Great Inagua

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Great Inagua

Island of Sea Salt, Flamingos, and Sunken Treasure

Great Inagua is a really cool island if you just want to escape to a remote, tropical outpost in the Caribbean and relax. It is actually closer to Cuba than the United States.

Inagua is the third largest island in the Bahamas with hardly any development. Things to do on Inagua include: bird watching, shelling, fishing, diving, kayaking, and beach combing. Doesn’t sound too bad, does it? Just a quiet, breathtakingly beautiful spot to unwind.

Some of the Bahamas largest lakes can be found on Inagua. The twelve mile long Lake Windsor, also called Lake Rosa, covers 1/4 of the interior of the island. The largest flock of flamingos in the Western Hemisphere lives here. In fact, the bird population on Inagua totals over 80,000! There are not only flamingos, there are roseate spoonbills, herons, egrets, pelican, ducks, and many other kinds of sea and shore birds. The center of the island is actually a bird sanctuary. If you are lucky, you may spot an white crowned pigeon or a Bahamas parrot.

Both are endangered species. These lovely creatures are protected and you can arrange a tour of the park with one of the game wardens. Inagua is so remote and still undiscovered. It is very possible that you could be the island’s only visitors at any given time. A very unique experience indeed!

Inagua boasts prolific coral reefs just offshore. These reefs proved treacherous to ships between the years of 1500 and 1825. Several Spanish Galleons heavily laden with gold and silver treasure wrecked and sank upon them. I like to imagine that someday, we when we are diving on these reefs, we might spot some of that treasure. Don’t laugh! It has happened before in other areas of the Caribbean, it could happen in Inagua, too!

Matthew Town is the only settlement on Inagua. The main source of industry here is SALT. The Morton Salt Company is in Matthew Town, as is the island’s only harbour. Morton’s Salt on Inagua is the second largest solar saline operation in North America. They produce one million tons of sea salt a year!

When you visit Inagua, you will stay in one of the guest houses on the island. There are only a few eateries on the island, but they are delicious and cheerful. You should be able to walk to most places in town and locals will be happy to give you a lift to the park.

This is not an island where you will find a rental car, nor will you have any need for one. The breeding season for the flamingos is November through January. Visit during this time to witness their elaborate posturing and mating rituals.