Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES
The small
San Salvador Museum
, housed in the old jail, has displays of Lucayan Indian
remains and Columbus' conquest of the New World. Note the ceramic mural of Columbus.
Ask for a key from the BaTelCo office.
The pretty pink
Holy Saviour Roman Catholic Church
(1992) was established by the
Catholic Archdiocese of Nassau.
For divers, the following dive sites are recommended:
Frascate
, a 261ft-long ship sunk
in 1902 lies just 20ft down. Also
Rum Cay Wall
, which drops from 40ft to eternity.
Nearby are remains of the
HMS
Conqueror
, a 19th-century British steam-powered battle-
ship.
Telephone Pole
(a natural wall), begins at 45ft. At 100ft a wall decorated with large
purple sponges and plate coral is also attractive to large pelagics.
Snorkel sites include
Flower Gardens
, where scattered coral heads feature caves for
exploring, and
Natural Bridges
, where a reef formation has natural arches. There's also
Sandy Point
, one of the best sites, and
Staghorn Reef
, where you'll find star and stag-
horn corals aplenty, as well as heaps of other marine life.
Riding Rock Resort & Marina ( opposite ) offers one-/two-tank dives ($70/90), and a
10-dive package ($355).
Island Venture Fishing Charters
( 242-331-2306) runs deep-sea fishing trips (half-/
full-day $550/850) for a maximum of four people.
Lagoon Tours
( 242-452-0102;
www.lagoon-tours-bahamas.com
)
runs guided walks
and combined hiking and kayaking tours with informed and enthusiastic guides. Try the
fascinating trip that takes in bush-medicine plants, an old plantation and lake-kayaking
($70), a birdwatching leisure hike through Watling's Castle to spot thrush, warblers, osprey
and herons (prices vary), and lagoon tours ($90) with a peaceful boat ride along beaches to
beautiful lagoons and a visit to the iguanas of Low Cay.
Riding Rock Resort & Marina (below ) offers excursions to the Exumas and the Low
and High Cays to see iguanas and osprey.
SLEEPING & EATING
Riding Rock Resort & Marina
RESORT $$
( 242-331-2631, 800-272-1492;
www.ridingrock.com
;
Cockburn Town; r standard/
ocean-view $150/ 180; ) This friendly and modern resort is loved by divers, and is
very popular, so book ahead! Sparkling white rooms with tiled floors all have either beach
or poolside views. There's a great nearby beach, tennis court, relaxed beachside bar and a
good restaurant serving Bahamian dishes. The overall feeling is superbly relaxed.
