena’s Eatery South Andros, a special local café serving fresh authentic Bahamian
fare, cooked for you by Ezrena herself.
1:00 PM
Visit to SAHMA (South Andros Handicraft Manufacturers Association) to see Androsian straw
craft on the way to South Andros airport
About South Andros Handicraft and Manufacturers Association (SAHMA)
Emily Rahming is the founder and chairperson of the South Andros Handicraft and
Manufacturers Association (SAHMA), which teaches locals how to engage in sustainable
economic activity while preserving the environment. Members of the Association produce a
large variety of bags made from what is referred to locally as "Coconut Leather" (fibers from the
coconut leaf sheath), along with jewelry, hair clips and scarves.
3:00 PM
Depart Andros for charter fly-over of the Andros West Side Park and Exuma Cays Land and Sea
Park
www.exumapark.info
4:15 PM
Arrive Eleuthera/Governor’s Harbour for ground transport to
Pineapple Fields Hotel. www.eleuthera-map.com
4:30 PM
Check into Pineapple Fields Hotel and prepare for a relaxing
dinner.
6:30 PM
Cocktails and dinner at Tippy’s (no transportation necessary)
oceanside under the cabana directly across the street from the hotel
and without question the dining hot spot on the island. Dinner is
prix fixe. Alcoholic beverages are not included in dinner price,
though we highly recommend the Tippy’s Sunshine, mixed by our
beloved bartender, Eliot.
Joined by partner Shaun Ingraham, One Eleuthera
About One Eleuthera
One Eleuthera brings together people, resources, and expertise to develop opportunities under
which all Eleutherans may prosper. We see a path to the future as one founded in empowering
communities by building upon their unique qualities, branding the Eleuthera experience,
connecting each settlement through island-wide heritage tourism, and preparing and
establishing guidelines for future sustainable development of our precious island.
www.oneeleuthera.org
Day 3
March 8th
8:00 AM
Depart Pineapple Fields via private motorcoach for Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve with a
quick stop at Banks Street Deli, a local coffee shop serving coffee, cold beverages, and
breakfast items “to go.” www.leonlevy.org
10:00 AM
Depart Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve for the South Conservation Trail, a joint project of The
Nature Conservancy and One Eleuthera.
Stops along the South Conservation Trail include:
Ocean Hole, Rock Sound – Located approximately one mile from the ocean is one of
Eleuthera’s most famous landmarks, a marine blue hole – explored by Jacques Cousteau when
he was a winter resident of the island. Ocean Hole is teeming with fish that were stocked many
years ago by fishermen. It is a mystical body of water believed to be bottomless and with
healing powers.
Big Ban Plantation, Bannerman Town - In the late 1700s and early 1800s, slavery was
everywhere throughout the islands. Records show that slave auctions were held regularly by
British property owners and merchants on Eleuthera. In 1838, when slavery was abolished in
The Bahamas, British loyalists found themselves without laborers to maintain their farms. Upon
her death, Ann Millar, a British female slave owner, willed her property to her slaves and their
descendants – that property was Big Ban Plantation. The Plantation ruins can be seen in the
overgrown scrub. Some of the artifacts have been scavenged; what is left still needs to be
documented and preserved.
Lighthouse Point and Beach, Bannerman Town - Lighthouse Point is a breathtaking spot and
without a doubt South Eleuthera’s treasure. An old lighthouse building still sits on the hill
overlooking the cays to the south. Though no longer inhabited (solar energy is used to power
the light), it remains a sentinel of the southernmost tip of the island. There the beaches,
ephemeral brackish ponds, coastal scrubland, coppice forestlands, mangroves, marine life, a
major bird and crab nesting ground are all waiting to be explored by conservation-minded
visitors.
