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This is a first-person account of Up and Away writer, Nikia Wells, on her very first visit to Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands.

For years, I’d heard that The Berry Islands were a little piece of paradise—peaceful and beautiful. So, in search of a much-needed break, I decided to take a quick weekend getaway to Great Harbour Cay, for the very first time.

After a 15-minute skip across the turquoise and cerulean hued waters between New Providence and Great Harbour Cay, we landed at a brand-new airport. Upon exiting the plane, I was greeted by a crisp, clean and refreshing breeze and every single person that I interacted with was genuinely kind and hospitable. The residents were warm and welcoming—even by Bahamian standards, and without hesitation offered to help my travel companions get into contact with the car rental company that we had booked for the trip.

It was instantly evident that this was a close-knit community, where everyone knows each other. The roads were quiet, and after a short laid-back drive, we dropped our bags off at a quaint villa called 5 Bay’s of Pirates. Like everyone that we had met prior, Lana (the owner of the resort) was warm, welcoming and made us feel like we were at home. The villa had a bonefish pond as its backdrop, elements of Bahamian culture woven into the decor, and even a small gazebo to watch the sun rise and set over the mangrove.

After driving around for a bit, we got a craving for some fresh conch salad. Each island has its own spin on this classic dish, so we asked a kind gentleman where we could find a bowl at 11:30am. He directed us to a man named Steve —who was also his cousin. As luck would have it, as we hopped over to the marina, we spotted a man getting a cluster of fresh conchs from a boat. Sure enough, it was Steve, prepping to head over to his stand at the Government Dock.

As Steve unpacked, we all struck up a lively conversation. He told us about a stingray who had made the waters around the dock its home, his time living in New Providence, and a bit about the island itself. He took meticulous pride in his prep, noting that he is a chef by trade, but had worked in various fields over the years. We asked him for his specialty, and he laughed and said he was “sweet mouth” so he would make sure we were well taken care of.

After pulling the super fresh conch out of the salt water, he cracked it out of its shell, cleaned it and went about making his version of a “sweet mouth” conch salad. He even gave us the pistol and horn to eat while he worked. For an added special touch and a bit of texture, he mixed in a bit of boiled conch.

While the people of Great Harbour Cay made the experience a special one, the island’s stunning beauty cannot be overlooked. From the Sugar Beach Caves

Steve’s Conch Salad

to the unsullied ripples of sand and crystal-clear waters of Shelling Beach, the island is in a word - breathtaking.

While on Shelling Beach, we saw a friendly little shark who playfully swam near us. And, like the name suggests, an assortment of shiny shells dotted the shallow shores. There was even an occasional sea fan, sponge, and starfish along the powder fine sand.

There are several restaurants on the island, including the Beach Club, Hammerheads, CoolieMae’s, as well as a no-frills restaurant directly beside the island’s police station that serves up delicious Bahamian cuisine (this restaurant didn’t have a sign, but it’s not hard to spot.) However, during longer stays in Great Harbour Cay, it is best to ask around for recommendations for local home cooks who may be able to cater a Bahamian feast during your visit.

While we only had a short stay on the island, residents highly recommended arranging a boating trip for the day to cay-hop, or a day trip to Coco Cay (which requires reservations at least 72 hours in advance.) UA