Green Turtle Cay and the surrounding out islands are likely one of the busiest and most popular destinations in the Abacos, and perhaps the entire Bahamas island chain. Located just west of Treasure Cay, Green Turtle Cay is 25 miles northwest of Marsh Harbour and 35 miles east of Grand Bahama Island.

Ashore on the island are three protected harbors (White Sound to the north and Black Sound and Settlement Harbour to the south), and there are a variety of services in each. Black Sound has an anchorage area and three marinas where you can tie up for the night. Abaco Yacht Service has a lift for haul-out and related repair services. Two facilities also sell fuel. The entrance here carries about 4 feet of water.

Settlement Harbour is located just to the southwest of Black Sound and is where the town of New Plymouth is located. Here you will find museums, restaurants, a public dock, and anchorage, but you will most likely have trouble getting into the harbor if you draw more than about 2 feet. New Plymouth has several resort and hotel locations, many restaurants and good markets for provisioning or refitting the boat. Most boaters access the shoreside facilities from Black Sound, however, due to its deeper entrance.

White Sound also has a good selection of marinas and there is also fuel here. This area has the most reliable entrance channel with 4- to 6-foot depths.

Entering most of the harbors on Green Turtle Cay is easy, as the deepest water is somewhat visible from the cockpit, and also, posts and pilings mark the best passage with green and red arrows. White Sound has the best entrance depths at 4 to 6 feet, and Black Sound is next with 4 to 5 feet. Settlement Harbor is problematic with entrance depths of 2 feet or less.

You may anchor in any of the harbors, but be advised that the grass bottom is particularly unfriendly for setting the anchor properly, especially with fluke-type anchors. Additional anchorage can be found on the north side of the island In Cocoa Bay and Bluff Harbor, but there are no facilities here and the anchorages are open to the north.

See our “Local Notices to Mariners” blog for updates on the latest conditions and advisories for this area.

There is supposedly an airport on Green Turtle Cay with an international code of GTC, but if there is, it’s either grass or it doesn’t exist. Your best bet for air transportation is nearby (25 miles) Marsh harbor International Airport, which you can reach with your own boat, or via one of several ferry boats that shuttle people between islands.

Islands of the Bahamas Tourism

Guide to the Abacos

Abacos Calendar of Events

Marsh Harbour Airport