Green Turtle Cay
Last summer my family and I vacationed on a small island of the Abacos, Green Turtle Cay.
The island is very small but beautiful and the residents are so kind and welcoming. It only offers two options for hotel bookings, but it is beautiful. Green Turtle Cay’s history dates back to the days after the Revolutionary war, when the loyalists, who were still loyal to Britain, left America for something new. Settling on this small island, it was named for the large sea turtles who were the only other inhabitants, and Green Turtle Cay was born. Fast forward and the island is still populated with sea turtles and around 400 residents who can probably trace their roots back to the revolutionary war days. You will still see glimpses of the island’s colonial past as you golf cart through their downtown, New Plymouth. Clapboard houses painted in pastel colors sit neatly in rows on the narrow streets of this quaint little town.
The island is extremely popular with fishing enthusiasts, and you won’t find a Caribbean influencer who doesn’t mention Green Turtle Cay at least once in their YouTube channel or podcast. The funny thing is, even with all of it’s popularity it has managed to retain it’s quaint quality and not succumb to over development or population.
There is one way to travel to Green Turtle Cay and that is by boat…The Green Turtle Cay Ferry shuttles guests back and forth from Treasure Cay daily, if you are a boater, there are several places you can moor your vessel or dock for the night. The preferred method of transportation around the island is a golf cart, there are a few cars and trucks but not many. The overall vibe is laidback, everyone here is on “island time,” which makes for a great vacation. I mentioned two places that visitors can book for a stay on the island, one is The Bluff House and the other is The Green Turtle Club. We chose GTC, this visit because we wanted to dock our boat close to our room. GTC offers many different room types from club hotel rooms and suites, located in the main building beside the marina, and 1,2-, and 3-bedroom waterfront rooms that are a short golf cart ride away. The unique thing about these rooms is that they can be locked off from each other to accommodate small or large groups of visitors. We love the waterfront rooms because they are all equipped with docks for your boat or your rental.
The resort has a swimming pool near the main building, along with a restaurant and bar. The Dollar Bar is a social media sensation, but the story goes that way before the first Instagram post was ever created…retired WWII fighter pilots would visit and leave an autographed dollar bill as a “token for future friends to have a drink on them.” Since then, past presidents, movie stars and some well-known entertainers have been known to stop by for a Tipsy Turtle of two. The Club Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and the food is fantastic. You can choose to dine inside the more formal dining room, or on the casual outdoor screen porch. Both are great but depending on the temperature of the day you may choose to be inside. LOL!
The Dollar Bar at Green Turtle Club
There are several businesses that handle golf carts and boat rentals. I prefer to use D&P Rentals for our golf cart, their office is located in the same building as the lobby of The Green Turtle Club, which makes transporting your family and luggage to your room super easy. They are extremely pleasant to deal with and take rentals online. Their site is below:
D&P Golf Cart Rentals
Simply visit their site and put in a reservation request and you will be all set.
As far as boat rentals our favorite is Donny’s Boat Rentals. Just dial them up, and you may even speak with Donny himself. Donny has been a local for over 40 years and everyone knows Donny! He does business with a handshake and a smile, and his prices are fair.
Donnys Boat Rentals and Marina Green Turtle Cay. +1 242 823 8733
He will hold your reservation and trust me your boat will be available when you arrive, but don’t expect an email or confirmation, you won’t receive one, that’s just not his style.
He delivered our boat at 6am our first full morning, andwe awoke to the beautiful views and our boat tied to our dock.
The main objective when staying on Green Turtle is to immerse, yourself in the island lifestyle... make reservations at the local restaurants (anyone can give you suggestions), explore the secluded beaches like Bita Bay and Ocean Beach but leave the golf cart in the designated areas. Ride over to Pineapples and take a dip in the ocean filled pool while enjoying their amazing conch fritters, pick up some pastries from Rick’s and have breakfast at the local liquor store. Yep... I said breakfast at the local liquor store. Looking to have an adventure and spend the day exploring, head over to Manjack Cay, where you can feed the sting rays and other marine life. Or looking for something with a slower pace, head over and swim with the turtles at Cocoa Bay. There is so much to see and do. I will let you know that the Wi-Fi is spotty, and you may or may not have cell service, but when you are visiting Green Turtle Cay, the only reason you will want your phone is to document the beauty of the island.
