Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 242-335-0349;
www.bahamasadventures.com
; surf lessons from $60) Tom of Surfer's
Haven (right ) also runs this low-key tour company, with kayaking, surfing and snorkeling
excursions, and is happy to customize. The vigorous drift snorkel trip at Current Cut is one-
of-a-kind.
Hatchet Bay Cave
CAVE
Turn south onto the dirt road near the three old silos to find the mouth to this half-mile-long
cave system
. Descending into a vertical hole, you'll find several chambers bearing char-
coal signatures dating back to the mid-19th century. Some harmless leaf-nosed bats reside
within, as do stalactites and stalagmites - no touching! If you're going to explore the cave
system beyond the first few chambers, bring a flashlight, long pants and a local guide.
Rainbow Cliffs
GEOLOGIC FORMATION
North of Governor's Harbour, just past James Cistern, follow the National Heritage sign
down an overgrown path and park your car where the road becomes impassible. Hike
across the sandpits to the cliffs, where the pounding Atlantic surf has created an eerie
moonscape of pitted rock and shallow tidepools.
James Cistern Beach
BEACH
A bone-jarring dirt road leads north from James Cistern to this little-visited beach, where
waves sometimes reach 10ft with a brisk south wind. There's a shipwreck offshore, which
is a good spot for snorkeling when the water is calm.
SLEEPING & EATING
Cocodimama Charming Resort
HOTEL $$$
( 242-332-3150;
www.cocodimama.com
; Queen's Hwy; r $210; ) A little slice of the
Riviera in the Bahamas, Cocodimama's main house feels like an Italian beach villa owned
by an arty Milanese jet-setter - think whitewashed walls, mosaic floors, avant-garde drift-
wood chandeliers. Guestrooms, in a series of pastel villas, are sunny and chicly minimalist.
The resort's heavenly strip of private beach is lined with cute palm-thatch umbrellas. The
fabulous nouvelle Mediterranean restaurant (mains $15 to $28) is all about Caprese salads
and yellowfin tuna tartare, with a well-edited wine list.
Surfer's Haven
GUESTHOUSE $
(
242-333-3282;
www.surfershavenbahamas.com
; d/upstairs apt $55/75, camping sites
$30;
) Run by Tom, a Nassau-born surfer boy with a friendly 'hey bro' attitude, this is
