Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GREAT EXUMA
The main island in the chain, Great Exuma is the starting point for most people exploring
the islands, and where boaters and yachties will call in for their supplies.
George Town
POP 1050
Despite its interesting location, scattered around the sides of Lake Victoria (actually an inlet
of the lagoon and a great natural harbor), George Town is a place most people visit to pick
up supplies or run errands. While it has plenty of easy-going charm, there's nothing much to
keep you here and most visitors move on quickly to Stocking Island, up or down the coast
or to the cays.
Government Wharf is the focal point of most action, where townsfolk gather when the
mail boat calls, fisherfolk return with their catch and a myriad of visitors' boats are always
on the move.
the event of the year is april's
Family Island Regatta
(
Click here
)
, considered one of the
Bahamas' best. Hundreds of islanders still make the annual pilgrimage to George Town's
Elizabeth Harbour for this event, for which boat builders proudly ship in their handmade
dinghies from other islands aboard the mail boats. During the regatta, the town is trans-
formed into an outdoor party venue. Another big event that draws an international crowd
of keen fishermen is the annual
Bahamas Bonefish Bonanza
, held in George Town every
October.
SIGHTS
A few buildings are of interest.
St Andrew's Anglican Church
(1802) gleams whitely on a
hill above Lake Victoria, and opens for Sunday services (it's well worth the stroll to peek at
the gravestones out back).
The pink and white neoclassical
Government Administration Building
accommodates
everything: the post office, police station, customs and immigration, Ministry of Education,
magistrates' court and jail.
Regatta Park
is a pleasant piece of land in the center of George Town that fills with mar-
ket stalls and partygoers during the annual regatta. The
Straw Market
( 9am-5pm) sits
on the edge of Regatta Park and sells a small range of locally made straw bags and hats,
some T-shirts and beachwear.
