Beach· Long Island· Bahamas — Eleuthera, Andros & the Out Islands
Guana Cay beach (Pinders)
23° 18.6′ N · 75° 6.0′ W · approximate
A classic crescent beach on Long Island's Atlantic side facing little Guana Cay, which shelters the water behind it so it stays calm enough for easy swimming and snorkelling over the reef. The Beaches of Long Island guide rates it the best beach on the island.
Practical
Position is approximate: a point on the OpenStreetMap Long Island shoreline directly west of the Guana Cay attraction node. Access is by car from Thompson Bay (about 10 minutes south of Salt Pond): the guide (2018) says to look for an unmarked grey-blue barrel at an angled side road just south of the Salt Pond sign (just after the Pinders sign heading south), with abandoned development roads a few hundred yards north. The first half mile is rutted sand and hardpan; drive slowly and park facing out. At low tide you can wade to the cay, home to curly-tailed lizards that come to meet visitors. Snorkel directly behind the cay; the ends have less reef protection, more swell and current. A privately owned cabana by the beach may be used for shade by visitors; please respect it. Eastern Harbour, round the cay's south point, is very shallow at low tide. See also the Guana Cay snorkel entry.
Best for
The best swim-and-snorkel beach within reach of Thompson Bay
Nearby
- Guana Cay (curly-tail lizards and shallow wreck)0.2 NM away
- St. Mary the Virgin church ruins1.9 NM away
- Red Shrimp Cave (Shrimp Hole)2 NM away
- Atlantic beach walk from Salt Pond2.1 NM away
- Long Island Petroleum fuel dock (Salt Pond)2.2 NM away
- Long Island Regatta (Salt Pond)2.2 NM away
- Propane refills (Long Island)2.2 NM away
- Salt Pond Public Dock (port of entry)2.3 NM away