Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Queen's Hwy runs from Drigg's Hill, a scrawny hamlet at the island's north tip,
through the scrappy settlements of Congo Town, High Rock and The Bluff, petering out in
Mars Bay, some 25 miles south.
A small government-run passenger ferry runs from Lisbon Creek to Drigg's Hill.
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES
stretching from drigg's hill to congo town and beyond,
Congo Town Beach
is a heavenly
strip of silver sand fronting gin-clear shallows.
There are a number of semi-defunct straw markets along the Queen's Hwy, and some-
times you'll be lucky enough to catch an elderly South Andros woman selling baskets in
front of her house. But your best bet for island art is the studio of
Jerry Davis
(Congo
Town, turn at the wooden sign) , a local artisan who makes truly wonderful driftwood
carvings of groupers, bonefish and Androsian iguanas. Starting at around $30, his work is a
fraction of the price you'd pay in Nassau. If he's not around when you stop by, ask a neigh-
bor to give him a call.
In The Bluff, you'll find the trailhead to
Stargate Blue Hole
midway down the road that
leads to the water tower; the hole itself is a short walk through the underbrush. Beneath the
eerie black surface lie hundreds of feet of caves filled with Ice Age stalactites, a wonder-
land for brave divers.
Jesse, a young American transplant, runs
Andros Diving
( 242-369-1454;
www.androsdiving.com
;
2-tank dive $125, snorkeling $90) , the only dive operation
around. His specialty is exploring the bottomless blue hole caves that dot the South Andros
shallows, and he knows all the best reefs for elkhead coral and ginormous groupers.
Snorkel trips are pricey but take in multiple locations in a half day.
Captain Roggie of
Reel Tight Charters
( 242-369-2638;
www.androsbahamasfishing.com
)
is the island's main fishing guide, offering deep sea and
reef trips, as well as snorkeling and nature excursions.
SLEEPING & EATING
As mentioned earlier, South Andros sees precious little tourism. Almost all visitors are here
to stay at Tiamo or the Emerald Palms. Beyond the resorts, food choices are limited to a
handful of sometimes-open-sometimes-not conch stands and roadside BBQ stalls.
Emerald Palms Resort
RESORT $$
( 242-369-2713;
www.emerald-palms.com
; r $159-245, villas $395-645; )
This luxury beach resort would be nice anywhere; on rural South Andros it's a genuine oas-
is. Airy poolside rooms have four-post beds, crisp white linens and fresh hibiscus blossoms
