Most first-timers tick off Nassau or Exuma and never hear of the Berry Islands. That's exactly the point of Great Harbour Cay, a small island in the chain where a Bahamian-owned boutique property called The Osprey has quietly opened its doors.
The resort sits on three beachfront acres with 400 feet of white sand at its front door — and that sand connects to a beach running a full five miles. For comparison, some of the Bahamas' most famous stretches feel busy by mid-morning. Here, the draw is choosing a destination by its shoreline rather than its Instagram footprint.
The island has form, too. In the 1960s Great Harbour Cay was a celebrity hideaway, pulling in the likes of Cary Grant and Paul Newman during an ambitious development era. These days the vibe is low-key: walk the beach, get out on the water, and get your bearings on an island that rarely makes a first Bahamas itinerary. Until recently, most accommodation was vacation homes, so a proper small resort is a genuinely new option — The Osprey was first flagged ahead of a planned 2024 debut.
Accommodation comes in a handful of configurations worth matching to your party. The Manatee Villa runs roughly 2,000 square feet, the Osprey Cottage around 1,000, and the Wild Dilly's Oceanview and Gardenview suites can be combined into a single cottage. Couples, families and groups of friends will each want something different, and it's worth sorting that out before booking rather than after.
Rates come with a decent set of inclusions: breakfast for two, airport transfers, kayaks and paddleboards. Selected cottages and the villa also get a golf cart, though you'll pay a refueling charge. Beyond lounging, the resort arranges excursions to the mangroves at Shark Creek and the blue hole on nearby Hoffman's Cay — check tides and boat logistics before committing to a day.
Getting there is the main logistical puzzle. Scheduled and private charters run from Nassau, and private charters also operate from Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Makers Air, a well-regarded regional carrier, flies the route regularly. The practical advice: contact the resort first with your dates and group size, and nail down accommodation, dining and flights in one go. Do that, and an island most travellers skip becomes a surprisingly simple addition to a Bahamas trip.
For anyone whose ideal holiday involves fewer scheduled activities and more unbroken beach time, this is a compelling case for looking past the usual island shortlist. Leave an afternoon free — a five-mile beach is reason enough.
Via Caribbean Journal.