12:00 NOON
Lunch at Coco Plum Restaurant and Conch Shack in Rock Sound on the way down the south
trail. Here, conch is cracked fresh to order on the docks adjacent to the restaurant, which
serves the most celebrated conch salad on the island. (Avien, the owner, will be your tour guide
along the South trail, so you will be in the hands of a local celebrity!)
5:00 PM
Return to the hotel to prepare for dinner. Shuttle transportation will be provided to dinner.
6:30 PM
Cocktails and Dinner at The Beach House, another Eleuthera hot spot serving delicious Tapas
and fusion cuisine presented by our good friend, Michele Johnson, and her partners.
Transportation back to the hotel will be provided throughout the evening.
Day 4
March 9th
8:00 AM
Depart Pineapple Fields for breakfast at Sky Beach, a breathtaking spot serving the best
breakfast on the island
9:00 AM
Depart Sky Beach for the North Eleuthera Conservation Trail, a joint project of TNC and One
Eleuthera.
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Stops along the North Conservation Trail include:
The Pineapple Fields, Gregory Town - The pineapple industry was important in the late 19th
Century; indeed, it is believed that The Bahamas was the first country to produce pineapples on
a commercial scale. Pineapples grew in The Bahamas from the early 1700s, but were not
exported on a large scale until 1844. During that year it is believed that upward of 15,000 dozen
plants were shipped to England with their roots, in addition to cut pineapples to the United
States. In 1845, Eleuthera was the primary grower and exporter of pineapples. The first canning
factory was established in Governor’s Harbour in 1857. The Eleuthera pineapple claims to be
the sweetest on the planet.
The Glass Window Bridge, Gregory Town - The Glass Window Bridge is a natural formation,
deemed the 8th Wonder of the World. Standing on the bridge or nearby cliffs gives you a
spectacular view of both the Exuma Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. First captured in a water-
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color by Winslow Homer in 1885, The Glass Window Bridge still captivates the imagination of
all. The “Rage” of October 30-31, 1991 shifted the 100 ton Glass Window Bridge and tore it
from its abutments, Hurricane Andrew 1992, further shifted the Bridge on it foundations. Today
it is still used by both foot and automobile traffic.
Preacher’s Cave, North Eleuthera - In October 1648, William Sayle, former Governor of
Bermuda, led a group of about 70 Puritans to The Bahamas seeking to establish a new colony
free from religious persecution. The voyage resulted in one of the 2 ships becoming wrecked on
the “Devil’s Backbone.” Sayle named the island “Eleuthera” (Greek for “freedom.”) The
Eleutheran Adventurers, after being shipwrecked on The Devil’s Backbone reef, took shelter in
this cave and used it for living, worshipping and burying their dead. Preacher’s Cave has been
excavated by archeologists and the remains of Lucayans dating 600AD, cremated remains of the
Eleutheran Adventurers, and an individual with a gene for dwarfism have been found. After
finding the dwarfism gene, residents of Spanish Wells were tested and direct links were found
between the Eleuthera Adventurers and present day Spanish Wells residents. As Preacher’s
Cave holds the story of the people who lived here from the Lucayans to the present, we have to
find a way to tell this story to educate Bahamians and visitors alike.
12:30 PM
Lunch at Pitagay’s Laughing Lizard on the way back down, with a quick stop at Island Made
craft store in GregoryTown for last minute shopping.
www.laughinglizardcafe.com/
2:00 PM
Free Afternoon for relaxing or exploring on your own.
Day 5
March 10th
Breakfast on your own.
Relaxing morning for walks on the beach, leisurely packing, or a final swim.
11:15 AM
Gather for an 11:30 a.m. departure to Governor’s Harbour airport (GBH), bags packed and
ready to head home.
12:20 PM
Flight to Nassau via Pineapple Air for connections home.
Pineapple Air flight arrives Nassau at 1:00 PM. We recommend planning your return flights for
mid to late afternoon, but no earlier than 3:00 p.m. US immigration and customs are completed
at the Nassau airport so you will not be required to do so once arriving in the US.